[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 75 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5769-S5770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Captain Douglas A. Di cenzo
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Army
CPT Douglas A. DiCenzo, of Plymouth, NH, a brave American who has made
the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
Douglas, or Doug to his family and friends, graduated from Plymouth
Regional High School in 1995. While there, he gave us a glimpse of the
characteristics that would later make him a remarkable soldier. He was
a scholar-athlete in the truest sense. He exemplified leadership as
class president, captain of both the football and wrestling teams, and
an all-state offensive guard for the State champion Bobcat football
team.
Daniel Webster said, ``God grants liberty only to those who love it,
and are always ready to guard and defend it.'' In this spirit, after
high school, Doug earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point, NY. Upon graduating with his fellow cadets as a second
lieutenant with the Class of 1999, he earned an assignment as an Army
infantry officer. Subsequently Doug completed the arduous infantry
officer, Army Airborne, and Ranger courses. Next came a tour of duty to
Fort Wainwright, AK, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, beginning as
a platoon leader with B Company, Mortar Platoon Leader for Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, executive officer for C Company and then
battalion maintenance officer. Then, in July 2004, Doug was assigned to
Headquarters, V Corp in Germany and a year later was assigned to
command the 150 soldiers of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry
Regiment 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder,
Germany.
In November 2005, he deployed with his unit to Kuwait, and then Iraq,
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tragically, on May 25, 2006,
this brave soldier, along with a comrade from his unit, was killed
during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive
device detonated near his military vehicle. Captain DiCenzo's awards
and decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army
Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal
with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq
Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Medal,
Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman
Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Presidential Unit Citation,
and Army Valorous Unit Award.
Patriots from the State of New Hampshire have served our nation with
honor and distinction from Bunker Hill to Baghdad--and U.S. Army CPT
Douglas A. DiCenzo served in that fine tradition. Captain DiCenzo was a
well-respected and natural leader who exemplified the principles of the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point--duty, honor, country. This
optimistic, passionate, and patriotic American demonstrated the virtues
extolled in the Cadet Prayer, ``Encourage us in our endeavor to live
above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right
instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth
when the whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of
loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with
vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in
jeopardy.'' CPT Douglas DiCenzo was dedicated to serving his country in
these chaotic and violent times because he thought it was his duty to
do this.
My heartfelt sympathy, condolences, and prayers go out to Doug's wife
Nicole and their 18-month-old son Dakin, as well as to Doug's parents,
Larry and Cathy, his brother Daniel, and his family and friends who
have suffered this grievous loss. The death of Doug, only 30 years old,
on a battlefield far from New Hampshire is also a great loss for our
State, our Nation, and the world. Although he will be sorely missed by
all, his family and friends may sense some comfort in knowing that
because of his devotion, leadership, sense of duty, and selfless
dedication, the safety and liberty of each and every American is more
secure. May God bless CPT Douglas A. DiCenzo.
Private Benjamin J. Slaven
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I wish to express my sympathy over the loss
of U.S. Army PVT Benjamin J. Slaven from Nebraska. Private Slaven died
when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on
patrol in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq on June 9. He was 22 years old.
Private Slaven grew up in Plymouth, NE and received his high school
equivalency diploma from Southeast Community College in 2005. He was
deployed to Iraq in March after serving in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Before being deployed, Private Slaven worked with developmentally
disabled young adults at the Beatrice State Development Center in
Beatrice, NE. He was a member of Detachment 1, 308th Transportation
Company based in Lincoln, NE. Private Slaven will be remembered as a
loyal soldier who had a strong sense of duty, honor, and love of
country. Thousands of brave Americans like Private Slaven are currently
serving in Iraq.
Private Slaven is survived by his mother, Judy Huenink of Plymouth,
NE; father, Bruce Slaven of Beatrice, NE; and sister, Misti Slaven.
Judy and Bruce both served in the Air Force, and Misti is training to
be a medical lab technician in the Army Reserve at Fort Bliss, TX. Our
thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. America is
proud of Private Slaven's heroic service and mourns his loss.
I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring PVT
Benjamin J. Slaven.
Lance Corporal Brent Zoucha
Mr. President, I also wish to express my sympathy over the loss of
U.S. Marine Corps LCpl Brent Zoucha from Nebraska. Lance Corporal
Zoucha died of wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al
Anbar province, Iraq on June 9. He was 19 years old.
Lance Corporal Zoucha was a lifelong resident of Clarks, NE and
graduated from High Plains Community High School in 2005. In high
school, he was a standout athlete, earning second place in the high
jump at the 2005 State track meet. He was also named honorable mention
to the Omaha World-Herald's all-Nebraska basketball team. Lance
Corporal Zoucha enlisted in the Marine Corps while still in high school
and served with his brother, CPL Dyrek Zoucha, in the same unit in
Iraq. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
Lance Corporal Zoucha will be remembered as a loyal soldier who had a
strong sense of duty, honor, and love of country. Thousands of brave
Americans like Lance Corporal Zoucha are currently serving in Iraq.
Lance Corporal Zoucha is survived by his mother, Rita; brothers,
Dyrek and Dominic; and sister, Sherri, of Duncan, NE. Our thoughts and
prayers are with them at this difficult time. America is proud of Lance
Corporal Zoucha's heroic service and mourns his loss.
I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring LCpl
Brent Zoucha.
Private Tim Madison
Mr. President, I further express my sympathy over the loss of U.S.
Army PVT Tim Madison from Nebraska. Private Madison was killed in a
training exercise at Fort Carson, CO, on June 8. He was 28 years old.
Private Madison grew up in Bellevue, NE, and graduated from Bellevue
East High School in 1997. Private Madison was a loving father of three
children and loved being outdoors. He was a member of the Army's 2nd
Brigade
[[Page S5770]]
Combat Team, Fort Carson, CO. Private Madison will be remembered as a
loyal soldier who had a strong sense of duty, honor, and love of
country. Thousands of brave Americans like Private Madison are
currently serving in the U.S. military.
Private Madison is survived by his wife Melissa; children, Hailee,
Jonathan and Michael of Fort Carson, CO; parents, Ken Madison, Sr., a
retired Air Force master sergeant, and Nancy Madison; brothers, Kenneth
Jr., Anthony, and Richard; and sister, Christina, all of Bellevue, NE.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. America
is proud of Private Madison's service and mourns his loss.
I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring PVT Tim
Madison.
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