[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6549-S6550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Lance Corporal David Mendez Ruiz
Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, this evening, I come to the floor to pay
tribute to a brave Ohioan, Marine LCpl David Mendez Ruiz, who was
killed on November 12, 2005--the day after Veterans Day--by a homemade
bomb while conducting combat operations in Iraq. He was only 20 years
old.
Ronald Reagan once said:
[S]ome people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they
have ever made a difference in the world. The Marines don't
have that problem.
The family and friends of David Mendez Ruiz will indeed never doubt
the great difference this young man made in the world--both as a
marine, as a friend, brother, and son.
David was the youngest of eight children, born to Maximiliano and
Miriam Mendez. The family moved to the United States from Guatemala
when David was 6 years old.
At David's funeral, the service began with the Guatemalan national
anthem, followed by ``The Star-Spangled Banner.'' David had a profound
respect for his roots and a great love and appreciation for the United
States--the country for which he would eventually give his life.
David's parents instilled in him at an early age a deep reverence and
love for God and for his country.
David was baptized at and was a member of Cleveland's House of Praise
and Prayer, where he was like a son to Eli and Amy Ramos, the church's
youth pastors. Before leaving for his second tour of duty in Iraq,
David gave Eli a sound system for his car as a gift to repay him for
all the times he had spent with him through the years. He wanted Eli to
remember him each time he listened to Christian music on his stereo. As
Eli has said:
That's the way it is. Each time I get into my car, and I
put that music on really loud, I remember David. David was a
youth full of life, and that is why we all fell in love with
him.
Indeed, David was full of life and so dedicated to his faith. He
regularly attended Sunday church services in Iraq, even though he was
thousands of miles away from his home church.
Family and friends remember David as a friendly, honorable,
compassionate, and courageous man. They describe his huge smile that
hid his eyes and brightened a room upon his entry. David was known for
having a heart that couldn't say no to someone in need and a love of
God and a love of country that motivated him to join the Marines in the
first place. David loved being a marine.
He had spent almost 8 months in Iraq, returned home, and broke his
back during a snowboarding accident. After recuperating, David left to
return to Iraq on the Fourth of July. At David's funeral, close friend
Brandon Joffre, who went to high school with David at the Greater
Cleveland Christian Academy in Middleburg Heights, told mourners that
David had always dreamed of joining the service. This is what he said:
He always wanted to be in the military, real hard core,
definitely born to be a marine. That's the thing. He was
killed, but he was killed doing something he loved.
He wanted to be there. I expected to grow up and [have] our
kids hang out [together], and I'd see him get married and all
that. It's hard. Every time I see a picture of him with that
smile, I want to cry.
Gillian Newman, a friend of David's Since elementary school, told
those gathered at the funeral that she loved watching movies with
David. They would have great fun trying to remember the lines from the
movies, even months later. Most of all, she says that she loved his
kind spirit. ``We could challenge him to a game of pool 150 times, and
he could beat us every time and never say, `I told you [so] .' ''
David's friend Brandon also shared that sentiment:
David lived a very honorable life and accomplished a lot in
such a short period of time. Words do not describe how proud
I am of David. God had a plan for David's life, and David
served him well. He was always happy, always had a smile on
his face. He made friends everywhere he went.
Fellow Marine Marcial Rodriguez, wrote the following words about
David:
When I heard the news last November that U.S. Marine David
Mendez Ruiz, a Hispanic immigrant from Cleveland, died in
Iraq, my thoughts were a little strong. I felt pride, but at
the same time, anger--pride because David was fulfilling a
dream like many young people, to serve by fighting in the
U.S. Marines. Even though some people criticized him, he kept
serving his country.
He lost his life without surrendering to anything, fighting
for his country, for a just cause, with honor. I feel anger
because many Hispanic young people like us struggle to give
Hispanics a good name so that Americans don't think we only
cause problems--so that Americans can see that we too, the
Hispanic people, contribute our grain of sand, like David's
sister Sandra said. . . . That's how David wanted to live his
life--with pride, in peace.
[[Page S6550]]
Mr. President, and Members of the Senate, David demonstrated his
commitment to service in so many ways, but his long record of awards
speaks for itself. He received the Combat Action Ribbon, the National
Defense Service Medal, the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the
War on Terrorism Service Medal, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
David also received the Purple Heart Medal.
David Mendez Ruiz was a young man who exemplified courage under
pressure and who always strived to make life a little better for those
around him. The Greater Cleveland Christian Academy has set up a
scholarship in his memory, so that his legacy can live on through the
education of other students. There is no better way to carry on the
memory of this brave young American who lost his life while fighting to
ensure that we can continue to enjoy freedom and opportunity.
Mr. President, David Mendez Ruiz is a true hero and proved his
unwavering allegiance to the United States in the most selfless way--by
giving his life in service to our country. My wife, Fran and I continue
to keep David's large and wonderful family and his many friends in our
thoughts and in our prayers.
Mr. President, I see my colleague on the Senate floor. I have about
10 more minutes.
Staff Sergeant Kendall Ivy II
Mr. President, this evening I would like to speak in honor of Marine
SSgt Kendall Ivy II, a 28-year-old Ohioan who lost his life on May 11,
2005. He was killed by a roadside bomb while serving our country in
Iraq.
Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Marine SSG Kendall
Ivy, II, a 28-year-old Ohioan who lost his life on May 11, 2005. He was
killed by a roadside bomb while serving our country in Iraq.
A native of Galion, OH, Kendall was a well-known football and
baseball athlete at Galion High School, where he graduated in 1995. He
joined the military right after high school, applying these athletic
skills of teamwork to the Marine Corps. After the military, Kendall was
planning to continue his education and become a history teacher and
coach.
Most important to Kendall was his family, consisting of his wife, Lee
Ann, sons, Caleb and Harrison, daughter, Reagan, and parents, Raymond
and Venita ``Kay'' Ivy. Additionally, Kendall is survived by three
brothers, a sister, and their spouses: Kenneth and Charlotte Ivy, Kathy
and Doug Shifley, Kevin and Michelle Ivy, and Keith and Becky Ivy. Lee
Ann was 5 months pregnant with their son Gabriel at the time of
Kendall's death.
Kendall and Lee Ann first saw each other in middle school. Lee Ann
said that after she met him, she spent the greatest 14 years of her
life. Kendall and Lee Ann got married young. Kendall once told her,
``What if we wait and then die in our late twenties? We would miss out
on so much married life.'' Indeed, Kendall Ivy was a true family man.
He learned of Caleb's birth when he was pulled out of formation on the
flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Kendall loved his two boys, but the
birth of his daughter changed his life, Lee Ann said. He was very much
a family man and was looking forward to coming home and spending time
with all of them.
Venita says that her son was ``destined to be a Marine.'' From the
age of 3, he wanted to wear the gold eagle, globe, and anchor insignia
of the Corps. He made that happen, becoming a staff sergeant while
planning a career in the Marines. He served in the United States Marine
Corps for 10 years. Venita said her son told her he ``wanted to serve
this country, that we need to be over there in Iraq so they can be free
like we are.''
Kevin Ivy also remembers his younger brother's dream of becoming a
marine, saying:
He lived life to the fullest. He was kindhearted. He loved
his country. He loved his president. He believed in what he
was doing. Each and everyone of these fine young men and
women is in a dangerous situation. But my brother understood
that, and he was willing to lay down his life for the cause
of freeing these people.
Kendall Ivy was loved dearly not only by his family, but also by
those who had the privilege to serve with him. Marine CPT Dave Handy
wrote the following statement on an Internet tribute site to Kendall:
I was then Staff Sergeant Ivy's platoon commander for a
short time and remember him leaving the Marine Corps to seek
new adventures. I was ecstatic to hear that such a fine
leader of Marines had rejoined the Corps and then brought to
tears to hear of his death. I remember him as a ruthless
enforcer of standards, a superb example for young Marines,
and a patient mentor for all around him. All officers should
have been so lucky as to serve with enlisted leaders of Staff
Sergeant Ivy's superior caliber. My thoughts and prayers are
with his family and I look forward to seeing him again on the
streets of heaven. Semper Fidelis.
On the same tribute site, Aric Wells of Nashville, TN, said:
To my friend. To his wife and children. I am deeply sorry.
To all who did not have the privilege of knowing Staff
Sergeant Ivy, let me tell you that we have lost a great man.
A man with morals and convictions that did not waver. A man
who would give the shirt off his back to help you out. Staff
Sergeant Ivy would go to bat for you when others would turn
their backs. He was a damn good man and always a Marine. I
will always remember him.
Indeed, Kendall Ivy was deeply loved by all those who knew him. At
Camp Ripper, Iraq, a new gym was opened on August 1, 2005, named the
``Staff Sergeant Kendall H. Ivy II Memorial Gym.'' His presence is felt
daily by those like SGT Johnny A. Noguera, the gym manager. Sergeant
Noguera said:
Everyone wants to make this place as nice as possible,
especially for the Marines who knew Staff Sergeant Ivy. When
I was growing up in South America, one of my father's friends
had a son who was a Marine. He was so proud of him and he
seemed to have this aura around him. That's how Staff
Sergeant Ivy was and that's what I wanted to be. I know that
many people miss him and they look at this gym as a direct
reflection of their love for him. This is why I stress to the
guys who work here to keep this place in order so we can
properly pay homage to the man who it's named after.
The Marines who attended Kendall's funeral remembered going to the
gym with him, then not being able to persuade him to leave. At the end
of the workout, Kendall would then ask if his arms looked any bigger.
Lee Anna says that her husband ``was worse than a woman about his hair
and weight.''
To end, I would like to quote Sergeant Downing, who wrote a few words
about Kendall on the Internet tribute site. He writes:
I served with Staff Sergeant Ivy in Weapons Company, 1st
Battalion, 6th Marines. Someone once said, `the best
compliment you can give is to say he was a good Marine.'
Well, Staff Sergeant Ivy was a damn good Marine!
Kendall Ivy epitomized not only the meaning of a good Marine, but
also of the ideal son, husband, and father. My wife Fran and I continue
to keep the family and friends of SSG Kendall Ivy in our thoughts and
prayers.
I yield the floor.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thune). The Senator from Illinois.
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