[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 102 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORY OF ARMY CAPTAIN BLAKE H. RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage of a 
young hero from my district. On July 22, 2006, the Department of 
Defense declared that Army Captain Blake H. Russell (United States 
Army, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 
101st Airborne Division) died from injuries that he suffered from an 
explosion while investigating a possible weapons cache in Baghdad, 
Iraq. Russell enlisted in the Navy in 1989 after graduating from Fort 
Worth Boswell High School. After completing his Navy obligations, 
Russell enrolled at Texas A&M University and upon graduation, he joined 
the Army.
  His family describes Russell as a soldier who professed that he chose 
the military profession so ``he could fight the bad guys over there so 
(his son) could be safe here.''
  Russell served with distinction during his military career which 
included two tours in Iraq. In the Navy, Russell served as an anti-
submarine warfare specialist as well as a Navy search and rescue team 
member. He joined the Army after graduating from Texas A&M in 1998. 
Prior to the Iraq war, he was an aide to an Army general. During his 
initial tour in Iraq, Russell served with the 4th Infantry Division in 
the Al Anbar Province. He joined the 101st Airborne Division, based in 
Fort Campbell, KY, in March 2005. He was serving as a field artillery 
officer during his last tour in Iraq and was actively involved in 
military operations in the Baghdad area. His earned the Bronze Star and 
the Purple Heart during his military career.
  The American people know the sacrifices Russell made to his country 
and his service will not be in vain. I am proud to honor Captain 
Russell's service to the United States of America. He will not be 
forgotten.

                          ____________________