[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 102 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF ARMY STAFF SGT. ERIC CABAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            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 19, 2006, the Department of 
Defense declared that Army Staff Sergeant Eric Caban (United States 
Army, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces) died from injuries that he 
suffered the previous day during a combat reconnaissance patrol in 
Southern Afghanistan.
  A native of Manhattan, NY, Caban moved to Fort Worth with his family 
when he was 3 years old. A year after graduating from Fort Worth 
Paschal High School in 1997, Caban enlisted in the Army. His first 
assignment was with the 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served in a 
sniper platoon and was a team leader. His first deployment to 
Afghanistan occurred in October 2001. In that assignment, Caban 
participated as an airborne ranger who did a combat jump in what is 
described as an ``operation that took the strategically important 
Kandahar Airfield.''
  Following his assignment in Afghanistan, Caban left the Army in 2002 
to attend the University of Texas at Arlington. However, after a year 
in college, Caban decided his love was the military and he re-enlisted 
in 2004. Initially, he was a sniper instructor. He then enrolled in the 
Special Forces Qualifications Course and in March 2006, became a 
sergeant in the Special Forces--better known as the Green Berets--and 
returned to Afghanistan. During his career he earned the Army 
Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals and, posthumously, 
the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious 
Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
  His family and friends describe Caban as someone who was committed to 
defending his country and to battling alongside his fellow soldiers. It 
is these qualities of incredible courage, strength, and pride in 
serving his country that we see in young heroes like Eric Caban that 
makes us appreciate the freedoms we enjoy here at home.
  I am proud to honor Sergeant Caban's service to the United States of 
America and to defending freedom around the world. He will not be 
forgotten.

                          ____________________