[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 107 (Tuesday, September 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


              Private First Class William Edgerton Thorne

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to PFC 
William Edgerton Thorn who died honorably Thursday, August 24 at 8 a.m. 
in Baghdad at the age of 26. He was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom 
after an improvised explosive devise detonated near his vehicle.
  Given the opportunity to protect the people he loved and his strong 
belief in the cause, Willy, as he was known among family and friends, 
fought proudly. Similarly, Corey, his wife, is serving her country in 
Iraq. The couple was married on November 10, 2001 and enlisted in the 
Army in May of 2005. While they realized the dangers and hardships, 
they were willing to risk their lives for the freedom of others. My 
thoughts and prayers are with Corey Thorne at this difficult time, and 
I thank her for her service and tremendous sacrifice.
  Willy loved making children laugh, and he and his wife hoped to save 
enough money to adopt a baby. His death is deeply mourned by his 
hometown, Rock Valley, and throughout the nation. Thus there is great 
truth in what Willy's mother-in-law, Deb Jasper, said ``A fallen 
soldier hits everyone because they have fallen for each and every one 
of us. What a sacrifice. What an honor.'' We, the American people, are 
forever indebted to Willy for his great strength and heroic sacrifice.


                    Staff Sergeant Jeffrey J. Hansen

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of Nebraska Army National Guard SSG Jeffrey J. Hansen of Cairo, NE 
Staff Sergeant Hansen died of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident 
near Balad, Iraq on Sunday, August 27. He was 31 years old.
  Staff Sergeant Hansen was a 1993 graduate of Bertrand Community High 
School and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 
1997. Staff Sergeant Hansen lived in Cairo, NE, with his wife, 
Jennifer, and worked as a police officer at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs' medical facility in Grand Island, NE.
  In January 2000, Staff Sergeant Hansen enlisted with the Nebraska 
Army National Guard. He mobilized for a tour of duty in Iraq on October 
11, 2005 with the 1st Squadron, 167th Cavalry Regiment. Staff Sergeant 
Hansen served in a unit comprised of approximately 360 Nebraska Guard 
soldiers that were providing security for Camp Anaconda near Balad, 
Iraq. Staff Sergeant Hansen will be remembered as a loyal soldier who 
had a strong sense of duty, honor and love of country. Thousands of 
brave Americans like Staff Sergeant Hansen are currently serving in 
Iraq.
  In addition to his wife, Staff Sergeant Hansen is survived by his 
father, Robert, of Bertrand, Nebraska. Our thoughts and prayers are 
with them at this difficult time. America is proud of Staff Sergeant 
Hansen's heroic service and mourns his loss.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring Staff 
Sergeant Jeffrey J. Hansen.

                          ____________________