[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN MEMORY OF ARMY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RICHARD HENKES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2006

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Army Sergeant 
First Class Richard Henkes, who died on September 3, 2006, fighting for 
our country in Mosul, Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Richard 
Henkes, 32 years old, was killed during combat when a roadside bomb 
struck his military vehicle. Richard Henkes was assigned to the U.S. 
Army's C Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry 
Division in Fort Lewis, Washington.
  Following a family tradition of service in U.S. Armed Forces, Richard 
Henkes enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1992 and had been serving in Mosul 
for the past two months. His father served in the Air Force, both 
grandfathers were in the Army and fought in World War II and a great 
grandfather fought in World War I. While not serving our country, 
Richard Henkes enjoyed spending time with his five year-old daughter 
and had a passion for snowboarding.
  I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of soldiers who have died 
while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. These brave Americans lost 
their lives while making the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country, 
and I will be forever grateful to them for their courageous spirit.
  Richard Henkes gave his life to serve our country and will forever be 
remembered as a hero, a son, and a father. My deepest condolences go 
out to his daughter Isabel; his parents Chris and Jim Stanton and 
Richard and Karen Henkes; his sisters Tamara Henkes Bass, Dana Harmel 
and Karen Henkes; and his brothers, Mark Holmgren and Paul Stanton. I 
know Army Sergeant First Class Henkes was proud of his service to the 
U.S. Army and to our country. He will be missed by his family, fellow 
soldiers, and all those who knew him and counted him as a friend. I 
will continue to keep Richard Henkes and his family in my thoughts and 
prayers.

                          ____________________