[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 112 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9355-S9357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 12, 2006 (Senate)]
[Page S9355-S9357]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr12se06-172]                         



 
                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                   Sergeant Lonnie Calvin Allen, Jr.

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor SGT 
Lonnie Calvin Allen, Jr. of Bellevue, NE.
  Sergeant Allen, 26, graduated from Bellevue East High School, where 
he was a four-sport athlete, participating in football, track, 
basketball, and wrestling. After attending Northeastern Junior College 
in Colorado, Sergeant Allen joined the Army, where he met his wife 
Birgit while stationed in Germany. ``I was just glad every minute I 
spent with him because it was the most wonderful time I've had,'' said 
Mrs. Allen.
  Sergeant Allen was dedicated to the Army, choosing to reenlist after 
his first tour of duty. According to his family, he was expected to 
wrap up his Iraq tour in July and wanted to enter law enforcement as a 
career.
  While serving with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th 
Mountain Division in Baghdad, Iraq, Sergeant Allen was killed when an 
improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle on May 
18, 2006.
  Sergeant Allen is survived by his wife, Birgit, who lives in 
Bellevue, NE; his parents, Lonnie and Sallie Allen, also of Bellevue; 
and his brother, Nuru Allen, of St. Louis, MO.
  My prayers go out to the family and friends of Sergeant Allen as they 
face this difficult tragedy. Nebraskans should be proud of the 
commitment Sergeant Allen showed toward the Army and his country. He is 
an example for us all.


                    First Lieutenant Garrison Avery

  Mr. President, today I honor 1LT Garrison Avery of Lincoln, NE.
  First Lieutenant Avery, 23, graduated from Lincoln High School before 
earning his degree from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY. 
Following his graduation from West Point, he underwent Army Ranger and 
sapper training, receiving various honors. But according to his father, 
``He wasn't interested in the decorations. He was interested in the 
job.'' Following his service, Lieutenant Avery dreamed of helping war 
orphans.
  While serving with the 101st Airborne Division stationed south of 
Baghdad, Lieutenant Avery and two fellow soldiers were killed when a 
roadside bomb exploded on February 1, 2006.
  Lieutenant Avery is survived by his wife, Kayla, who lives in 
Clarksville, TN. He is also survived by his parents, Gary and Susan; 
siblings, Clinton, Johnathan, and Elizabeth; and numerous other family 
members, friends, and fellow soldiers.
  I offer my sincere condolences and prayers to the family and friends 
of Lieutenant Avery. His noble service to the United States of America 
is to be respected and remembered by all. Every American and all 
Nebraskans should be proud of the service of brave military personnel 
such as 1LT Garrison Avery.


                       Lance Corporal Kyle Codner

  Mr. President, today I honor LCpl Kyle Codner, 19, of Shelton, NE.
  Lance Corporal Codner joined the military after his graduation from 
Shelton High School on June 16, 2003, and was deployed to Iraq in mid-
February. His deployment was to last 7 months, and the family hoped to 
see him home safe around mid-September. At the time of his death, Lance 
Corporal Codner was one among a group of marines traveling in an 
armored personnel carrier conducting security and stability operations 
in Anbar province, Iraq.
  Lance Corporal Codner was liked by all who knew him; he was involved 
in his church and in his community, and he was a selfless part of the 
military who knew the worth of life. Codner's family remembers him 
saying, ``Freedom isn't free.''
  The loss of this outstanding marine is felt by all Nebraskans, but 
his example will remain as an inspiration for his survivors, a devoted 
friend, fiancee, son, and grandson, and we extend our thoughts and 
prayers to them in condolence.


             Army National Guard Sergeant Germaine L. Debro

  Mr. President, today I honor Nebraska Army National Guard SGT 
Germaine L. Debro of Omaha, NE.
  Sergeant Debro was a loyal son, brother, friend, and soldier. 
Selflessly placing his friends and their families before his own life, 
he volunteered for his last assignment to Iraq so others could stay 
home with their loved ones. ``He put his friends and loyalty first. He 
couldn't have lived with himself if one of his friends with kids went 
over there and died. My brother is a better man than me,'' said 
Sergeant Debro's brother, Alvin Debro, Jr.
  Sergeant Debro was born into the military, as his father, Alvin Debro 
Sr., served in the Air Force. He first attended Omaha Benson High 
School; then in 1991, he graduated from high school in Arkansas, where 
he played football. His military career began on October 14, 1994, when 
he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an M-1 Abrams tank crewman. Sergeant 
Debro joined the Nebraska Army National Guard on October 12, 1997, as a 
tank crewman with Detachment 1, Troop B, 1-167th Cavalry Squadron based 
in Wahoo, NE. He was reassigned to the Fremont-based Troop B, 1-167th 
Cavalry Squadron in January 2001.
  While serving with the National Guard, Sergeant Debro was mobilized 
overseas various times, including service in Kuwait in 2001 and in 
Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2002-2003. He was deployed in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2005, serving as a scout with Troop B, 
1-167th Cavalry Motor Reconnaissance Troop. On Monday, September 4, 
2006, Sergeant Debro passed away when an improvised explosive device 
struck the humvee he was driving while on patrol near Balad, Iraq. 
Then-SPC Germaine L. Debro was posthumously promoted to Sergeant.
  Sacrificing his own life so that others could live, Sergeant Debro 
was the embodiment of bravery and the finest example of generosity. In 
addition to his brother Alvin, he is survived by his parents Alvin, Sr. 
and Priscilla Debro of Omaha; and his brother Maurice Debro. I extend 
my deepest condolences to Sergeant Debro's family and friends, who 
played such a tremendous role in

[[Page S9356]]

his life. His unfaltering dedication to his country and family will 
remain a source of hope and inspiration for all Americans. Sergeant 
Debro was a man of exceptional honor, and we will not forget what he 
gave for our Nation.


                      Army Specialist Jeremy Jones

  Mr. President, today I honor Army SPC Jeremy Jones of Omaha, NE.
  Specialist Jones was committed to the Army. Wanting to make a career 
out of it, he chose to reenlist last April for 6 more years. ``He'd 
finally found something he really liked to do and that suited him. He 
was proud of what he was doing,'' said his wife, Jenny.
  Last February, Specialist Jones flew back from his tour of duty in 
Iraq to see his newborn daughter, Mackenzie. Baby Mackenzie, together 
with her brother, Anthony, will grow up knowing their father is a hero.
  Specialist Jones graduated from Millard West High School in 1999, 
where he participated in football and wrestling. While serving with the 
Army's 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment of Fort Hood, TX, 
Specialist Jones, 25, was hit by a roadside bomb on June 27, 2006, in 
Iskandariyah, Iraq.
  Specialist Jones is survived by his wife Jenny, daughter Mackenzie, 
and son Anthony, 3, all of Omaha; mother, Diane Jones, of Omaha; 
father, Scott Jones, of Council Bluffs, IA; and sister, Abbi Jones, of 
Omaha. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Jones family. Specialist 
Jones was a dedicated soldier, and all Americans admire the dedication 
he gave to his country.


                       Navy Airman Jason J. Doyle

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor Airman Jason J. Doyle of Omaha, 
NE.
  Airman Doyle, 19, graduated from Papillion-La Vista South High School 
after moving to the area from Sunset, UT with his brother, Brandon, and 
father, Dale, both of Bellevue, NE. At Papillion-La Vista South, he was 
a member of the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. 
After graduating, he joined the Navy in an effort to fulfill his dream 
of traveling to Japan, a dream which began in elementary school after 
writing a report on Japan. He was also fascinated with flying. ``You 
combine a love for the country of Japan, a love of other cultures and a 
love of airplanes, and the Navy was a perfect fit for him,'' said his 
father.
  Airman Doyle had been serving with the Electronic Attack Squadron 136 
off the east coast of Japan since October when he fell from the flight 
deck of the USS Kitty Hawk on July 8, 2006. It was his first 
assignment.
  In addition to his father and brother, Airman Doyle is survived by 
his mother, Martha Bower, who lives near Sunset, UT; his stepmother, 
Susie Doyle, of Bellevue; and his three sisters, Shauna, of Utah, and 
Whitney and Ashley, both of Bellevue.
  I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Airman 
Doyle. His noble service to the United States of America is to be 
respected and appreciated by all. And while the loss of this remarkable 
airman is felt by all Nebraskans, his courage to follow his dreams will 
remain as an inspiration for his survivors.


               Army National Guard Specialist Joshua Ford

  Mr. President, today I honor SPC Joshua Ford of Pender, NE.
  Specialist Ford, 20, graduated from Pender High School in 2004, where 
he was active in the FFA and theater. He was also interested in art and 
utilized his talent by creating a few paintings while serving in Iraq. 
Teachers knew him as an easygoing, well-liked student with a great 
sense of humor. Ford joined the Nebraska Army National Guard as a heavy 
vehicle driver in February 2003, while still attending high school. 
Friends say he was dedicated to the Guard, even convincing three 
friends to join with him.
  Since October 2005, Specialist Ford had been serving with the Wayne-
based Detachment 1, 189th Transportation Company in Iraq. On July 13, 
2006, the military truck he was driving in a convoy from Forward 
Operating Base Delta to Tallil Air Base was struck by an Improvised 
Explosive Device near Al Numaniyah. Specialist Ford passed away shortly 
thereafter.
  Specialist Ford is survived by his fiancee, Michelle Frohlich; 
father, Lonnie W. Ford; grandmother, Elle Petersen; sisters, Erin, 
Jessica, and Shawn; and nephew, William Dyer.
  I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of 
Specialist Ford. The loss of this dedicated National Guardsman is felt 
by all Nebraskans, but his example will remain as an inspiration for 
all of us.


           Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Hansen

  Mr. President, today I honor SSG Jeffrey Hansen of Cairo, NE.
  Staff Sergeant Hansen, 31, was a 1993 graduate of Bertrand Community 
High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from 
the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 1997. Jeffrey joined the Nebraska 
Army National Guard in January 2000 as a member of Troop A, 1-167th 
Cavalry in Hastings, NE. During his years as a member of the Nebraska 
National Guard, Staff Sergeant Hansen exhibited outstanding leadership 
and rose through the ranks, serving as an assistant squad leader, fire 
team leader, and squad leader before his current assignment as a fire 
support sergeant. Prior to his service in Iraq, Hansen served as a 
peacekeeper in Bosnia with the 1-167th Cavalry from late 2002 until 
mid-2003.
  CPT Jeffrey Searcey, who led Troop A of the 1-167th Cavalry in 
Ramadi, Iraq, described Staff Sergeant Hansen as a ``guy you respected 
as a soldier and a man.'' As a civilian, Staff Sergeant Hansen was 
recognized as an outstanding police officer during his time in the U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, Police Service. ``Jeff was the 
strong, silent type. He didn't talk a lot, but when he did, people 
listened to him,'' said James Arends, a sergeant in the VA Police 
Service.
  Staff Sergeant Hansen passed away on August 27, 2006, at Landstuhl 
Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries he 
received when the humvee he was riding in went off a wet and eroded 
roadside berm and became submerged in an irrigation canal near Camp 
Anaconda, Iraq.
  Staff Sergeant Hansen is survived by his wife Jennifer L. Hansen of 
Cairo; father Robert Hansen of Bertrand; and brother Jeremy Hansen.
  I offer my sincere condolences to Staff Sergeant Hansen's family and 
friends. He gave his life to save and honor the liberties of America, 
and his selfless passion to achieve this end will not be forgotten. 
Staff Sergeant Hansen will be forever remembered as a hero who 
sacrificed everything for his fellow country men and women.


                  Marine Corporal Matthew C. Henderson

  Mr. President, today I honor Marine Cpl Matthew C. Henderson of 
Lincoln, NE.
  Corporal Henderson inspired everyone who knew him through his 
leadership. He enjoyed football, hunting, fishing, and fixing cars with 
his father, who was his best man at his wedding in May of 2003.
  Henderson joined the Marines in September 2000. He had received the 
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct 
Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service 
Deployment Ribbon. Corporal Henderson was a combat engineer assigned to 
the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine 
Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, CA. Henderson was one among 
a group of marines traveling in an armored personnel carrier conducting 
security and stability operations in Anbar province, Iraq, at the time 
of his death.
  I know I join all Nebraskans in grieving the loss of Corporal 
Henderson. He will be remembered as the selfless leader that he was; 
for being a compassionate and loyal husband, son, and brother.


                     Sergeant Allen D. Kokesh, Jr.

  Mr. President, today I honor SGT Allen D. Kokesh, Jr. of Yankton, SD.
  Sergeant Kokesh, 21, willingly signed up for the National Guard as a 
junior at Yankton High School and completed his basic training before 
his graduation in 2003. He believed he and his fellow soldiers were 
playing an important role in bringing peace and freedom to the people 
of Iraq.
  While serving with the Yankton-based Charlie Battery of the 1st 
Battallion, 147th Field Artillery Brigade, stationed in Baghdad, 
Sergeant Kokesh was injured in an explosion from a roadside bomb on 
December 4, 2005. Sergeant Kokesh passed away February 7, 2006, at 
Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, as a result of his 
injuries. He was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant.

[[Page S9357]]

  Sergeant Kokesh is survived by his father and stepmother, Allen Sr. 
and Kristi Kokesh; mother and stepfather, Becky and Jason Beebee; 
siblings, Chasity, Katrianna, Tom, and Jaylon; and numerous other 
family members, friends, and fellow soldiers.
  I offer my sincere condolences and prayers to the family and friends 
of Sergeant Kokesh. His noble service to the United States of America 
is to be respected and remembered by all. Every American and all 
Nebraskans should be proud of the service of brave military personnel 
such as SGT Allen D. Kokesh, Jr.


                         Private Tim J. Madison

  Mr. President, today I honor Pvt Tim J. Madison of Bellevue, NE.
  Private Madison's children will grow up knowing their father is a 
hero. A 1997 graduate of Bellevue East High School, Private Madison, 
28, joined the Army last October. Private Madison enjoyed the outdoors 
and shared that experience with his children on numerous occasions.
  While serving with E Company, Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade 
at Fort Carson, CO, Private Madison was struck by .50-caliber machine 
gun fire during a live-fire operation at a shooting range. ``He was 
very proud of his country, and he wanted to defend and make it a better 
homeland for his own immediate family, his wife, and kids,'' said his 
mother, Nancy Madison.
  Private Madison is survived by his wife Melissa and three children, 
Hailee, 3, Jonathan, 2, and Michael, 4 months, of Fort Carson, CO; 
parents, Ken and Nancy Madison of Bellevue, NE; brothers, Ken Jr., 
Tony, and Rick Madison, all of Bellevue; and sister, Christina Coy of 
Bellevue.
  Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Pvt Tim J. Madison. 
You are all in America's thoughts and prayers.


                    Army Specialist Benjamin Slaven

  Mr. President, today I honor Army SPC Benjamin Slaven of Plymouth, 
NE.
  Following in his family's footsteps, Specialist Slaven, 22, chose to 
enlist in the Army Reserve because he wanted to serve his country. ``He 
was enthusiastic about working on the front line of the war on 
terror,'' said his father, Bruce Slaven.
  Before enlisting, Specialist Slaven earned his high school 
equivalency diploma and was employed in Beatrice, NE, most recently at 
the Beatrice State Development Center, where he became known for his 
compassion. Because of his love for scuba diving, Specialist Slaven was 
considering a career in underwater welding after the military.
  While serving with the Army Reserve's 308th Transportation Company of 
Lincoln, NE, then Private First Class Slaven was killed when a roadside 
bomb struck his vehicle on June 9, 2006, in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq. He was 
promoted to army specialist posthumously.
  Specialist Slaven is survived by his mother, Judy Huenink, of 
Plymouth; his father, Bruce Slaven, of Beatrice; and his sister, PFC 
Misti Slaven, currently serving with the Army Reserve.
  All Americans admire the dedication Specialist Slaven exhibited as he 
defined what a true soldier should be. The family and friends of Army 
SPC Benjamin Slaven are in our thoughts and prayers.


                 Army Sergeant 1st Class Terry Wallace

  Mr. President, today I honor Army SFC Terry Wallace of Winnsboro, LA.
  Sergeant First Class Wallace graduated from Winnsboro High School, 
where he met his wife, Shunda Wallace. Wallace joined the Army shortly 
after graduating from high school. ``It was something he'd always 
wanted to do. He always wanted to serve his country,'' said Mrs. 
Wallace.
  While serving with the 42nd Field Artillery based at Fort Hood, TX, 
Sergeant First Class Wallace was killed when a roadside bomb hit his 
humvee in Taji, Iraq, on June 27, 2006. He had served several 
assignments abroad, including locations in the Middle East, but this 
was his first tour of duty in Iraq.
  In addition to his wife, Sergeant First Class Wallace is survived by 
his 2-year-old daughter, Raven; his parents, James Jr. and Marry 
Wallace, of Winnsboro, LA; his twin brother, Jerry Wallace, and several 
other brothers and sisters, also of Winnsboro.
  I know I join all Nebraskans in grieving the loss of Sergeant First 
Class Wallace. He will be remembered for the selfless hero he was and 
for being a devoted and compassionate husband, son, and brother. 
Sergeant First Class Wallace's family and friends remain in our 
thoughts and prayers.


                      Lance Corporal Brent Zoucha

  Mr. President, today I honor LCpl Brent Zoucha of Clarks, NE.
  Being a dedicated athlete at High Plains Community School, Zoucha had 
already attained much of what he needed to be a good marine: 
commitment. Knowing he wanted to serve, Zoucha, 19, enlisted in the 
Marines while still in high school.
  Serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twentynine Palms, CA, 
Corporal Zoucha passed away on June 9, 2006, due to injuries sustained 
in an explosion while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar, Iraq. 
``He died doing what he wanted to do: fighting for his country,'' said 
friend David Beck.
  Corporal Zoucha is survived by his mother, Rita Zoucha, of Clarks, 
NE; his sister, Sherri Krueger, of Duncan, NE; and two brothers, 
Dominic Zoucha of Clarks, NE, and Corporal Dyrek Zoucha, currently 
serving in Iraq.
  All Americans admire the dedication LCpl Brent Zoucha exhibited as he 
defined what a true soldier should be. The family and friends of 
Corporal Zoucha are in our thoughts and prayers.

                          ____________________