[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 129 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10947-S10949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from North Dakota 
for enabling me to make some remarks about the war and where things are 
as we see them.
  It has been more than a month since we were last together in the 
Senate. While we were out of session, the war in Iraq continued to 
rage. We in the Congress had the pleasure of going home to our 
families, our friends, familiar circumstances and surroundings. Our 
troops in Iraq, however, didn't have that opportunity while we were 
off, so to speak, for almost 6 weeks. Everyone knows that we did work 
at home, but we were in familiar, safe territory. The troops were in 
harm's way, trying to bring order to a country in absolute chaos.
  Tragically, many of our people there did not survive since the Senate 
was last in session. During the recess, America lost 157 brave men and 
women in combat, 146 in Iraq and 11 in Afghanistan, and 649 were 
seriously wounded. Most of us have been to Walter Reed and the naval 
hospital in Bethesda and had opportunities to talk to some of those 
people who are so seriously wounded, some limbless, some sightless. 
Their pain goes way beyond that which is directly part of their wound; 
their pain goes on for the rest of their lives.
  Now here we are, almost at Thanksgiving. Americans are looking 
forward to sharing a holiday with family and friends. But in this 
season of giving and cheer, we have to find a serious way to give some 
cheer, some recognition for the sacrifices of our soldiers. Outside my 
office, I have found a way to express thanks to them. We have 
established a photographic display of those who have lost their lives. 
It is called the ``Faces of the Fallen.'' It is visited daily by 
tourists and others who search the gallery for people they may have 
known from a hometown or region.
  Today I offer another way to honor our courageous men and women. I am 
going to place the names and hometowns of the 157 troops that we lost 
since the Senate was last in session in the Congressional Record.
  Too often when we talk about our fallen troops, they become faceless, 
if it is not your family, statistics, but we don't want that anymore. 
We want to recognize, and the American people want to recognize, what 
is really happening to the fathers, mothers, sisters, and children. 
They are our children, and many have children of their own.
  Among those who perished are PFC Donald S. Brown, 19 years of age, 
from Succasunna, NJ. I attended his wake 2 weeks ago, met with his 
family, and LCpl Christopher B. Cosgrove III of Cedar Knolls, NJ. There 
are many more New Jerseyans who have perished there. The number is 
almost 80 now. We look around, and they are from States across the 
country. Almost every State has seen the loss of a former resident, 
someone with roots in that State:
       SGT Bryan Burgess of Garden City, MI;
       SGT Courtland A. Kennard of Starkville, MS;
       CWO Miles P. Henderson of Amarillo, TX;
       CPL Kyle W. Powell of Colorado Springs, CO;
       SPC James L. Bridges of Buhl, ID;
       LTC Paul J. Finken of Mason City, IA;
       LCpl James Brown of Owensville, IN;
       SSG Jason D. Whitehouse of Phoenix, AZ;
       PFC Jason Franco of Corona, CA;
       SGT Luke J. Zimmerman of Luxemburg, WI;
       SGT Thomas M. Gilbert of Downers Grove, IL;
       SPC Nicholas K. Rogers of Deltona, FL;
       MAJ David G. Taylor of Apex, NC;
       LCpl Eric W. Herzberg of Severna Park, MD;
       CPL Joshua C. Watkins of Jacksonville, FL;
       SSG Patrick O. Barlow of Greensboro, NC;
       CPL David M. Unger of Leavenworth, KS;
       SGT Norman R. Taylor of Blythe, CA;
       SSG Garth D. Sizemore of Mount Sterling, KY;
       2LT Joshua L. Booth of Fiskdale, MA;
       PFC Keith J. Moore of San Francisco, CA; and
       1SG Charles M. King of Mobile, AL.

  There are too many more to read them all now.
  I ask unanimous consent that a full list of the 157 persons be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 Fallen Heroes During the Senate Recess

       Sergeant Bryan Burgess, of Garden City, Michigan
       Sergeant First Class Rudy A. Salcido, of Ontario, 
     California
       Sergeant Courtland A. Kennard, of Starkville, Mississippi
       Staff Sergeant Gregory W.G. McCoy, of Webberville, Michigan
       Staff Sergeant Richwell A. Doria, of San Diego, California
       Lance Corporal Ryan T. McCaughn, of Manchester, New 
     Hampshire

[[Page S10948]]

       Sergeant Lucas T. White, of Moses Lake, Washington
       Chief Warrant Officer John R. Priestner, of Pennsylvania
       Chief Warrant Officer Miles P. Henderson, of Amarillo, 
     Texas
       Specialist Douglas C. Desjardins, of Mesa, Arizona
       Corporal Jose A. Galvan, of San Antonio, Texas
       Corporal Kyle W. Powell, of Colorado Springs, Colorado
       Second Lieutenant Mark C. Gelina, of Moberly, Missouri
       Specialist James L. Bridges, of Buhl, Idaho
       Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. Finken, of Mason City, Iowa
       Lieutenant Colonel Eric J. Kruger, of Garland, Texas
       Staff Sergeant Joseph A. Gage, of Modesto, California
       Lance Corporal James Brown, of Owensville, Indiana
       Staff Sergeant Jason D. Whitehouse, of Phoenix, Arizona
       Corporal Michael H. Lasky, of Sterling, Arkansas
       Lance Corporal Luke B. Holler, of Bulverde, Texas
       Private Michael P. Bridges, of Placentia, California
       Lance Corporal Minhee Kim, of Ann Arbor, Michigan
       Corporal Gary A. Koehler, of Ypsilanti, Michigan
       Private First Class Kevin J. Ellenburg, of Middleburg, 
     Florida
       Private First Class Jason Franco, of Corona, California
       Sergeant Michael R. Weidemann, of Newport, Rhode Island
       Sergeant Kraig D. Foyteck, of Skokie, Illinois
       Sergeant Michael T. Seeley, of Fredericton, Canada
       Sergeant Kenneth E. Bostic, of Hawthorne, Nevada
       Lance Corporal Troy D. Nealey, Eaton Rapids, Michigan
       Sergeant Luke J. Zimmerman, Luxemburg, Wisconsin
       First Sergeant Ricky L. McGinnis, Hamilton, Ohio
       Private First Class Donald S. Brown, of Succasunna, New 
     Jersey
       Sergeant Thomas M. Gilbert, of Downers Grove, Illinois
       Private First Class Daniel B. Chaires, of Tallahassee, 
     Florida
       Lance Corporal Jonathan B. Thornsberry, of McDowell, 
     Kentucky
       Petty Officer Second Class Charles V. Komppa, of Belgrade, 
     Montana
       First Lieutenant Amos C.R. Bock, of New Madrid, Missouri
       Hospital Corpsman Charles O. Sare, of Hemet, California
       Lance Corporal Richard A. Buerstetta, of Franklin, 
     Tennessee
       Lance Corporal Tyler R. Overstreet, of Gallatin, Tennessee
       Specialist Carl A. Eason, of Lovelady, Texas
       Specialist Nicholas K. Rogers, of Deltona, Florida
       Sergeant Willsun M. Mock, of Harper, Kansas
       Specialist Matthew W. Creed, of Covina, California
       Specialist Nathaniel A. Aguirre, of Carrollton, Texas
       Major David G. Taylor, of Apex, North Carolina
       Lance Corporal Eric W. Herzberg, of Severna Park, Maryland
       Sergeant First Class Tony L. Knier, of Sabinsville, 
     Pennsylvania
       Corporal Joshua C. Watkins, of Jacksonville, Florida
       Lance Corporal Nicholas J. Manoukian, of Lathrup Village, 
     Michigan
       Lance Corporal Nathan R. Elrod, of Salisbury, North 
     Carolina
       Lance Corporal Clifford R. Collinsworth, of Chelsea, 
     Michigan
       Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte, of Beardsley, Minnesota
       Lance Corporal Edwardo Lopez, Jr., of Aurora, Illinois
       Staff Sergeant Patrick O. Barlow, of Greensboro, North 
     Carolina
       Sergeant First Class Daniel A. Brozovich, of Greenville, 
     Pennsylvania
       Specialist Jose R. Perez, of Ontario, California
       Specialist Daniel W. Winegeart, of Kountze, Texas
       Staff Sergeant Ronald L. Paulsen, of Vancouver, Washington
       Staff Sergeant Jesus M. Montalvo, of Rio Piedras, Puerto 
     Rico
       Specialist Joseph C. Dumas, Jr., of New Orleans, Louisiana
       Corporal David M. Unger, of Leavenworth, Kansas
       Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, of Amity, Pennsylvania
       Second Lieutenant Christopher E. Loudon, of Brockport, 
     Pennsylvania
       Staff Sergeant Ryan E. Haupt, of Phoenix, Arizona
       Sergeant Norman R. Taylor III, of Blythe, California
       Petty Officer First Class Nathan J. Frigo, of Kokomo, 
     Indiana
       Staff Sergeant Garth D. Sizemore, of Mount Sterling, 
     Kentucky
       Second Lieutenant Joshua L. Booth, of Fiskdale, 
     Massachusetts
       Sergeant Lester Domenico Baroncini, Jr., of Bakersfield, 
     California
       Private First Class Stephen Bicknell, of Prattville, 
     Alabama
       First Lieutenant Joshua Deese, of Robeson County, North 
     Carolina
       Sergeant Jonathan E. Lootens, of Lyons, New York
       Captain Mark C. Paine, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
       Sergeant Brock A. Babb, of Evansville, Indiana
       Lance Corporal Joshua M. Hines, of Olney, Illinois
       Private First Class Keith J. Moore, of San Francisco, 
     California
       First Sergeant Charles M. King, of Mobile, Alabama
       Staff Sergeant Joseph M. Kane, of Darby, Pennsylvania
       Specialist Timothy J. Lauer, of Saegertown, Pennsylvania
       Sergeant Jonathan J. Simpson, of Rockport, Texas
       Airman First Class Leebenard E. Chavis, of Hampton, 
     Virginia
       Lieutenant Johnny K. Craver, of McKinney, Texas
       Private First Class Kenny F. Stanton, Jr., of Hemet, 
     California
       Private First Class Thomas J. Hewett, of Tempe, Texas
       Sergeant Gene A. Hawkins, of Orlando, Florida
       Sergeant Justin T. Walsh, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
       Captain Shane T. Adcock, of Mechanicsville, Virginia
       Sergeant Nicholas R. Sowinski, of Tempe, Arizona
       Lance Corporal Shelby J. Feniello, of Connellsville, 
     Pennsylvania
       Lance Corporal Derek W. Jones, of Salem, Oregon
       Lance Corporal Jon Eric Bowman, of Dubach, Louisiana
       Private First Class Phillip B. Williams, of Gardnerville, 
     Nevada
       Captain Robert M. Secher, of Germantown, Tennessee
       Private First Class Shane R. Austin, of Edgerton, Kansas
       Lance Corporal Stephen F. Johnson, of Marietta, Georgia
       Sergeant Julian M. Arechaga, of Oceanside, New York
       Lance Corporal Jeremy Scott Sandvick Monroe, of Chinook, 
     Montana
       Specialist Timothy Fulkerson, of Utica, Kentucky
       Specialist John Edward Wood, of Humboldt, Kansas
       Staff Sergeant Lawrence Parrish, of Lebanon, Missouri
       Corporal Carl W. Johnson II, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
       Sergeant Brandon S. Asbury, of Tazewell, Virginia
       Lance Corporal John Edward Hale, of Shreveport, Louisiana
       Corporal Bradford H. Payne, of Montgomery, Alabama
       Corporal Nicholas A. Arvanitis, of Salem, New Hampshire
       Corporal Benjamin S. Rosales, of Honston, Texas
       Lance Corporal Edward M. Garvin, of Malden, Massachusetts
       Staff Sergeant Christopher O. Moudry, of Baltimore, 
     Maryland
       Specialist George R. Obourn Jr., of Creve Coeur, Illinois
       Specialist Timothy Burke, of Hollywood, Florida
       Private First Class Dean Bright, of Roseburg, Oregon
       Staff Sergeant Jonathan Rojas, of Hammond, Indiana
       Staff Sergeant Daniel Isshak, of Alta Loma, California
       Sergeant Joseph W. Perry, of Alpine, California
       Corporal Michael K. Oremus, of Highland, New York
       Specialist Justin R. Jarrett, of Jonesboro, Georgia
       Staff Sergeant James D. Ellis, of Valdosta, Georgia
       Specialist Raymond S. Armijo, of Phoenix, Arizona
       Specialist Kristofer C. Walker, of Creve Coeur, Illinois
       Private First Class Satieon V. Greenlee, of Pendleton, 
     South Carolina
       Staff Sergeant Joe A. Narvaez, of San Antonio, Texas
       Sergeant Denise A. Lannaman, of Bayside, New York
       Sergeant Mario Nelson, of Brooklyn, New York
       Sergeant Chase A. Haag, of Portland, Oregon
       Captain Justin D. Peterson, of Davisburg, Michigan
       Lance Corporal Christopher B. Cosgrove III, of Cedar 
     Knolls, New Jersey
       Corporal Aaron L. Seal, of Elkhart, Indiana
       Corporal Luis E. Tejeda, of Huntington Park, California
       Sergeant Kampha B. Sourivong, of Iowa City, Iowa
       Sergeant First Class Scott E. Nisely, of Marshalltown, Iowa
       Corporal Robert Weber, of Cincinnati, Ohio
       Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, of Garden 
     Grove, California
       Private First Class Christopher T. Blaney, of Winter Park, 
     Florida
       Sergeant Charles J. McClain, of Fort Riley, Kansas
       Private First Class Alex Oceguera, of San Bernardino, 
     California
       Major Douglas E. Sloan, of Charlevoix, Michigan
       Specialist Isaiah Calloway, of Jacksonville, Florida

[[Page S10949]]

       Staff Sergeant Kyu H. Chay, of Fayetteville, North Carolina
       Private Michael V. Bailey, of Waldorf, Maryland
       Specialist Jason A. Lucas, of Columbus, Ohio
       Chief Warrant Officer Scott W. Dyer, of Cocoa Beach, 
     Florida
       Specialist Fernando D. Robinson, of Hawthorne, California
       Angelo J. Vaccaro, of Deltooa Florida

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. I want their families to know that they can find 
their names in the permanent Record. Around many dinner tables across 
the Nation this Thanksgiving, the conversation will no doubt turn to 
the Iraq war. By this Thanksgiving, we will have been at war in Iraq as 
long as we were in World War II. I served in that war for almost 3 
years. By reading these names today, my hope is that the dinner table 
conversations will discuss our foreign policy and the reasons that we 
are there, the reasons that they think put us there. I would ask them 
to contact their Senators, Representatives in Washington with views and 
questions that are on their minds.
  Think about it. There are proposals now from outstanding leaders in 
this body suggesting that we need more troops than we have there, when 
it is the desire of most of us to get out of there. We can argue about 
timetables and should we have timetables, but we know this: we want our 
people home. It is shocking to hear suggestions that maybe we ought to 
be--not maybe, that we ought to be sending more troops. Where were 
those suggestions when General Shinseki, a very high ranking chief of 
the Army, said to the Pentagon, to the President, to the American 
people that we ought to have at least 300,000 people on the ground 
there? Why, then, if this war was planned properly, didn't we respect 
the opinions of so many senior officers in the military who said we 
needed more and were denied?
  When we hear pleas that say put more troops there, I, for one--I am 
sure colleagues of mine feel the same way--don't know where they are 
going to get them. We are stretched thin now. So I think it is a fairly 
arbitrary suggestion, unless there is a plan accompanying it that says 
whatever we do, this is what we intend to do. I don't want to get into 
that argument about timetables, and cut and run. No, stay and die. Is 
that the alternative that we are talking about? No.
  I don't want us to leave in a fashion that negates some of the 
sacrifices that have been made, but we are now being left alone as 
other countries pull out the few people who were there as part of a 
coalition which never really materialized. We want a plan. We want some 
idea as to what the President, the administration thinks about when we 
can start to look ahead, think more about it from this side, from the 
American side, and not have some false hopes, dismal hopes that we are 
going to be able to stay there and correct this situation without 
telling the American people, without telling the Congress that some 
program has to be presented that says we will not stay there forever. 
The price is far too costly.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.

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