[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 130 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11034-S11037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                       Sergeant Mark T. Smykowski

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary young man who gave his life in

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service to our Nation--Marine Sgt Mark T. Smykowski from Mentor, OH. On 
June 6, 2006, Sergeant Smykowski died when a roadside bomb exploded 
near his military vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. He was 23-years-old.
  Mark was an outstanding marine who had a true sense of compassion for 
others. He cared deeply for his family and friends, and they remember 
him as someone who struck a chord with everyone he met. Although Mark 
was only 23-years-old when he died, he unquestionably lived life to the 
fullest.
  Mark grew up in Mentor, OH, graduating from Mentor High School in 
2000. He was the oldest member of a group of young Marines known as the 
``Mentor Seven.'' The seven of them were a close and tight-knit group, 
and all but one had skated together on the Mentor High School hockey 
team. Mark inspired his fellow marines from Mentor, and they in turn 
inspired him.
  Friend, Brian Halan describes Mark as someone who was simply ``cut 
from a different cloth.'' He said:

       I'll always remember that no matter what we were doing, 
     Mark could make the best of anything.

  According to Jack Smeltz, Mark's hockey coach at Mentor High School, 
Mark was ``an example of what a young person should be, as far as 
appreciation of freedom and all it stands for.''
  Mark's father, Bert, recalls that when it came time to get things 
done, no one was more diligent and focused than Mark. As a marine, he 
took the toughest assignments--paratrooper school and sniper school. 
And, after enlisting for a second time, he began training with a 
reconnaissance unit. Reconnaissance is one of the most difficult jobs 
in the military, involving scout swimming, helicopter and submarine 
insertion and extraction techniques, and assault climbing. But for 
Mark, it was just another challenge--and another opportunity to serve 
his Nation.
  Those who knew Mark all agree that he was the model of what a marine 
should be. Fittingly, that is what he actually became--after boot camp 
he was selected to be a poster model for the Marines Corps. Naturally, 
his younger brothers teased him ruthlessly about it.
  According to his mom, Mark was good looking--and knew it. During a 
career fair in high school, Diana saw two Marines recruiters. 
``Couldn't you just see Mark in that uniform?'' she asked her husband, 
Ken. Apparently, Mark could because by the time Diana and Ken reached 
the table, he had already signed up.
  Mark was so much more, though, than an outstanding marine and a 
handsome face. His compassion for others was unparalleled. He was 
simply one of those people who cares deeply and passionately about the 
needs of those around him. His comrades in Iraq recall the special bond 
he formed with Iraqis--particularly the Iraqi children. He became 
something of an ambassador and would distribute toys and clothes to the 
Iraqi children. His unit often joked that when it came time for the 
Iraqi elections, it would be Mark's name at the top of the ballot.
  ``Mark was one of those marines who cared about the impact he had on 
the people of Iraq,'' said 1LT Craig Q. Reese, Mark's platoon 
commander. ``I cannot count the number of times when I was with him 
when an Iraqi would recognize him from his last deployment and smile. I 
saw first hand the influence he had on this culture. He was truly 
attempting to make a difference.''
  Mark's mother Diana has pictures of Mark with his arms around Iraqis, 
and one in which he is surrounded by almost 25 children. But, what she 
recalls most is a moment that she calls ``life changing.'' Worried 
about Mark's safety, she had demanded to know ``what the plan is over 
there?''
  Mark's reply had been quiet and confident. ``This mission is going to 
take us years, Mom,'' he'd said. ``These people have been brutalized 
for years. We have to work with the children. We have to get the kids 
to trust us.''
  Mark's friends gave him many nicknames--``Tango'' because he was tall 
and gangly and ``Jacks'' because he always wore a jacket of the 
Cleveland Lumberjacks, the city's International Hockey League team. 
But, perhaps the most meaningful name is the one given to him by the 
Iraqi children. To them, he was simply ``Mr. Ski.''
  Throughout his time in Iraq, Mark was undoubtedly supported by his 
strong sense of faith. The last time Diana spoke with her son, she 
asked him if he were scared, and he said yes. She then asked, ``Mark, 
are you OK with God?'' He replied, ``Mom, you don't have to worry. I'm 
good to go with God.''
  Mark will be missed by all who knew him. His friends and family 
repeatedly describe him as an extraordinary individual, who was so 
devoted to the Marines Corps. Pastor Tim Davis, speaking at Mark's 
memorial service, described him as ``a gentleman who loved his country 
and really believed in what he did.''
  Mark's service to our Nation earned him many awards, such as the Navy 
and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, 
Combat Action Ribbon, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. But, the 
highest honor he earned was the respect and admiration of those who 
knew him. Mark's life has truly been an inspiration for others. His 
younger brother, Darren, a Marine scout sniper, said, ``I always did 
everything he did and went everywhere he went.'' And just this past 
summer, Mark's younger brother Kenny followed in his footsteps and also 
enlisted in the Marines.
  Indeed the world is a better place because Mark Smykowski was in it, 
and I am honored that I was able to attend his burial service at 
Arlington National Cemetery. He will forever be known for his sincere 
desire to help others, his willingness to act, and his dedication to 
his friends, family, community, and country.
  I conclude with the words of Mark's close friend, Matthew Neath:

       I know if he had to do it all over again, regardless of the 
     outcome, he wouldn't change a thing.

  My wife Fran and I will continue to keep Mark's family in our 
thoughts and in our prayers.


               Private First Class Timothy J. Hines, Jr.

  Mr. President, this evening I rise to remember a brave young man, who 
gave his life in service to our Nation--Army PFC Timothy J. Hines, Jr., 
from Fairfield, OH. Private First Class Hines was wounded on June 19, 
2005. He was riding in a military vehicle when a roadside bomb exploded 
near his convoy in Baghdad, Iraq. Severely injured, he was transferred 
to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, for 
treatment. Tragically, he passed away from his injuries a month later 
on July 14, 2005. He was 21 years of age at the time.
  Growing up in Fairfield, Tim, as he was known by friends and family, 
came to love two things: basketball and Katy Wessel. He and Katy met 
while they were both high school freshmen at Cincinnati Christian 
School. Katy's father Jim remembers that when he first met Tim, he 
could immediately tell that the boy was ``smitten'' with his daughter. 
In Jim's words, that made Tim ``public enemy number one.''
  But, that didn't stop Tim. Before long, he and Katy were high school 
sweethearts. And Jim, himself, came to view Tim as a friend and as a 
son.
  Tim graduated from Cincinnati Christian School in 2002. Headmaster 
Wayne Beaver remembers that he was always positive--someone whose 
``classmates all liked him.'' Tim and Katy got married after 
graduation, and Tim then enlisted in the Army in 2003. He was assigned 
to the 720th Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, 64th Military 
Police Unit, based in Fort Worth, TX.
  Tim's unit shipped out to Iraq in February 2005. Although he found it 
hard to leave his family and friends, he knew he was doing the right 
thing. According to Katy, ``he knew the obligation he had to his 
country.''
  Indeed, Tim was a soldier devoted to his mission and to our Nation. 
But, he also joined the Army out of a desire to protect those whom he 
loved. In the words of a sergeant in Tim's unit:

       I knew that I'd come upon a special soldier with great 
     potential, whose character and values were rooted in his love 
     of his family, god, and friends. I believe he wanted to go to 
     Iraq not out of duty, but out of love for others.

  Tim's twin sister, Jenni, remembers that he was a great brother and 
friend--someone who was always looking out for her. And that is also 
what Tim was doing as a soldier--looking out for his friends, his 
family, and his country. His service to our country

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earned him the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Army Good Conduct 
Medal.
  Those who knew Tim remember him as someone who always wanted to make 
others laugh. His wife Katy says that he packed a lot of love into his 
life and simply had a spark that drew people close to him. In photos, 
you can see he was always smiling or trying to make someone else smile.
  Tim enjoyed playing basketball. It was a passion he shared with his 
best friend, Tim Hester. While in Iraq, Tim would e-mail Hester about 
the one-on-one games they would play when he returned. Hester describes 
Tim as someone who was funny, kind, and loving. He said:

       Tim was always making people laugh. He was always joking 
     around. That was one of my favorite parts about Tim. We could 
     always just joke around. But, we also had serious times 
     together. You know, when things were going wrong, we were 
     there for each other.

  Tim's father-in-law says it was a treat to watch Tim with the family 
he loved so much. He said:

       Timothy James Hines, Jr. was a true hero. He's my hero. His 
     faith in God, his dedication to his family, his love of life, 
     his courage and strength, and his service to his country have 
     profoundly and forever impacted me.

  Even in Tim's darkest hour, he was thinking of his family first. His 
mother-in-law Kathi tells the story of when Tim was wounded in Iraq:

       A buddy who stayed with him while they waited for help said 
     all he talked about was [his wife] Katy, [his 2 year-old 
     daughter] Lily, and the coming baby. He's very devoted to his 
     family. He's the kind of young man any mother would want her 
     daughter to marry.

  Tragically, Tim died before the birth of his son, Noah.
  As Ohioans have done so often in the past, the community has rallied 
around Tim's family, offering comfort and support. More than 400 
mourners attended his funeral to pay their respects to this fallen 
soldier. And an anonymous donor gave a full scholarship to Cincinnati 
Christian School, Tim and Katy's alma mater, for the education of their 
children.
  I would like to share with my colleagues the words of Army BG Patrick 
O'Reilly, who spoke at Tim's funeral. This is what he said:

       It's soldiers like Timothy Hines who serve and guard our 
     way of life. But, it's not just the soldier who pays the 
     price for freedom. The families also give so much, and you 
     too have sacrificed.

  I would also like to share what Tim's wife Katy has said about her 
husband--truly the love of her life:

       Tim was a fighter. He fought hard for his country, family, 
     and ultimately, his life. He was a loyal husband and father 
     and an incredible American. There is a price for freedom, and 
     Tim paid the ultimate price. Now he is in the loving arms of 
     God.

  I am honored that I had the opportunity to attend Tim's funeral, 
where his family and friends talked about his warmth, his humor, and 
his desire to protect those he loved. He was a man we all aspire to 
be--someone devoted to his family, his community, and his country. My 
wife Fran and I will continue to keep his family in our thoughts and in 
our prayers.


                 Lance Corporal William Brett Wightman

  Mr. President, this evening I rise to honor a fallen hero who gave 
his life during Operation Iraqi Freedom--LCpl William Brett Wightman, 
from Sabina, OH. He died on August 3, 2005, when a roadside bomb 
exploded under his military vehicle in Iraq. He was 22 years of age at 
the time.
  Brett--as he was called by family and friends--was a true example of 
what it means to be a ``hometown hero.'' Sabina is a small village in 
Clinton County, OH, not too far from my home. The high school Brett 
attended--East Clinton High School--is carved out of surrounding 
fields, fields of farmland. Brett will never be forgotten there. He was 
prom king, a star on the basketball and track and field teams, and 
captain of the school's football team, the Astros. He played fullback. 
He wore No. 44.
  Everyone who knew Brett agrees that he died doing what he wanted to 
do--serving our Nation. Becoming a member of the military had been his 
dream ever since he was a little boy. Brett's aunt Missy said that 
Brett ``would play with those G.I. Joes and he'd say `I'm going to grow 
up and be one of those guys.' All of his life, that's all he would talk 
about.''
  Brett joined the Marines while he was still a junior in high school--
young enough that he needed his parents to come with him to enlist and 
give their permission. The Reserves unit Brett served with was Lima 
Company--Marine Force Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 
4th Marine Division, based in Columbus, OH. Their story, of course, is 
one that I have talked about on this Senate floor before and one that 
has touched hearts in Ohio and all across our country. On the day Brett 
died, 13 other men in his unit died alongside him. It was a tragedy 
felt by the entire State, and by our Nation.
  Family members said Brett was proud of being a marine and was 
planning to reenlist. His goal was to rise to the very top of the 
service. As his stepsister Stephanie Finley said:

       When I talked to him a month ago, he said he loved what he 
     was doing. He said he would go back if he had to.

  According to his mother, Pam, she received a letter from her son that 
she will cherish forever. In it, he described finding a child while 
searching Iraqi houses for material to make improvised explosive 
devices. The child was chained to the wall, and it was Brett and his 
fellow marines who rescued him. It was a day of the utmost importance 
for Brett, and this is how he described it:

       One of the kids was chained up to a wall by his ankle with 
     a dead lock. He looked like he had been there for months. If 
     anyone tells you we shouldn't be over here they should have 
     seen how happy this kid was when I cut him loose.

  After signing his letter, Brett wrote ``P.S.--Hang in there.'' This 
was typical of Brett, according to his family. Even while serving his 
country overseas, he was more concerned about others than himself. 
Brett's friends and former teammates describe him as a person who would 
do anything for you. His stepsister Stephanie said:

       It didn't take Iraq for him to be a hero to me. He'll 
     always be my hero.

  Brett was committed to the Corps and the other marines in his unit. 
While serving in Iraq, he received the news that his grandmother had 
passed away. Although deeply saddened, Brett wrote that he would have 
to wait to take the time to grieve. In his words, he had ``to watch out 
for my Marines.'' According to his mother, this letter encapsulated 
everything that Brett was about. ``He would do anything for anybody at 
any time,'' she said.
  Brett's father, Keith, agreed:

       Things like that just make you feel that your child has 
     grown up to be responsible,'' he said. ``He did what he had 
     to do. Not many kids his age take on the responsibilities of 
     the world. Every man and woman in the service is taking that 
     on.

  Brett's Aunt Missy said that Brett's life ``was just beginning, with 
a lot of ambition and a lot of hope. Unfortunately, it's been cut short 
. . . [but] we know that he [was] happy, doing what he wanted to do all 
his life.''
  Mr. President and Members of the Senate, Brett's death was truly a 
loss for the entire Sabina community, the entire Clinton County 
community. In a local bar named The Crow Bar, a lone can of beer stands 
on a shelf. ``This beer is for Brett,'' reads an attached sign.
  Before his Reserve unit was activated, Brett was working as a 
carpenter for a local home construction company. He was close to his 
coworkers, one of whom was a fan of Michigan-Ohio State's football 
team. Before a Michigan/Ohio State game, Brett made a bet with him that 
the Buckeyes would win. They did win, and Brett enjoyed his winnings--
the privilege of frying his friend's Michigan shirt on the grill.
  Barb Howard is the mother of one of Brett's hometown friends. She 
remembers Brett and other neighborhood youngsters lounging around her 
house after their pee-wee sports games, eating food and watching 
movies. This group of boys remained friends while playing high school 
sports, and Brett became like a son to her. ``It's like a piece of you 
is gone,'' Barb reflected.
  Justin Stewart plays football for the Astros. He said he had admired 
Brett ever since the third grade, when the older Brett would help him 
with his pee-wee football drills. ``I am proud of him,'' Justin said. 
``I am just happy he was over there fighting.''
  As captain of the East Clinton football team, Brett was more than a 
supportive teammate--he was a leader

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with responsibility. This focus on teamwork and this commitment to 
helping others explain Brett's desire to become a marine, and also 
explains what kind of marine he became.
  Brett's funeral was on the football field at East Clinton High 
School, and over 1,000 mourners attended to salute the young 
marine. Rev. Carey Hilterbran, who had known Brett since he was a boy, 
assured the crowd that it was not a day for sorrow--Brett had died 
living his dream. ``[Brett] wasn't afraid,'' he said. ``He had a good 
mindset, and he knew what he wanted to do.'' While Reverend Hilterbran 
was speaking, the members of the Astros football team--wearing their 
red and white jerseys--stood silently at attention.

  Schuyler Streber was one of Brett's football teammates. In his words, 
the world is going to be a lesser place without Brett Wightman in it. 
Standing on the East Clinton football field, Schuyler said that 
``sometimes you want to laugh because of some of the things we did out 
here together, and [sometimes] you want to cry because of the more 
emotional times. And to think I'm here right now and he's not--that's 
something that's hard to face. . . . We'll all miss him very much.''
  Duane Richard is a young artist who did not personally know Brett 
Wightman. But he was so moved by the young Marine's sacrifice that he 
painted a 30-foot-wide mural of Brett on the side of Duane's parents' 
barn. He lined the image with 13 American flags--one for each of the 
Lima Marines killed during the roadside bombing. The barn is along Snow 
Hill road in Sabina, and people stop everyday to gaze at the mural and 
take pictures.
  The artwork reflects Brett's honor and courage, as well as the great 
respect that his fellow Americans have for his sacrifice. In Duane's 
words, Brett was a ``true American hero.''
  Brett Wightman put his life on the line to preserve the freedoms that 
we Americans hold dear. He cherished hometown values and the importance 
of helping those around him. His family and friends will never forget 
him. ``Brett will never be in the past,'' as his mother Pam so 
beautifully said.
  Indeed, Brett will never be forgotten. My wife, Fran, and I continue 
to keep Brett and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, those were three of the most beautiful 
tributes I have heard any of our colleagues give about the men and 
women who have died in service to this country. It was truly a 
testament to the strength of the Senator from Ohio, his caring and 
compassion for the people of Ohio that he and his team would take the 
time to compile such beautiful memories of these three young men and to 
share them with us in the Congressional Record as he did. I thank him 
for those beautiful tributes.

                          ____________________