[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11165-S11173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      specialist allen james knop

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today in 
remembrance of a brave Ohioan from Willowick--Army SPC Allen James 
Knop. On November 23, 2005, Specialist Knop died while serving our 
Nation in Iraq. He was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry 
Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, based at 
Fort Campbell, KY. He was 22 years old.
  Specialist Knop is survived by his mother Eileen D'Ercole, his father 
William Knop, and his siblings Brandon, Rachel, Max, Natalie, and 
Alison.
  Allen graduated from North High School in Eastlake, OH, in 2002. He 
loved sports--especially golf. His mother Eileen remembers that Allen 
was extremely charismatic and that he willingly would make sacrifices 
that helped others. She said, ``Blessings come from the heart, and my 
son had the most wonderful heart of anyone I know.''
  As a high school student, Allen developed a strong work ethic. He 
relished responsibility. His father William does masonry work and often 
would hire Allen during his summer vacations. William said, ``[Al] 
would work with me in the summer. He was strong. He was thin. And, he 
was fast. Sometimes my guys would come up to me and say, `Hey! That kid 
works harder than we do!' ''
  Allen's father remembers that it was the terrorist attacks of 
September 11, 2001, that motivated his son to enlist in the Army 
immediately after high school. William worried about the decision, but 
was deeply impressed by Allen's responses to his questions. This is 
what Allen said: ``Just think, Dad. If everyone thought like you, there 
wouldn't be anybody over there fighting now.'' Recalling this 
conversation, William said, ``That's probably the bravest thing I've 
ever heard anybody say.''
  Al's mother Eileen remembers how proud her son was to be in the Army. 
She said, ``He could have gone to any college in the country, but he 
chose to join for a cause he truly believed in.''
  His father also recalls that Allen didn't have any delusions about 
war. He understood the danger of combat, but willingly enlisted because 
he felt such pride in our country. That is simply the kind of person he 
was.
  Allen spent 13 months on combat duty in Iraq--and then reenlisted. 
His second tour began in August of 2005. His father said that ``that 
tour was hard on him, but he was so proud to serve that he re-enlisted 
to go back. It meant everything to him. He was a true patriot.''
  Still though, Allen knew that re-enlisting worried his family--and 
nothing meant more to him than his family. So he decided to use a 
family golfing trip to get a few laughs with them before he left. He 
showed up dressed in a light-blue leisure suit and talked his younger 
brother Max into dressing up like Johnny Cash, the Man in Black. 
William always laughs at the memory. ``It's Al,'' he said. ``Always 
goofing around. . . . That's one of the best memories I'll have of 
him.''
  It was during this same golf outing that Allen gave his brother Max a 
special gift. Even though Allen was careful with money and didn't like 
to spend it freely, he had recently bought an expensive new golf set 
and driver for himself. William remembers, however, that when Allen 
said goodbye and went to drive away, he stopped, turned around, and 
summoned his brother Max. This is how William describes what happened 
next:

       So he got out of the car and walked over to [me]. He had 
     that driver with him and he said, ``Here, Max. Keep an eye on 
     this until I get back.''

  Allen's family and friends will always remember him as someone who 
was extremely generous, caring, and selfless. Once, during his first 
tour of Iraq, Allen got a pass to come home for a visit. But he didn't 
use it for himself. Instead, he gave it to a fellow soldier whose wife 
and children were eager to see him. His mother Eileen remembers, ``It 
broke my heart, but he did what was right. How could you argue with 
that?''
  Hundreds of friends, colleagues, and family members attended Allen's 
funeral, which took place on a snowy day in Ohio. U.S. Army Staff 
Sergeant Christopher Davis, Allen's squad leader during his 2003 tour 
of duty in Iraq, spoke at the service. This is what he said of Allen:

       Rest assured, he will live forever in the tales of heroism 
     that we brothers will tell. . . . Today, Al's band of 
     brothers are here to pay tribute to one of our own.

  Staff Sergeant Davis also recalled that while Allen exhibited 
tremendous leadership abilities, he also had the ability to make his 
fellow soldiers laugh and possessed a unique ``light-heartedness and 
boundless energy.'' He said this of Allen:

       He was a fierce fighter, and he was quick with a joke. Our 
     unit suffered some very difficult times, but Al was like a 
     beacon. He was the only one that could make me laugh.

  During the funeral, Pastor Larry Bogenrief spoke of Allen's strong 
faith in God and his commitment to military service. He said that he 
``was a young man who found a cause he was willing to put his life on 
the line for.'' The Pastor also recalled conversations between Allen 
and his mother Eileen about the dangerous conditions in Iraq. He 
remembers how Allen would say, ``We've been through some pretty close 
scrapes, Mom. Keep praying for us. I know God is watching over us.''
  U.S. Army BG Michael J. Lally III, also spoke at the funeral. ``He 
was a born leader,'' he said of Allen. ``He had integrity, and he knew 
what was right.''
  Mr. President, Allen Knop will never be forgotten by the friends and 
family who all loved him so much. He was simply fun to be around. His 
step-mother Francine Knop remembers he was so close to his family and 
always happy when with them. She said, ``We were absolutely a close 
family. He was with us during a lot of good times.''
  Allen's father remembers the joy with which his son lived. He said, 
``Oh, [Al] was always joking, always pulling pranks. He was just a 
happy-go-lucky guy, and he would do anything in the world for you.''
  Allen was close to his grandmother, Alberta Knop. She lived down the 
street from him, and he'd often ride his bike to see her. ``He was just 
such a good boy, just a good person. He's just such a sweetheart,'' she 
said. ``He's my hero. I'm very, very proud of him.''
  Mr. President, I conclude my remarks with the words of Allen's 
father. This is what he said:

       I want people to know my son was a brave and honest man, 
     and he was loved by so many people--but nobody more than by 
     his father.

  Mr. President, Allen Knop lived his life with a selflessness that is 
rare. His loss is truly a loss for each and every one of us. My wife 
Fran and I will continue to keep his family in our thoughts and in our 
prayers.


                         SERGEANT DAVID KREUTER

  Mr. President, I rise today to remember a brave Marine and a fellow 
Ohioan who gave his life in service to our Nation--Marine Sergeant 
David Kreuter, from Cincinnati. On August 3, 2005, Sergeant Kreuter was 
killed when a roadside bomb exploded under his amphibious assault 
vehicle. He was 26 years old.
  Throughout his life, David loved everything about the outdoors. He 
enjoyed camping and joined the Boy Scouts as a child. From the time he 
was a small boy, David had an extraordinary sense of adventure equal 
only to

[[Page S11166]]

his sense of humor. He was simply the kind of person who was always 
bringing a smile to the face of others.
  Mark Wiete, one of David's former Boy Scout troop leaders, remembers 
that David was always making everyone laugh. ``He was always doing 
funny voices,'' he said. ``He was very animated.'' And according to his 
father, Ken, David simply ``brightened a room when he came in, and it's 
that kind of spirit you can't replace.''
  David graduated in 1997 from St. Xavier High School, where he ran on 
the cross-country team. After graduation in 1998, he joined the Marine 
Reserves. His godfather Norm Clarke remembers David's determination to 
always be the best. ``David wanted to do the toughest thing there is,'' 
he said, ``and the Marines represented that.''
  As a Reservist, David attended Ohio University and then graduated 
from the University of Cincinnati in 2004, with a Bachelor of Science 
degree in Criminal Justice.
  In September 2004 after graduating, he married his college 
sweetheart, Chrystina. Chrystina truly found the love of her life in 
the dedicated and fun-loving David. He was her rock of stability.
  David had always made everyone in his life laugh. It was no different 
with his fellow marines in Iraq. With friend LCpl Tim Bell, a fellow 
Ohioan who was killed that same day alongside David, he was always 
cracking jokes. Despite being overseas and fighting in one of the most 
dangerous places in the world, David remained a good-natured prankster, 
someone who could always make his marine brothers smile.
  Being a marine meant so much to David. When his tour of duty ended in 
Iraq, he was hoping to attend Officers' Training School and make the 
military his career. His friends and family remembered that he loved 
every part of being a marine--from the uniform he wore to working the 
most dangerous missions in the most insecure part of the world. ``He 
wanted to be the best,'' his father Ken remembers. ``He wanted to do 
the hardest thing possible. As far as we can tell, he was involved in 
just about every major mission or event over there.''
  David consistently volunteered for his unit's most dangerous 
missions, even though he knew he might not return. But, you see, David 
believed in what he was doing and that he was fighting for what he 
believed was right. During phone conversations with his mother Pat he 
told her that he could see his marines making such a positive 
difference in Iraq.
  David was passionate about his marines and passionate about his own 
unit. But he was also passionate about his family. He grew up with 
loving and devoted parents, and his two younger sisters, Kristin and 
Laura, adored him, even though he teased them endlessly.
  Tragically, David was just beginning his own family when he was 
killed. According to his mom, ``He was going to be a really good 
husband and a good father.'' He and Chrystina had been married less 
than a year, and she had given birth to their son Christian just 7 
weeks before his death. David was looking forward to his return so that 
he could meet his son for the first time. In one of his last letters 
home to his sister Laura, he wrote the following:

       No matter what, I think we should be home by the first week 
     of October. I will see you then and we can talk about 
     Halloween costumes for Christian.

  David was never able to meet Christian in person, but the 7 weeks 
before his death were full of love and devotion for his son. On 
telephone calls with Chrystina, David would listen joyfully to the 
sound of his newborn son's peaceful breathing.
  At David's funeral, the Rev. Tim Williams read a letter Chrystina 
wrote to David after his death. ``I promise you,'' she wrote, 
``Christian will know you every day of his life and how much you love 
him. You paid the ultimate price to protect him.''
  After David's death, there was an amazing outpouring of love and 
support for his family. One night they returned home from his 
visitation services, after spending hours meeting with friends and 
strangers, to find that their neighbors, along with the Oak Hills High 
School football team, had lined the streets of Miami Township, OH, with 
mile after mile of luminaries. At David's funeral, hundreds of mourners 
attended to pay their respects.
  I never met David, but I was honored to be asked by the family to 
speak at his funeral. Everyone I met that day had countless stories 
about his wonderful sense of humor, his charisma, his devotion to 
family, and his devotion to country.
  Indeed, David was the model of what a marine should be. No matter 
what challenge he was faced with, he always gave it his best. Once he 
started something, he wouldn't quit. He was committed to the values of 
freedom and democracy--the values that we all hold dear, and, in the 
end, he gave his life so that those ideals will be preserved for all of 
us. David was a marine through and through--completely dedicated to his 
mission and to the belief that what he did was right.
  When I think of David's life, it reminds me of something President 
Dwight David Eisenhower once said:

       Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.

  David truly had that faith in freedom and fought so hard to protect 
it. He didn't fight because he had to; he volunteered. He served in 
Iraq because this is what he believed in, and because of what he did 
our world has been made a better place. It is a safer place, both for 
us and for our children.
  Christian Kreuter will grow up in a better world because of his dad. 
He will be proud of his dad, just as all of us are.
  My wife Fran and I will continue to keep the family and friends of 
Marine SGT David Kreuter in our thoughts and in our prayers.


                Sergeant First Class Daniel B. Crabtree

  Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute this evening to a fellow Ohioan, 
Army National Guard SFC Daniel Brian Crabtree from Canton, OH. On June 
8, 2006, Sergeant Crabtree died in Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated 
near his vehicle. He was 31 years of age.
  Born in Columbus, Dan, as his family and friends called him, grew up 
dreaming that some day he would become a soldier. His mother Judy 
remembers coming home one afternoon to find her 13-year-old son on the 
phone with a strange adult. That adult was an Army recruiter, and Dan 
had signed up to join the service in 4 years. ``He was just a born 
warrior,'' Judy remembers.
  Even as a boy, Dan displayed uncommon bravery and courage. His 
longtime friend Steve Hodges remembers one night in particular when he 
and some others were making noises outside a camping tent in which Dan 
was sleeping. Of those sleeping in the tent, Dan was the first to come 
out to see what the noise was. ``Even then,'' Steve said, ``you would 
recognize the military man Dan was to become.''
  Dan simply could not wait to help defend his Nation. The only thing 
that stopped him from serving in the first gulf war is he was too young 
at the time, even though he tried to get his mother to sign papers 
allowing him to serve.
  Dan joined the Army Reserves in 1992 when he was a junior at Lake 
High School in Hartville, OH. After graduating the following year, he 
transferred to the Ohio Army National Guard as an administrative 
specialist. He later trained as a military police officer and served 
the 135th Military Police Company in Brook Park. Along the way, he 
earned his associate degree in criminal justice from the University of 
Akron.

  Dan's entire life was devoted to protecting others. Before defending 
his country overseas, he worked as a police officer guarding us at 
home. He was an officer in the Cuyahoga Falls police department for 9 
years where he was assigned to the patrol division and was a member of 
the SWAT team and Honor Guard. Before that, Dan had worked with the 
Hartville police department for more than a year.
  Dan's fellow officers remember him as a dedicated officer who was 
very comfortable patrolling the streets. They also remember him as a 
``sweet-hearted'' man who would do anything for his fellow officers and 
his friends.
  ``He was young and ambitious, just a good guy,'' recalled Hartville 
police chief George Dragovich. ``He did a great job.''
  Although Dan loved being a police officer, family and friends say 
that military service had always been his passion, particularly the 
Special Forces. He signed up for the Special Forces just 2 weeks before 
the terrorist attacks on September 11 and joined the

[[Page S11167]]

19th Special Forces Group of the Ohio National Guard in March 2002. He 
graduated from the vigorous Special Forces qualifications course in May 
2004, finally earning that coveted green beret.
  Family and friends remember that Dan's determination to succeed in 
the Special Forces was unmatched. No one worked harder. When Dan was 
training for the qualifications course, he was also working night 
shifts as a police officer. But simply being tired wasn't going to keep 
him from his dream. Instead, he would go for 15-mile runs with a 
backpack strapped to him--a backpack filled with several pounds of 
rock.
  As an adult, Dan was very much the boy he had once been--eager to 
serve his Nation. ``At the time, he seemed excited to go over,'' 
Hartville police sergeant Dan Stiles said, remembering the time Dan was 
preparing to go to California to train for urban combat before being 
sent to Iraq. ``He was ready to go.'' When he left for Iraq, his fellow 
police officers gave him a parting gift--a medal of St. Christopher, 
the patron saint of travelers.
  Dan loved the work he was doing with the Special Forces in Iraq. His 
civilian knowledge and experience with weapons uniquely qualified him 
for his mission--and that mission was the development and 
implementation of a SWAT training program for the Iraqi police force in 
Al Kut. In addition, Dan simply had a knack for teaching. Even with the 
members of his own unit, he always took the time to explain things. He 
was patient and understanding and so very knowledgeable.
  A young soldier who trained with Dan in the United States remembers 
his kindness:

       He always stopped and took the time to talk to me. . . . He 
     answered my questions no matter how stupid they were. That 
     was Dan. He was what being a Special Forces soldier is all 
     about.

  But Dan was more than a knowledgeable comrade and teacher to his 
fellow soldiers. He was also a good friend, one who will be remembered 
with laughter and smiles. His fellow soldiers from the 19th Special 
Forces Group particularly remember Dan's first jump with the elite 
troops after he successfully completed the qualifications course. He 
landed badly, breaking his leg in the fall. One of his friends rushed 
over to make sure he was OK, only to find that Dan was lying there 
laughing, even while grimacing from the pain.
  That was typical of Dan. That is what friends and family tell. He 
simply loved being in the Army. He believed in his mission. According 
to a fellow member of his unit, Dan ``died doing what he liked to do.''
  Dan's death was a terrible blow felt by his entire community. More 
than 500 mourners, many of whom were uniformed police officers from 
Hartville and Cuyahoga Falls, attended his funeral to pay their 
respects to the fallen soldier. Volunteers from nearby police stations 
took over police officer duties in Cuyahoga Falls so that almost the 
entire department could attend the services.
  As Cuyahoga Falls police chief John Connally said:

       We are just crushed. Everyone at the department is in 
     shock. . . . We're going to miss him for a long time.

  Those who attended the service remembered Dan's dedication to the 
military. Rev. Robert Baker said this:

       No one ever went up to Dan and said, ``Join the Army, join 
     the Special Forces.'' It was in his heart. He was a man of 
     uncommon valor and invincible courage.

  Hartville police officer John Norman said that his friend was living 
his high school dream by serving as a member of the Special Forces. 
``This is what he wanted,'' Officer Norman said.
  Dan also will be remembered as a devoted husband and a father. He 
loved his wife Kathy and missed her when he was away. According to 
Officer Norman, Dan was planning to take some vacation time after he 
returned from Iraq so he could be a stay-at-home dad for several weeks 
to help Kathy. ``He was going to basically put the rest of his life 
into his wife and family,'' he recalls.
  Steve Hodges, Dan's longtime friend, read a letter at his funeral 
that he addressed to Mallory, Dan's young daughter. In his letter, 
Steve remembered the proudest moment in Dan's life had been when 
Mallory was born. He told her about the things her father had loved, 
such as playing soccer, Atari video games, and Axis and Allies, a World 
War II strategy game.
  Steve told her that her father had been a ``brave and kind'' man, 
someone who deeply loved to help people and deeply loved his country. 
Steve also read the following words about Dan:

       He was worried, Mallory, for your safety. He wanted the 
     best for you--for you to be happy, for you to be able to 
     enjoy the freedoms he loved so much.
  Mr. President, Dan Crabtree will be remembered and missed by all who 
knew him. They will laugh at the memorable things, the funny things he 
said and did, and they will remember his smile. They will remember that 
he was a fitness fanatic who practiced kung fu and that he had one of 
the largest ``Star Wars'' collections in Ohio, a collection including 
everything from action figures to DVDs of the movies themselves. Most 
of all, they will remember the devotion and loyalty Dan had for his 
family, for his Special Forces, and for his Nation. Dan dedicated his 
life to serving our country. His actions have earned him more medals 
and awards than we can list tonight, including the Meritorious Service 
Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.
  I conclude with words from a statement released by Dan's family. This 
is what Dan's family wrote:

       Dan was proud of the career he built in the Army. He was a 
     loving husband, a dedicated and proud father, and a caring 
     son. He was also a soldier who unwaveringly placed our 
     country before himself. Dan was honored to serve with his 
     fellow soldiers, proud to serve in the United States Army, 
     and grateful to be an American.

  Mr. President, Fran and I will continue to keep the family of SFC 
Daniel B. Crabtree, his wife Kathy, his daughter Mallory, his parents 
Ronald and Judy, his brother Bill, and his sister Debbie in our 
thoughts and our prayers.


                  Lance Corporal Brian Paul Montgomery

  Mr. President, this evening I would like to pay tribute to my fellow 
Ohioan, Marine LCpl Brian Paul Montgomery from Willoughby. On August 1, 
2005, Lance Corporal Montgomery, age 26 at the time, gave his life in 
service to his country when insurgents in Iraq ambushed his sniper 
unit. He was serving with the Marine Reserve's Third Battalion, 25th 
Regiment from Brook Park, OH.
  His family and friends will remember him most for his contagious 
smile and his patriotic sense of duty. His father Paul describes him as 
someone who was ``very selfless.'' Everyone who knew Brian agrees that 
he died doing what he wanted to do, which was serving his country as a 
member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
  Brian graduated from South High School in Willoughby in 1998. He then 
went on to become a political science major at Cleveland State 
University and planned to have a career in law enforcement. At the same 
time, he was running a small video store in Willoughby with his wife 
Pamela.
  After the terrorist attacks of September 11, Brian strongly felt his 
country was calling him to duty, so he joined the Marine Corps Reserves 
the next year.
  Brian was close to his younger brother Eric, who had idolized his 
protective older brother while growing up. As young men, the two would 
become something more than brothers--they would become barracks mates 
in Iraq. Eric decided to enlist in the Marines when word started 
circulating that Brian's unit would be shipping to Iraq. Eric said:

       The first time I saw my brother in his dress blues, I 
     wanted to do this with him. If my brother was going to Iraq, 
     I was going to serve with him.

  In January 2005, Brian and Eric were deployed together in the same 
unit. While at their base camp in Iraq, they would have long talks 
about the importance of family, country, and service. Brian told Eric 
that he had a responsibility to their parents to get him home safe. He 
said:

       I know you will take care of my wife and son if I don't 
     make it, so I have to get you home.

  No one was more proud than Brian Montgomery to be a marine. His wife 
remembers how he loved to show off his marine tattoos in bars. Brian's 
friend Lesley Bolden, who worked in his video store, remembers that a 
marine was something he always wanted to be.
  In Iraq, even though Brian had been trained as a mortar man, he 
volunteered for sniper duty. Talking to his

[[Page S11168]]

father on the phone, however, Brian always downplayed the danger: ``I'm 
good to go,'' is the most he would say, but his father knew the truth. 
``Keep lying to me, Brian,'' he would say. ``We can talk about it when 
you get home.''
  When Brian died, he died alongside five other members of his sniper 
unit. They were really a close-knit group--friends, comrades, and 
brothers. I would like to share the words of SGT Brian Casagrande, who 
served with the snipers of the 3-25. This is what he said about Brian:

       I recall on numerous occasions after returning from a 
     mission Brian would find Eric to make sure he was OK. 
     `Monty,' as we called him, would argue a point he didn't even 
     believe, just for the sake of debate.

  After Brian's death, Eric's marine brothers rallied around him in 
support. Eric said that:

       From the moment I found out, I couldn't go anywhere without 
     another Marine grabbing me. That was their brother, too.

  Their father Paul remembers how much being a marine meant to Brian. 
He said:

       Even though we've had a great loss, it's still very 
     comforting to know he was doing something that he believed 
     very deeply in.

  Brian was an outstanding, dedicated, heroic marine. But even more 
importantly, Brian Montgomery was a loving family man who was devoted 
to his wife and son Alexander. His wife remembers that she knew she was 
going to marry him the very day they met. Brian was quite simply the 
love of her life. She said:

       You never believe in love at first sight until it happens 
     to you.

  Their son was born a few months before Brian was deployed to Iraq and 
marked his first birthday just 2 days after Brian was killed. Held in 
his grandfather's arms, he wore his own Marine dress blue uniform to 
Brian's funeral.
  Brian's wife Pamela says that every day she will tell Alexander about 
his dad. She went on to say the following:

       I'll just tell him what a great man that Brian was, and 
     he's a hero. What he did for his country, for his family, for 
     every American citizen, we will never forget. He'll be proud 
     of his dad.

  At a church funeral service in Brian's honor, his father remembered 
how Brian always put others before himself, how as a small boy he had 
rushed to help a 5-year-old friend who had fallen and skinned his knee. 
He also remembered how the shock of the September 11 terrorist attacks 
prompted Brian to join the Marines. In Paul Montgomery's words, Brian 
simply ``had a deep conviction that he needed to protect his country.''

  During the funeral, his brother Eric led mourners in a 2-minute 
standing ovation in Brian's honor. He said that ``Brian will always be 
right here with me, with all of you.''
  Eric is currently attending the U.S. Naval Academy so he can become a 
Marine officer. In his brother's memory, he got a tatoo that Brian had 
always wanted. It reads: ``Never left. Never forgotten.''
  Indeed, Brian Montgomery will never be forgotten. I had the honor of 
attending calling hours for Brian. I was able to meet the family and 
friends for whom he fought. Brian's stepmother Loren was making a giant 
scrapbook for him when he died. It was filled with the mementos of 
Brian's life. In it is a picture of the January day that he shipped 
out. He is cuddling newborn Alexander. There was a giant smile across 
his face. As Loren said:

       I never got to finish it for Brian. I will have to finish 
     it for Alexander now.

  In her husband's memory, all Pamela asks is that we support all of 
our servicemembers. She says:

       We need to honor our servicemembers every single day. If 
     you see one, salute them. Or stop in the recruiting office or 
     the VFW and thank them.

  Pretty good advice, Mr. President.
  Brian Montgomery was a young man with a deep commitment and resolve 
for service--a young man with an abiding love and dedication to his 
family, community, and country. Brian was the model of what we all hope 
our young men and women will become.
  My wife Fran and I continue to keep the family of Brian Montgomery in 
our thoughts and in our prayers.


                      Lance Corporal Devon Seymour

  Mr. President, this evening I would like to pay tribute to a great 
soldier and fellow Ohioan, Marine LCpl Devon P. Seymour from St. 
Louisville, who lost his life on July 9, 2005, when an improvised 
explosive device exploded near his military vehicle in the Al Anbar 
Province of Iraq. Devon was only 21 years of age at the time.
  Devon was a young man who always knew that he would one day join the 
military. As a boy, his favorite clothes were khakis and camouflage, 
and he was an avid collector of model airplanes. During high school, he 
joined the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program and attended National Guard 
summer camps.
  His mother Janet says she always knew her son would one day serve his 
country in the military. According to her, Devon was more interested in 
military life than he was in sports. She tried to persuade him to join 
the Air Force or the Army, but he was passionate about being a marine. 
In her words:

       Devon was a stubborn kid, but he was proud, and I was proud 
     of him. I wish I could tell him that now.

  From an early age, he displayed the dedication and responsibility 
that would make him an outstanding marine. His father James remembers 
how determined his son was to get a dog. He recalls:

       Devon wanted a dog, so what he did was he cut pictures out 
     of magazines. Every time you opened a door, there would be a 
     picture of a dog.

  It was that same tenacity Devon brought with him into the military, a 
career he loved. As his friends have said, the military was just in his 
blood. His father James was a warrant officer in the Army National 
Guard, and his uncles were military men as well.
  James said that his son decided to become a marine during his senior 
year of high school after the terrorist attacks of September 11. He 
believed so strongly in the cause that he talked to a recruiter right 
after 9/11 but was turned away because he was only 17 years of age at 
the time.
  ``He took his birth certificate in, but he was too young,'' James 
recalls. The 17-year-old Devon was told to wait until his birthday that 
November.
  Devon joined the Marines shortly after graduating from Utica High 
School in 2002. His decision did not come as a surprise to Timothy 
Barrett, who is the principal at Utica.

       Devon was doing it not because his dad did it, but because 
     it was the right thing to do. I am sure he had pretty strong 
     convictions about being part of the fight in Iraq and helping 
     secure freedom there.

  While waiting to be deployed to Iraq, Devon worked with a tractor 
supply company in Newark, where he was both a valuable employee and a 
jokester. According to the manager Dave Butler, he ``soon blossomed 
into a treasured and dedicated employee.''
  Devon was deployed to Iraq in February of 2005 and was assigned to 
the Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Akron, OH. He 
was placed on active duty just 8 months after his father James returned 
from having served in Afghanistan.
  Before leaving, Devon talked to a friend, retired school teacher Ron 
Thompson. Ron remembers the final conversation very well, and this is 
what Ron said:

       What was going on seemed to be the right thing, and Devon 
     thought he was prepared. He knew it was a job that had to be 
     done. He always struck me as that kind of person--always 
     doing the right thing. I was very proud of him.

  From Iraq, Devon often called Dave Butler at the Tractor Supply 
Company and other coworkers. According to Dave, Devon never complained. 
In fact, the day before he was killed, he called his mother to wish her 
well after her birthday. Janet said he told her about a fierce 
sandstorm and that conditions were bad. But he also defended the 
mission. ``He believed in the cause,'' she recalled. During the phone 
call, he also assured his mother that he was fine. ``Don't worry, 
Mom,'' he said. ``But I've seen a lot.''
  His mother also remembers that he believed in what he was doing. This 
is how she explained his dedication:

       Before Devon left, he said that the Iraqi people had been 
     bullied around and didn't have anyone to stand up for them. 
     He said that was their job, to stand up for them, and he was 
     there to do it.

  Janet added:

       He was one of the good and decent people willing to help 
     somebody. He was certainly worth knowing.

  Devon is missed by all who knew and loved him. His community rallied

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around his family as well as the families of the other marines who were 
killed alongside him. ``His death was a tragic loss,'' said his former 
principal, Timothy Barrett. ``When it's one of your own, it hits home a 
little closer. This is the first one from our high school to be killed 
in service. It gives you a deeper appreciation for freedom when it is 
one of your own who paid the ultimate price.''
  Mr. President, Devon's father James remembers the fine young man his 
son became. ``He was a good kid,'' he said. ``He was very proud to be a 
Marine. And, I should say, we were very proud of him.''
  The world is a better place because Devon lived in it. A young man 
with a great sense of compassion, a tremendous dedication to his 
family, community, and country, he is missed by all who knew and loved 
him.


             Machinist's Mate Second Class Joseph A. Ashley

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor a fellow Ohioan and a brave 
seaman--Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joseph Allen Ashley, from 
Manchester. Machinist's Mate Ashley died on January 9, 2005, when the 
nuclear submarine he was serving on--the USS San Francisco--collided 
with an undersea mountain. He was 24 years old. He is survived by his 
parents Vicki and Daniel Ashley, and two brothers Daniel Jr. and 
Benjamin.
  Joey--as family and friends called him--attended Manchester High 
School where he was a percussionist in the marching band and a member 
of the Boy Scouts. Joey always had a huge smile on his face when he was 
on the field beating his drums. Those who knew him remember that 
beaming smile most and how he loved being in the spotlight.
  ``[Joey] liked to stand out in a crowd,'' said his brother Benjamin. 
``Dan and I are the quiet ones. Joseph would more likely do the talking 
for us both.''
  His brother Dan Jr. remembers that Joey thought of himself as a 
``good ol' Southern country boy,'' swaggering about in cowboy hat and 
boots. Joey even modeled the horn on his green jeep from his favorite 
T.V. show--The Dukes of Hazzard. When he honked, the song ``Dixie'' 
blared loudly enough to announce his presence all across town.
  Everyone always knew when Joey was around. Once, when he was 
stationed overseas, his father Dan honked the horn to see if it still 
worked. Before Dan knew it, people were calling him to see if his son 
was home.
  After high school, Joey attended Stark State College of Technology 
for a year and took welding classes. He passed both the welding 
certification exams and the Navy entrance test in 2001. His father Dan 
had served 8 years in the Navy, and his mother Vicki remembers how 
excited Joey was to follow in his dad's footsteps. When he signed up, 
he told her, ``Mom I passed the Navy test; I'm going to do what daddy 
did.'' According to his mom, Joey ``always excelled in what he did.''
  Joey was planning a career in the Navy, the service he loved. He made 
his rank in minimal time, and his enthusiasm and ability earned him the 
Junior Sailor of the Year Award at the Guam Naval base. His crewmates 
noticed his obvious talent for repairing machinery and his affinity for 
The Dukes of Hazzard, and gave him the nickname ``Cooter,'' after the 
show's mechanic.
  Family was incredibly important to Joey. He frequently called home to 
check up on his parents and brothers and to let them know he was doing 
okay. He often swapped stories with his grandfather, who had also been 
stationed in the South Pacific during his time with the United States 
Army in WWII. During each phone call, Joey always made it a point to 
tell his family how much he loved them. That's simply the kind of 
person he was.
  His faith was also important to Joey, and he found a church to attend 
wherever he was based. In Ohio, he was a member of both the Canal 
Fulton Baptist Church and the Akron Baptist Temple, and frequented 
other churches in the area, as well. And wherever he was, he had a 
smile for everyone he met.
  Joey's mother describes her son with the following words:

       When he had his heart set on something, he would try his 
     best to get it done. I always told him to do what he wanted 
     in life, but to be the best at it and to always try his 
     hardest.

  Joey did, indeed, achieve his best, and lived his life to the 
fullest. The day he died, his family lost a loving son and the Navy 
lost a brave sailor. He was an excellent submariner, and a valued 
member of what is a truly unique brotherhood. The moment Joey earned 
his dolphin pin--which symbolized his fitness to serve on a submarine--
he joined an elite family of explorers and warriors--our Navy's 
submariners.
  When I think about Joey and his service and dedication to our 
country, I am reminded of words that Sir Winston Churchill once said:

       Of all the branches of men in the forces, there is none 
     which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the 
     submariners.

  Certainly, Joseph Ashley was the embodiment of those words. He was a 
brave sailor, devoted to his family, the Navy, and our Nation. He will 
never be forgotten. Family, friends, and fellow submariners from around 
the world have recognized his passing by leaving comments on his 
Internet tribute page. There are literally hundreds. The following 
words come from one of these tributes, written by a crewmate of Joey's 
on the USS San Francisco:

       . . . I am completely honored to have served with such a 
     great man, a loving person, a hardworking individual, and 
     especially a friend. He has touched my soul, as well the rest 
     of the crew, forever.

  Joey's father said that his son died doing what he loved--serving his 
country. ``This is what he wanted to do,'' he said.
  Joey was buried next to his great-grandfather and namesake, who had 
also been a veteran. At the funeral, the Dixie horn on his green jeep 
played one last time for him.
  Joey left a lasting impression on all who knew him. No one was a 
stranger to him. His crewmates will remember his ``wicked Michael 
Jackson'' impersonation--which one friend describes as ``moonwalking in 
cowboy boots.'' Manchester High School has established a scholarship in 
his honor. And most important, his family will always remember his 
smile, his warmth, and his enthusiasm.
  I conclude by sharing the words of Reverend Dallas R. Billington, who 
spoke at Joey's funeral. Here is what he said:

       I want you to know what Joey has done for you. He gave his 
     life so you can live in freedom.

  Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joseph Ashley served for us in foreign 
waters and patrolled our shores to keep us safe. We will remember him 
always.
  My wife Fran and I will continue to keep Joey's family and friends in 
our thoughts and in our prayers.


                    Sergeant David R. Christoff, Jr.

  Mr. President, tonight I rise to pay tribute to a fallen hero who 
gave his life in service to this Nation--Marine Corps Sgt David Russell 
Christoff, Jr. from Rossford, OH. Sergeant Christoff was killed in Iraq 
on May 22, 2006, from wounds he received when a roadside bomb exploded 
while he was on foot patrol. He was 25 years old.
  David Christoff was deeply devoted to our country. During his time in 
the Marines, he had toured the world with assignments in Australia, 
Thailand, Korea, Kuwait, and the Marshall Islands. At the time of his 
death, he was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.
  David had distinguished himself during his first deployment to Iraq, 
earning himself three commendation medals and the Purple Heart. One 
day, the young marine had been walking behind a truck full of troops 
when a roadside bomb went off. David's step-father, Jim, said that ``he 
risked his life quite a bit to pull a number of people away.''
  David had also fought bravely through the Fallujah streets and was 
awarded a Purple Heart during his first tour for the shrapnel wounds he 
received during that battle. Despite these awards and honors, David 
never wavered in his desire to continue serving his country. He always 
felt that there was more he could do.
  After returning to Ohio on leave in February 2005, David decided to 
leave his company--which was headed to Afghanistan--so that he could 
join one that was going to Iraq--and that was the Hawaii-based 3rd 
Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. David simply 
couldn't wait to return to the job he had been doing in the Middle 
East.

[[Page S11170]]

  His mother Amy remembers that David believed he was making a positive 
difference. He felt a sense of duty to use his combat experience to 
train younger marines, as others had done for him. Amy said, ``They 
were there to help train him, and he wanted to be there for the younger 
Marines, also.''
  A 1999 graduate of Shawnee High School--where he played golf and was 
a media center aid--David was a hero to those who knew him. The day 
after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, he left his job in 
construction and enlisted in the Marines. Like countless other brave 
individuals, he felt compelled to help our Nation. He died doing what 
his family said he loved--and that was defending his country.
  David's faith in the Marines was as great as his faith in America. 
His grandmother Ann remembers this about David:

       David was very smart and got good grades and worked his way 
     up to sergeant very quickly in the Marines. He was always so 
     sure that was what he was supposed to be and that was what he 
     was supposed to be doing. He thought as long as the Marines 
     were over there fighting we could all sleep good at home.

  Bob Willman, a former Clark-Shawnee Superintendent, remembers David 
as a young man who was well-spoken, liked, and respected. It didn't 
surprise him that David joined the Marines. He said that ``David was 
loyal to his family, to his classmates, to his school, and obviously, 
to his country.''
  When David enlisted, he made his intentions clear to his family. 
``After 9/11, he wanted to protect everyone,'' said his aunt Bethann. 
And his father David Sr. said that therefore ``the only thing he could 
do was join the military. He does things all the way.''
  Students, friends, and family all have such fond memories of David 
growing up. He love playing golf and also liked all kinds of music--rap 
when he was younger and classic rock most recently. He had big plans 
for his future, hoping for a career in law enforcement. But, after the 
terrorist attacks of September 11, he knew that his career could wait. 
His country simply needed him more.
  I would like to share David's own words, from a 2002 interview with 
The Toledo Blade. This is what he said:

       I don't want my brother and sister to live in fear. I want 
     to fight and defend the greatest country in the world.

  David truly was a hero to his family. He was given leave to fly home 
in February 2005--and ended up saving his father's life by driving him 
to the hospital when David Sr. was suffering a heart attack. ``He came 
home to save my life,'' his father said. ``Just having him here [safe] 
and not in Iraq saved my life.''
  David was a hero to his fellow Marines, as well. Corporal J.J. 
Aguirre, a fellow marine and friend, remembers what the marines in 
David's squadron had to say about the young sergeant: ``The guys would 
be like, `Man, I'd follow that guy anywhere. If he said lay down here 
and open a field of fire with no cover, I'd do it.'''
  SGT Hector Zelaya remembers that he found a brother in David--not 
just a friend:

       I've been through everything with him, from the beginning 
     of boot camp to (school of infantry), from the Philippines 
     and Korea and Thailand to Fallujah. He's my little brother. 
     He was a true leader, and he had the confidence to stand 
     alone.

  Branden Skabla was David's best friend--they called themselves 
``brothers from different mothers,'' and David was the godfather to 
Branden's son. The boys had grown up together and decided to join the 
Marines on the very same day. It was a day Branden will never forget. 
They were working a construction job together when the news of the 
September 11 attacks reached them. The young men looked at each other, 
and simply knew that their country needed them.
  Branden will never forget his friend. ``It can't be real, but I know 
it is,'' he said. ``I keep waiting for that phone call from him to tell 
me that he's coming home. I'll be waiting for that phone call for the 
rest of my life.'''
  Branden was with David's father when David's belongings arrived. 
Included were two letters, one to each of David's parents. In the 
letters, he asked family and friends to pray for those still serving 
our country overseas.
  David was buried with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery. 
There was also a service in his honor in Ohio. At that service, David's 
parents were each presented with a Purple Heart medal. David, who 
joined the Marine Corps in 2001, had been awarded eight medals during 
his time in the Marines.
  David Christoff, Jr. was a young man with a sincere dedication to our 
country, a compassion for others, and a love of life and liberty. He 
deeply believed in America, in his fellow Marines, and in his family. 
He was motivated by a single desire--the wish to protect those he loved 
most.
  My wife Fran and I will continue to keep David's father, David Sr., 
his mother and step-father Amy and Jim Hogan, his brother Michael, and 
his sister Lauren in our thoughts and in our prayers.


                     Master Sergeant Robert H. West

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow Ohioan--Army 
MSG Robert H. West from Elyria. Master Sergeant West was killed in 
Baghdad on May 14, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated 
near his armored vehicle. He was serving with the 1st Battalion, 312th 
Regiment, 4th Brigade, 78th Division, based at Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina. He was 37 years old.
  Master Sergeant West is survived by his wife Jeannie and their 
daughter Shelby, his mother Mary Heaton, and many loving aunts, uncles, 
and cousins.
  Bobby--as he was known by family and friends--dedicated his life to 
training the young soldiers who would follow in his footsteps. When he 
was killed, he was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and was 
helping train the new Iraqi police force. He had volunteered for the 
deployment because he felt his country needed him and because the 
military was a job he loved and wanted to do well. According to his 
aunt Bonnie, Bobby believed strongly that he had the experience and 
know-how needed to train Iraqi police officers. ``He wasn't afraid,'' 
remembers Nora Hudson, another aunt of Bobby's. ``He said, `I'm a 
trained professional, it'll be all right.' ''
  Bobby graduated from Elyria Catholic High School in 1987, where he 
played on the legendary 1984 state championship football team. He was 
also involved in choir, baseball, and the ski club.
  Lou Rotunda, Bobby's former basketball coach at Elyria Catholic, 
described him as ``a quiet, great kid. He was just a fantastic 
person.''
  After graduating, Bobby enlisted in the Army in 1988. He was 
originally assigned to the armored cavalry. From there, he served for 6 
years as drill instructor. Later, he transferred back to cavalry and 
served as a tank commander during his first deployment to Iraq in 2003 
and 2004. A member of a Division experienced in training Army 
reservists, Bobby then returned to Iraq for a second deployment to help 
train the new Iraqi police force.
  Bobby loved the camaraderie of Army life. Sergeant 1st Class Gerry 
Galloway, who was traveling with Bobby when the fatal attack occurred, 
had first met him several years ago at Fort Knox in Kentucky. In his 
words, Bobby was a ``great NCO, great leader, good decision-maker, 
[and] good friend. I would follow him anywhere.''
  Joseph McFarlane, who served with Bobby, wrote the following about 
him in an email message posted to an Internet tribute Web site:

       Thank you, Bobby, for being a great mentor, peer, and most 
     of all, friend. It hurts me as I write this message and my 
     prayers go out to your loved ones left behind. You have 
     impacted so many young men in your service to this nation. A 
     true Hero, I will miss you always.

  When Bobby was killed, he was riding in a humvee, alongside 45-year-
old CWO John W. Engeman, who was also killed in the attack. The two men 
were close and had been good friends ever since meeting 3 years prior. 
Both deployed voluntarily.
  ``They loved what they did, and they were good at it,'' said Bobby's 
wife Jeannie, speaking of the devotion both men felt for the Army and 
for their country--a devotion that was just in their blood. According 
to Donna, John Engeman's wife, ``It's just what they did. They were 
just very quiet and very privately dedicated to what they did.''
  Fort Bragg's Main Post Chapel held a memorial service in memory of 
both Bobby and John. Over 200 mourners attended--most of them soldiers 
wearing

[[Page S11171]]

the lightning patch of the 78th Division on their uniforms.
  Bobby enjoyed many things, including football, golf, hunting, and 
other sports. He had plans of someday possibly becoming a county 
sheriff's deputy. The most important thing in his life, though, was 
always his family. He loved spending time with his loved ones. He 
married Jeannie--the love of his life--in 1989. His mother Mary, in the 
words of his Aunt Bonnie, ``was gold to him.'' And to Bonnie, herself, 
and her children, Bobby was like a son and a brother. She said,

       We had a special bond, and it grew stronger through the 
     years. No matter how many times he was in and out, he always 
     gave me a big bear hug and a kiss.

  Bobby was close to his cousins, as well. John Shreve, Jr., wrote the 
following about his cousin:

       Bobby brightened every life he touched. You were much more 
     than a cousin to me. You will be greatly missed by all. You 
     are my hero.

  Bobby's family remembers him as a funny guy, whose off-hand comments 
and sunny disposition could brighten even the worst mood. ``People were 
drawn to him, especially kids,'' said his Aunt Tammi. ``They wouldn't 
leave him alone!''
  Those who knew Bobby describe him as someone who could make you laugh 
until you cried--until your cheeks hurt. He loved his family and he 
loved being a soldier. His colleagues will always remember his 
friendship, his experience, and his sense of humor. Bobby was a mentor 
to many soldiers and drill sergeants throughout his life and has 
influenced countless young men and women in their service to our 
Nation.
  Because of his courage and leadership, Master Sergeant West was a 
true hero to all who knew him. He was a man who lived his life with 
great love for and commitment to his family and friends--a man who 
dedicated his life to protecting others. With his actions, Bobby truly 
made this world a better place.
  My wife Fran and I will continue to keep the family of MSG Robert H. 
West in our thoughts and in our prayers.


                     Specialist Anthony D. Kinslow

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow Ohioan--Army 
Specialist Anthony D. Kinslow, from Westerville, who died on June 13, 
2005, when his military vehicle came under attack in Iraq. He was 
serving with the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd 
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colorado. He was 21 
years old.
  Anthony was a young man liked and respected by all who knew him. He 
attended Big Walnut High School, where he was in Roy Merchant's 
mythology class. Roy remembers Anthony as a good student, always quiet 
and polite. And Anthony's friends and family describe him as gentle, 
bookish, and gentlemanly.
  He was kind--someone who was always considerate of others. His was a 
calming presence, some have said. According to his mother Kathleen, the 
only time she ever saw him intense was when he was writing.
  A family friend remembers the type of good, hard-working person that 
Anthony was. As she put it, ``he was a very kind, nice person. He 
worked through high school. Some of the nicest seem to be the ones who 
go.''
  Anthony had strong ties in his community, where his grandfather had 
built the house where he lived. Neighbors say that some members of 
Anthony's family had lived there for at least 40 years.
  Anthony graduated high school in 2002 and enlisted in the Army in May 
2004. He was first stationed in South Korea, where he saw the rain and 
lightning of the monsoon season. He was then redeployed to Kuwait and 
then shortly afterward to Iraq.
  Before being deployed to Iraq, Anthony had worked in the local Waffle 
House restaurant. It was here that he met his girlfriend Nichole. 
Although no date had been set, the two were planning on getting married 
when Anthony's deployment was finished. Heather Potts recalls that 
Anthony was always sending Nichole flowers while he was home--sometimes 
four times a week. She said, ``Our living and dining room and kitchen 
were always filled with flowers.''
  Heather wrote and sang a song entitled ``Come Back to Me'' for 
Anthony when he returned home on leave in January 2005. She said, ``I 
was so scared he wouldn't come back.''
  Anthony was very close to his family. He adored his brothers and 
sisters, while growing up, and cradled his nieces and nephews as an 
adult. As his mother said, ``We all thought that when he passed away, 
how sad it was that he wouldn't have children.''
  Anthony was completely devoted to his family and friends. Whenever 
they needed him, he was simply there for them. This same selfless 
devotion characterized his service in Iraq. One of his Army comrades 
wrote the following to Anthony on an Internet tribute website:

       You were my friend and brother through thick and thin. You 
     were always there for me when I needed a hand. We had many 
     great times over the last year, regardless of the 
     circumstances. I miss you much already, and I only wish you 
     were here now.

  Another soldier from Ohio died along with Anthony on June 13, 2005--
and that was SGT Larry Kuhns from Austintown. Sergeant Kuhns' sister 
Sarah left the following message on that same Internet tribute Web 
site:

       My brother Sergeant Larry Kuhns served with Anthony, and 
     they both fell together. Ever since that day, I have felt 
     lost and alone. I am truly sorry for your loss. My brother 
     talked about Kinslow and thought he was a brave man. My heart 
     goes out to all of you.

  At Anthony's funeral, BG Albert Bryan described him as ``first and 
foremost a soldier.'' He went on to say:

       Specialist Kinslow, in choosing to be a soldier, chose a 
     life of service over personal fulfillment . . . to provide 
     for the greater community rather than to seek out those 
     things that lead to personal gain.

  At the same service, the Reverend James Walter called Anthony a 
``peacemaker.''
  Anthony's mother remembers her son's bravery when he departed for 
Iraq. She wrote Anthony a letter after his death, which was read by a 
friend during his funeral. Her words describe Anthony as stoically 
turning to board the plane that would take him back to the 
battlefields. She wrote, ``I marveled at your immense strength and 
bravery.''
  Anthony will be remembered and deeply missed by all who knew him. He 
was a kind, loving man who served his country selflessly. In the end, 
however, the best words to honor him belong to his mother. She said 
this about her beloved son:

       You were one of the brightest lights of my life, and I know 
     you will shine down on us from heaven. I will always love 
     you, tons, bushels, and spoonfuls.

  My wife Fran and I continue to keep Army SPC Anthony D. Kinslow's 
family--his mother Kathleen, his father and step-mother A. Scott and 
Julia Kinslow, his sisters Emily, Mary, and Lucie Kinslow; his brothers 
Peter Kinslow and PFC Owen Kinslow, and his step-sister Kelli Vanover--
in our thoughts and in our prayers.


          LANCE CORPORAL EDWARD AUGUST ``AUGIE'' SCHROEDER II

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor a fellow Ohioan--Marine LCpl 
Edward Schroeder II, who died on August 3, 2005, when a roadside bomb 
exploded by his vehicle in Iraq. He was 23 years old.
  The son of Paul Schroeder and Rosemary Palmer and the brother of 
Amanda Schroeder, Lance Corporal Schroeder's middle name was August, 
and to family and friends he was known simply as ``Augie.'' Born in 
Columbus, he and his family lived in China during his pre-school years 
before moving to New Jersey, where he graduated from Columbia High 
School in 2000.
  Augie's father remembers his son as a young man of great promise, 
with an ``easy charm and readiness to help.'' Indeed, Augie was the 
type of person whom we can all admire. At Columbia High, he was a 
member of the swim team and lacrosse team. During his free time, he 
would go door-to-door collecting food for needy families and was a 
member of a church outreach program that painted run-down homes, built 
wheelchair ramps, and repaired roofs. He also passed the qualifications 
test to become an emergency medical technician and served on two 
emergency squads. A friend from his church outreach program remembers 
that Augie was simply the kind of person everyone should strive to be.
  Augie's mother Rosemary recalls that ``he just liked to help 
people.'' And sister says that Augie ``was a hero before he died--not 
just because he went to Iraq. I was proud of him before.''

[[Page S11172]]

  After graduating from high school, Augie followed family tradition 
and enrolled at The Ohio State University, while his family moved to 
Cleveland. Augie studied criminal justice at OSU and was a member of 
the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. His fraternity brothers remember that 
he loved to hang out in the fraternity house, sipping beers and talking 
about Buckeyes football.
  Augie began thinking of joining the Marines after the terrorist 
attacks of September 11. He enlisted in 2002. Augie wanted to serve his 
country and felt that the Marines was simply the best way for him to do 
that.
  Mr. President, Augie is remembered most of all for his wonderful 
sense of humor. His mother describes him as a boy of contrasts--he 
could be somber, but he also had a good sense of fun. Friends and 
family still laugh over his many jokes and pranks.
  For example, Augie's pre-school once held an event where the kids 
were told to dress in a manner highlighting their heritage. Augie 
showed up wearing a pair of lederhosen. He pulled them way up and told 
everyone that he was the German cousin of the famous television 
character Steve Urkel and then did a perfect imitation.
  Augie kept his sense of humor throughout school. Once, during a 
middle school talent show, he performed as an inept magician, who, 
along with his dummy partner, fumbled all his tricks.
  And, Augie never lacked ideas for humorous Halloween costumes. He 
showed up at one Halloween party dressed as Tonya Harding, wearing a 
figure-skating outfit and carrying a lead pipe. Another legendary 
costume involved four fingers, a thumb, and a T-shirt lettered ``L.A. 
Evidence Room'' and ``one size fits all.'' He was the infamous bloody 
glove from the O.J. Simpson case.
  Augie's mother said that she always thought that he would eventually 
become either a police officer or a stand-up comic--she just didn't 
know which.
  Rosemary also remembers that being part of a team was incredibly 
important to Augie. Whether growing up in China--where collaborative 
work is stressed--or playing on his many sports teams in New Jersey, 
Augie was always someone who believed in working with others toward a 
greater goal. He loved to participate on the football, soccer, 
baseball, lacrosse, and swimming teams. He was simply a person who 
believed in placing teamwork before individual gain. ``Some people are 
just on that wavelength and that was Augie,'' his mother said.
  Augie's belief in the importance of teamwork is reflected in the work 
he did while growing up and as a young man. At different times, he 
worked as an emergency medical technician, a lifeguard, a Boy Scout, a 
church youth counselor at Camp Glen Gray, and a marine. Along the way, 
he made a positive impact on every life he touched.
  Augie was a young man of great maturity and compassion. Maralynn 
Fahey, a church youth group leader, describes him as a ``selfless'' 
teenager. She particularly remembers his help during food collections. 
She said, ``Dropping 500 bags in the neighborhood was a real effort, 
and that was something Augie was willing to do.''
  An anonymous author once wrote, ``How lucky I am to have known 
someone who was so hard to say goodbye to.'' No better words reflect 
the sentiments of those who knew and loved Augie Schroeder. His desire 
and willingness to help others--even those he didn't know--endeared him 
to all. He was simply a great friend and model citizen.
  Augie's fraternity brother Brian Cox said the following at his 
friend's funeral:

       With Augie, there were no enemies--only friends. He was put 
     on Earth for a reason. Augie was, is, and always will be my 
     hero. 
     [ . . . ] There are very few people of whom you can truly say 
     [they] never let you down--whom you can call a best friend.

  During his funeral, Reverend Charles Yoost also remembered the many 
lives Augie had touched. He said that ``it doesn't seem possible to 
believe that Augie is gone. His brief life made some of us more 
thoughtful people.''
  His mother remembers that Augie was always asking what was out there. 
He wanted to experience everything he could. His approach to life was 
simple--``Let me try.''
  Augie was a man who lived life to its fullest. He was a devoted 
friend, son, brother, and soldier. His sense of humor brightened 
others' days and his generosity and strength of spirit were an 
inspiration to all who knew him.
  Augie's family and friends will never forget the young man who 
brought so much joy to their lives. He was an individual who understood 
the importance of honor and integrity, who believed in loving and 
respecting his family, and who knew the importance of serving one's 
community.
  I am honored to speak about him today.
  My wife Fran and I will continue to keep the family of Augie 
Schroeder in our thoughts and prayers.


                      SERGEANT BENJAMIN J. LAYMON

  Mr. President, I rise today to remember a fallen soldier, who gave 
his life while serving our Nation in Iraq--Army Sgt Benjamin J. Laymon, 
from Mount Vernon, OH. On June 24, 2006, Sergeant Laymon died during 
foot patrol when a roadside bomb exploded. He was 22 years old.
  Ben, as family and friends called him, was a good-natured jokester, 
who loved to pull pranks and make others laugh. Those who knew him best 
described him as the light in the room, and his family called him 
``Gentle Ben'' because of his deeply caring nature. ``He was so sweet 
and considerate,'' remembers his mother Gale. And according to his 
step-father David, Ben ``was the type of kid who would call if he was 
going to be late because he didn't want you to worry.''
  As a boy, Ben would often visit a 72-acre farm belonging to his aunt 
and uncle Shirley and Richard Laymon. He was always a welcome visitor. 
Shirley said that ``Ben was one of the sweetest, most thoughtful 
persons you'd ever want to know. He was so sweet, cared about 
everybody, and cared about his country.''
  Ben attended Mount Vernon High School, where he proudly wore No. 73 
on the football field for the Yellow Jackets. His former football 
coach, Scott Spitler, wasn't surprised at all when he learned that Ben 
had decided to enlist in the Army. ``He was just a very hard worker and 
very caring,'' Scott said. ``Ben was the type of kid who was willing to 
do anything that he could to help his teammates, to better himself, and 
to better his team.''
  Ben's former teammate, Chad Biddle, remembers the positive impression 
Ben always made. ``He was the type of guy everyone got along with,'' 
Chad said. ``He was always the center of attention, even when he wasn't 
trying to be. He was just an all-around, down-to-earth good guy.''
  Ben's close friend, Jessica Frazee, also recalls his great sense of 
humor and his compassion for others:

       Ben was the class clown. He liked to laugh. He was the kind 
     of friend who could make all of your troubles go away. He 
     always put people in front of himself, always listening to 
     what everyone else had to say. He is everybody's hero. He 
     just wanted you to be happy.

  Ben's sense of humor truly was legendary at Mount Vernon High School. 
He would often dress up in funny costumes to attend basketball games, 
and once even convinced his friend Joey Armstrong to go with him 
dressed as hunters in bright orange hats with ear flaps. ``He was 
always making everyone laugh,'' Joey remembers. ``He was hysterical. . 
. . He was my best friend--the best friend anyone could ever have.''
  Ben's childhood dream was to become a soldier. He simply knew what he 
wanted to do. As his brother Andy said during his funeral, ``Few people 
at Ben's age knew what they wanted to do with their lives. But Ben did. 
He had goals and plans. He gave the Army 110 percent, and for that, I 
am so proud of you Ben.''
  Ben enlisted in the Army in September 2002 and began serving his 
first tour of duty in Iraq in 2003. His second tour began in November 
2005. Family friend, Dick Shafer, remembers how excited Ben was about 
what he was doing--about how he believed in what he was doing and would 
write often of the good he saw happening in Iraq.
  And, Ben's family remembers that he liked being in Iraq because of 
the challenges and the freedom to do his job. After his tour finished, 
he was hoping to become a SWAT officer in the Columbus police 
department.
  Ben was dedicated not only to serving his country, but also to the 
family he loved so very much. His sense of

[[Page S11173]]

humor and love of laughter made him most popular with his six young 
nieces and nephews. His mother Gale particularly remembers the love Ben 
had for kids. She said: I always thought he would be a great teacher 
for younger children.
  Even while in Iraq, Ben wanted to keep his family happy. When calling 
or emailing, he was always more concerned about them than himself. His 
mother remembers the very words he always said--``Don't worry, I'll be 
fine.''
  Those who knew Ben remembered his rich life during his funeral at the 
First Christian Church. Reverend Jamie Gump said that Ben lived a full 
life but died too soon for those who loved him. Reverend Gump also read 
a letter from Ben's mother, in which she wrote: I miss you so much and 
long to see your face.
  At the service, MG David Huntoon presented Ben's parents with their 
son's Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and said:

       Sergeant Laymon was part of the 10th Cavalry, a proud 
     outfit that has seen many heroes. His mission required 
     courage and compassion. It was clear to the United States 
     Army that he was an outstanding leader.

  Ben's death has been a loss to his entire community. His friends and 
neighbors will never forget him. Kathy Blair knew both Ben and his 
family. ``I'm feeling great sadness, unbelievable sadness,'' she said. 
Beth Totman also knew Ben. ``He was a super-nice guy, so kind and fun 
to be around,'' she said. ``He always seemed to have a smile on his 
face.''
  Ben brought joy and laughter to all who knew him. I would like to 
conclude with the words of one of Ben's fellow soldiers, a young man 
named Pete, who was with Ben when the roadside bomb exploded. This is 
what Pete said:

       I'm going to miss him so much. He was a great friend. He 
     could make me laugh at the worst possible times in my life. 
     Even now, I look back on the stuff he did and laugh.
       Ben will always be remembered. His compassion and positive 
     attitude were truly rare, and he simply brightened the lives 
     of all who knew him. My wife Fran and I will continue to keep 
     Ben's father and step-mother James and Kathy Laymon his 
     mother and step-father Gale and David Harstine, and his 
     brothers Trevor, Curt, and Andrew in our thoughts and in our 
     prayers.

  I yield the floor.


                     CORPORAL NICHOLAS A. ARVANITIS

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay special tribute to U.S. 
Army CPL Nicholas A. Arvanitis of Salem, NH. On October 6, 2006, this 
brave 22-year old paratrooper gave his life for his Nation while 
engaged in combat operations with enemy forces near Bayji, Iraq. 
Corporal Arvanitis had been stationed in Iraq since August 2006, 
serving as a squadron leader assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, 
NC.
  Nicholas, or ``Nick'' to family and friends, grew up in Salem, NH, 
and was a 2003 graduate of Salem High School. He was a member of the 
wrestling team and played guitar in the jazz band and sousaphone in the 
marching band. Friends remember him as a team player, who got along 
with everyone and was always smiling.
  Nick joined the U.S. Army in August 2003 because he wanted to protect 
his country and his family. Friends and family said he loved his 
country, wanted to defend it, and sensed a call to duty. He completed 
Infantry One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, GA, in December 
2003 and the Basic Airborne Course in January 2004. He reported to Fort 
Bragg, NC, in March 2004 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division 
in April 2004. Corporal Arvanitis deployed to Afghanistan in the fall 
of 2004 in support of the Afghan elections and deployed to Iraq in July 
2006 as a member of 3rd Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom.
  Corporal Arvanitis' awards and decorations include the Bronze Star 
Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, 
National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 
Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, 
Parachutist's Badge, and Expert Weapons Qualification Badge.
  Patriots from the State of New Hampshire have served our Nation with 
honor and distinction from Bunker Hill to Bayji--and U.S. Army CPL 
Nicholas Arvanitis served and fought in that same fine tradition.
  My sympathy, condolences, and prayers go out to Nick's maternal 
grandparents Leonard and Rita, his parents Maureen and Richard, his 
sister Kimberly, and to his other family members and many friends who 
have suffered this most grievous loss. All will sorely miss Nicholas 
Arvanitis, the forgiving young man with a heart of gold, the patriot 
who always thought of his family and friends, the courageous and 
outstanding paratrooper who served our Nation with distinction and 
honor. In the words of Daniel Webster, may his remembrance be as long 
lasting as the land he honored. God bless Nicholas A. Arvanitis.


                     Lance Corporal Michael Scholl

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of U.S. Marine LCpl Michael Scholl of Nebraska. Lance Corporal Scholl 
died from wounds suffered in combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar 
Province.
  Lance Corporal Scholl was from Lincoln, NE. A 2002 graduate of 
Lincoln High School, he was originally denied enlistment with the 
Marines. But with persistence, Lance Corporal Scholl received a medical 
waiver and became a marine in 2003.
  While stationed in Hawaii, Lance Corporal Scholl met his future wife 
Melissa. The couple were married a day before he was deployed to 
Afghanistan. He served in Afghanistan from summer 2005 to January 2006. 
Within a month of his return, he and Melissa were expecting a baby. On 
October 11, 2006, only a few weeks after Lance Corporal Scholl was 
deployed to Iraq, Melissa gave birth to Addison Rose Scholl. Although 
he never met his daughter, Lance Corporal Scholl was a proud father. He 
received pictures of her while he was in Iraq and also recorded stories 
for her to hear as she grew. Thousands of brave men and women like 
Lance Corporal Scholl are serving in Iraq.
  In addition to his wife and daughter, Lance Corporal Scholl is 
survived by his father Steven Scholl of Friend, NE, and his mother 
Debora Chandler of Lincoln, NE.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring LCpl 
Michael Scholl.

                          ____________________