[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                       Corporal Michael Ouellette

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I wish to express my sympathy over the 
loss of Marine Cpl Michael W. Ouellette, a 29-year-old native of 
Manchester, NH. Corporal Ouellette died on March 22, 2009, as a result 
of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device while on foot 
patrol in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Another marine was 
killed in the attack and two others were injured.
  Corporal Ouellette graduated from Memorial High School in Manchester 
in 1999. He joined the Marines in June 2005 and was trained as an 
infantryman. He served two terms in Iraq, deploying there in March 2006 
and again in July 2007. He began his third tour overseas when he 
deployed to Afghanistan in November 2008. Ouellette was assigned to the 
3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine 
Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, NC.
  Corporal Ouellette served with honor and distinction throughout his 
highly decorated military career. He received a number of awards for 
his duty, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Combat Action 
Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War 
on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq 
Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
  New Hampshire is proud of Corporal Oullette's service to and 
sacrifice for our country. He, and the thousands of brave men and women 
of the U.S. Armed Forces serving today, deserve America's highest honor 
and recognition.
  Corporal Ouellette is survived by his parents, Donna and Leonard 
Ouellette, as well as a brother, Alan, and a sister, Stephanie. He will 
be missed dearly by all those who knew him.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring U.S. 
Marine Cpl Michael Ouellette.
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and a deep 
sense of gratitude to pay tribute to Cpl Michael Ouellette of 
Manchester, NH, for his service and the sacrifice he paid for his 
country.
  Michael exhibited willingness and enthusiasm to serve and defend his 
country after visiting hurricane-ravaged New Orleans in 2005. He 
subsequently joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served two tours of duty 
in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan. Tragically, on March 22, 2009, 
Michael paid the ultimate sacrifice. In support of his brothers in arms 
and the country he loved, Michael was killed by an improvised explosive 
device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal Ouellette will live 
on as a decorated hero and the epitome of a patriot.
  Michael graduated from Manchester Memorial High School in 1999. A 
beloved member of the Manchester community, Michael was the embodiment 
of selflessness. With the same sense of altruistic integrity that led 
him to help an unfamiliar and unsuspecting Memorial High classmate fix 
a flat tire; Michael answered the call to help his country.
  In giving his life to protect our freedoms, Michael personified our 
greatest attributes as citizens. His hard work and dedication was 
paramount to his unit's success and places him among the great heroes 
and citizens our state has known. Michael was regularly recognized for 
his courageous actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, receiving the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, the Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and 
the National Defense Service Medal. He will always be remembered for 
his courage, kindness, and unwavering devotion.
  My thoughts, condolences, and prayers go out to Michael's family. I 
offer them my deepest sympathies and heartfelt thanks for Michael's 
service. We will keep his memory alive knowing that his efforts have 
made us safer and have preserved the liberties we enjoy every day. God 
Bless Michael Ouellette.

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