[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 154 (Thursday, October 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                          SSG Matthew Kuglics

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor SSG Matthew Joseph 
Kuglics, U.S. Air Force, who lost his life in service to our Nation.
  Matthew's call to serve our Nation came immediately after his 
graduation in 2000 from Green High School in Green, OH, not far from 
Akron. That was when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
  In June of 2004, Matthew achieved the distinction of becoming a 
special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
  Sergeant Kuglics then volunteered to deploy to Iraq. There, he served 
with distinction by providing counterintelligence support to nearly 
4,000 coalition forces at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq. Following 
his first tour in Iraq, Matthew volunteered for a second deployment in 
the combat zone.
  On June 5, 2007, while in a convoy, Matthew was killed by an 
improvised explosive device. He gave his life for our Nation. He was 25 
years old.
  Throughout two tours in Iraq, Sergeant Kuglics executed the mission 
of identifying and neutralizing criminal, terrorist, and intelligence 
threats to the Air Force, to the Department of Defense, and to the 
United States of America. His service resulted in successful military 
operations and the increased safety of his fellow servicemembers. 
Sergeant Kuglics was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple 
Heart, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Combat 
Action Ribbon.
  On Friday, October 23, 2009--tomorrow--at 11 a.m., there will be a 
street dedication ceremony at Barnes Memorial Park at Wright Patterson 
Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, to honor the life and service of Matthew 
Joseph Kuglics.
  Future generations of the Air Force will now forever honor Staff 
Sergeant Kuglics. He represents the best of Ohio, the best of the U.S. 
Air Force, the best of the United States of America.

                          ____________________