[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7080-S7081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Specialist Chad Derek Clements
Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of SPC Chad
Derek Clements of the U.S. Army and Huntington, IN.
Specialist Clements was assigned to F Company, 4th Brigade Support
Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. He was only 26 years old when he lost
his life on August 30th while serving bravely in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom in the Arghandab River Valley in Afghanistan. He was
only 3 weeks into his first deployment.
A Huntington, IN, native, Chad graduated from Huntington North High
School in 2002. He enlisted in the Army in February 2009 and arrived in
Afghanistan the second week of August. He followed in the proud
military tradition of his father, Daniel, a Navy veteran who passed
away in 2001.
Those closest to him described Chad as having a big heart. He deeply
valued his family and his friends. Chad was an avid fan of the local
Fort Wayne Komets and the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey teams, and he
enjoyed collecting memorabilia of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt.
Today, I join Chad's family and friends in mourning his death. He is
survived by his mother, Anne Beady Tarter; his stepfather, Ed Tarter;
his sister, Danielle Clements; his grandmother, Betty Beady; his
grandfather and step-grandmother, Marvin and Carol Beady; his
grandfather, Everett Clements; his stepbrother, Corey Tarter; and his
stepsister, Heather Tarter.
We take pride in the example of this American hero, even as we
struggle to express our sorrow over this loss. We cherish the legacy of
his service and his life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen soldier, I recall
President Lincoln's words to the families of the fallen at Gettysburg:
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of SPC Chad Derek Clements in the
Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to our country and for his
profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.
Sergeant christopher Neal Karch
Mr. President, I also rise today to honor the life of SGT Christopher
Neal Karch of the U.S. Army and Indianapolis, IN.
Sergeant Karch was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He
was only 23 years old when he lost his life on August 11 while serving
bravely in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was
20 days from completing his second tour of duty.
Sergeant Karch graduated from Lawrence Central High School in 2005
and was pursuing a degree from the University of Maryland with plans to
graduate in 2012. He joined the Army 2 months after his high school
graduation, where he served in the same division and lived in the same
barracks as his father Pat--also a veteran. A decorated soldier,
Sergeant Karch earned the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the
Army Good Conduct Medal. His platoon leader described him as the
``epitome of an airborne paratrooper.''
Today, I join Sergeant Karch's family and friends in mourning his
death. He is survived by his father, Pat Karch; his mother Lynn Kersey;
his grandparents, Nick and Dian Nicholson, Bill and Joyce Seal, Norman
and Denise Karch, and Jerry Hallgarth; and his uncle, Vince Karch.
As we struggle to express our sorrow over this loss, we take pride in
the example of this American hero and cherish the legacy of his service
and his life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen soldier, I recall
President Lincoln's words to the families of the fallen at Gettysburg:
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.''
I pray that Christopher's family finds comfort in the words of the
prophet Isaiah, who said: ``He will swallow up death in victory; and
the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Sergeant Christopher Neal
Karch in the Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to our country
and for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.
Specialist Justin B. Shoecraft
Mr. President, today I also wish to honor the life of SPC Justin B.
Shoecraft of the U.S. Army and Elkhart, IN.
Specialist Shoecraft was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker
Calvary Regiment and was only 28 years old when he lost his life while
serving bravely in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kakarak,
Afghanistan. He had been in Afghanistan for 5 weeks.
An Elkhart native, Justin graduated from Elkhart Memorial High School
in 2000. He shared a passion for working on old bicycles and cars with
his father, Blue, who described his son as hardworking and dependable.
Today, I join Justin's family and friends in mourning his death. He
is survived by his wife, Jessica; his mother and father, Donna and
Carroll ``Blue'' Shoecraft; his sister, Sherry Schoonover; and his
half-brother, Michael Garver, Jr.
We take pride in the example of this American hero, even as we
struggle to express our sorrow over this loss. We cherish the legacy of
his service and his life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen soldier, I recall
President Lincoln's words to the families of the fallen at Gettysburg:
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of Army SPC Justin B. Shoecraft
in the Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to our country and for
his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.
Specialist Christopher Shane Wright
Mr. President, today I also honor the life of U.S. Army SPC
Christopher Shane Wright.
Specialist Wright was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 75th
Ranger Regiment. He was only 23 years old when he lost his life on
August 19 while serving bravely in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom in Pech, Afghanistan.
Chris grew up near Jeffersonville, IN, where he attended Sacred Heart
School. He later moved to Tollesboro, KY, and graduated in 2005 from
Lewis County High School. Chris enlisted in the Army shortly after his
18th birthday and went on to serve in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Specialist Wright was highly regarded among his fellow servicemen.
His regiment commander, COL Michael E. Kurilla, described Specialist
Wright as ``the epitome of a Ranger'' and called him ``a hero to our
Nation, the Army and his family.'' Specialist Wright received the Army
Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Iraq
Campaign Medal. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Army
Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Today, I join Specialist Wright's family and friends in mourning his
death. He is survived by his mother, Linda Wright-Dennis; his father
and stepmother, James Cochran and Michele Cochran; his grandmothers,
Carol Cochran and JoAnn Stockton; his brothers, Zachary Pope, Zane
Pope, and Andrew Dennis; and his sisters, Marianne Dennis and Katie
Dorman.
We take pride in the example of this American hero, even as we
struggle to
[[Page S7081]]
express our sorrow over this loss. We cherish the legacy of his service
and his life.
As I search for words to honor this fallen soldier, I recall
President Lincoln's words to the families of the fallen at Gettysburg:
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.''
It is my sad duty to enter the name of SPC Christopher Shane Wright
in the Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to our country and for
his profound commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace.
PFC Bryn T. Raver
Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I honor PFC Bryn T. Raver, 20, of
Arkansas, who died on August 29, 2010, in Nangahar, Afghanistan, in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. According to initial reports,
PFC Raver died of injuries sustained on August 28, 2010, when his
military vehicle was hit by rocket-propelled grenade fire
My heart goes out to the family of PFC Raver who made the ultimate
sacrifice on behalf of our Nation. Along with all Arkansans, I am
grateful for his service and for the service and sacrifice of all of
our military servicemembers and their families.
More than 11,000 Arkansans on active duty and more than 10,000
Arkansas reservists have served in Iraq or Afghanistan since September
11, 2001. These men and women have shown tremendous courage and
perseverance through the most difficult of times. As neighbors, as
Arkansans, and as Americans, it is incumbent upon us to do everything
we can to honor their service and to provide for them and their
families, not only when they are in harm's way but also when they
return home. It is the least we can do for those whom we owe so much.
PFC Raver was assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion,
101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He is survived by his wife,
who resides at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington; a daughter in
Alpena, AR.; and his father of Everton, AR.
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