[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H1802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING CORPORAL JONATHAN W. TAYLOR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Nugent) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to honor the life of Corporal Jonathan W. Taylor.
  Four years to the day of his graduation from boot camp, Corporal 
Taylor died on February 22, 2011. At the age of 23, he bravely gave his 
life while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan.
  Growing up, Corporal Taylor always knew that he wanted to be a United 
States Marine. As a student at Lecanto High School, he was a member of 
the JROTC program. He was an active member of the Sea Cadet Program out 
of Yankeetown.
  In October 2007, Corporal Taylor was deployed on his first combat 
tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following that tour, he was deployed 
to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan three separate 
times. While his unit was not deployed during his second-to-last tour, 
Corporal Taylor bravely volunteered to go back to Afghanistan to 
continue the fight with his Marines.
  Corporal Taylor was laid to rest today with honors in Arlington 
National Cemetery. Over his career, his awards included the Marine 
Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the NATO 
Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, and the Purple Heart.
  Now beside his fellow brothers in uniform, his parents, Mark and 
Debbie, have said they are proud to have seen their son off on his last 
and final deployment, his final tour of duty.
  Corporal Taylor courageously made the ultimate sacrifice for his 
Marines and his fellow Americans. As a country, as a Nation, we owe our 
fallen heroes and their families a debt that can never be repaid. It is 
our duty to always remember that these sacrifices were made on behalf 
of all Americans, and that our brave young men and women in uniform are 
clear examples of what makes this Nation so great.
  Today, I am humbled to have the opportunity to introduce this House 
to a true American hero. Corporal Jonathan W. Taylor, God bless you, 
and God bless your service to this Nation.

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