[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5379-S5380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


              Master at Arms First Class Johnny Douangdara

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a true 
American hero, Master-at-Arms PO1 Johnny Douangdara of South Sioux 
City, NE, who was tragically killed on August 6, 2011, when the CH-47 
Chinook helicopter in which he was a passenger was shot down in Wardak 
Province, Afghanistan.
  After graduating from South Sioux City High School in 2003, Johnny 
knew he wanted to serve in the Navy. While initially he wanted to work 
on nuclear submarines, his love of dogs instead led him to become the 
lead dog handler serving with an East Coast-based Navy SEAL unit.
  Johnny earned numerous decorations throughout his five overseas 
tours, including the Bronze Star with ``V'' device, Joint Service 
Commendation Medal with ``V'' device, Army Commendation Medal, 
Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Rifle Marksmanship 
Medal, and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal, among others.
  The son of Laotian immigrants, Sengchanh and Phouthasith Douangdara, 
Johnny was never outspoken about his career. He was a humble man, a man 
doing a job he loved and a job in which he believed strongly. And in 
that belief, he and his dog, Bart, selflessly climbed aboard a Chinook 
with 29 other U.S. service members and 8 Afghans, rushing to help a 
band of Army Rangers pinned down by enemy fire. That helicopter was 
shot down in what has become the single deadliest incident for the U.S. 
military in this 10-year operation.
  Johnny knew the dangers he faced and the risks he took working with 
the Navy's elite SEALs. He also knew the importance of the work he did 
in the Navy on behalf of his fellow Americans. He risked--and 
ultimately sacrificed--his own life so that people a world away could 
have the chance to enjoy the freedoms he and his family had found in 
America.
  PO Johnny Douangdara and Bart made the ultimate and most valiant 
sacrifice in service to their country, and my condolences and prayers 
go out to Johnny's family and friends. His heroism and selflessness 
will remain an inspiration for all of us.


                    Staff Sergeant Patrick Hamburger

  Mr. President, I also rise today to honor a true American hero, SSG 
Patrick Hamburger of Lincoln, NE, who was tragically killed on August 
6, 2011, when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was a passenger 
was shot down in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.

[[Page S5380]]

  Sergeant Hamburger was born in Sioux City, IA, on Memorial Day, May 
25, 1981. In 1985 his family moved to Lincoln, NE, where Patrick 
graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1999. While still 
attending school, Patrick chose to use his talents and serve his fellow 
citizens as a member of the Nebraska National Guard.
  Patrick met Candie Reagan and her daughter, Veronica, in 2005. In 
2008 the three of them moved to Grand Island, NE, where Patrick served 
as a full-time helicopter flight engineer with the 2-135th General 
Support Aviation Battalion. In January 2009, Candie gave birth to their 
daughter, Payton. There is no doubt that while Patrick loved being a 
soldier, he loved his family more.
  Patrick was less than 2 weeks into his deployment when he selflessly 
climbed aboard a Chinook with 29 other U.S. service members and 8 
Afghans, rushing to help a band of Army Rangers pinned down by enemy 
fire. The helicopter was shot down in what has become the single 
deadliest incident for the U.S. military in this 10-year operation.
  Patrick knew the dangers he faced and the risks he took. He also knew 
the importance of the work he did in the Army on behalf of his fellow 
Americans. He risked--and ultimately sacrificed--his own life so that 
people a world away could have the chance to enjoy the freedoms he had 
found in America.
  Patrick is survived by his girlfriend, Candie Reagan; her daughter, 
Veronica Reagan; their daughter, Payton; his mother and stepfather, 
Joyce and DeLayne Peck of Lincoln; father and stepmother, Douglas and 
Shaune Hamburger of Knoxville, TN; brothers, Michael of New York, NY, 
and Christopher of St. Louis, MO; grandparents, Willard and Jacque 
Hamburger of Omaha; stepsiblings Jessica, Jeremy, and Joshua Francis of 
Knoxville, TN; and numerous other family members and friends.
  Sergeant Patrick Hamburger made the ultimate and most valiant 
sacrifice in service to his country, and my condolences and prayers go 
out to his family and friends. His heroism and selflessness will remain 
an inspiration for all of us.


                      Sergeant Joshua J. Robinson

  Mr. President, I further rise today to honor a true American hero, 
SGT Joshua J. Robinson of Nebraska, who was tragically killed on August 
7, 2011, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
  Joshua grew up on a 100-acre farm near Oak, NE, where he would spend 
his days hunting and tracking in the back pasture. Joshua took the 
skills he learned in his early years with him into the Marine Corps, 
where he quickly excelled and became an instructor, teaching younger 
marines how to track the enemy and survive in the mountains. Joshua 
even developed an enemy-tracking course which is believed to be the 
first of its kind.
  Joshua deployed three times to Iraq before being sent to Afghanistan, 
leaving at home his wife, Rhonda, and two sons, Wyatt and Kodiak. 
Although he was a proud, smart, tough marine, he was first and foremost 
a loving father and husband.
  I offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of 
Sergeant Robinson. He made the ultimate and most courageous sacrifice 
for our Nation, and his sons will grow up knowing their father was 
truly a hero. I join all Americans in grieving the loss of this 
remarkable young man and know that Sergeant Robinson's passion for 
serving, his leadership, and his selflessness will remain a source of 
inspiration for us all.

                          ____________________