[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7446-S7447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 33 
servicemembers from California or based in California who have died 
while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since July 5, 
2011. This brings to 309 the number of servicemembers either from 
California or based in California who have been killed while serving 
our country in Afghanistan. This represents 17 percent of all U.S. 
deaths in Afghanistan.
  SSG Nicanor Amper IV, 36, of San Jose, CA, died July 5 in Khowst, 
Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit 
with a rocket propelled grenade. Staff Sergeant Amper was assigned to 
the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st 
Infantry Division, Fort Knox, KY.
  LCpl Norberto Mendez Hernandez, 22, of Logan, UT, died July 10 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Mendez Hernandez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine 
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Christopher L. Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, HI, died July 15 of 
wounds suffered July 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand 
province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Camero was assigned to 3rd 
Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine 
Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  SSG James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, CA, died July 19 in Kunar 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked 
his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant 
Christen was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  SGT William B. Gross Paniagua, 28, of Daly City, CA, died July 31 in 
Kunar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when enemy forces 
attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Sergeant 
Gross Paniagua was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops 
Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield 
Barracks, HI.
  SSgt Leon H. Lucas Jr., 32, of Wilson, NC, died August 1 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff 
Sergeant Lucas was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  SPC Jinsu Lee, 34, of Chatsworth, CA, died August 5 in Kunar 
Province, Afghanistan. Specialist Lee was assigned to the 2nd 
Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th 
Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  SSgt Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, CA, died August 6 in 
Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook 
helicopter crashed. Staff Sergeant Harvell was assigned to the 24th 
Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, NC.
  PO1 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, CA, died August 6 in 
Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook 
helicopter crashed. Petty Officer Pittman was assigned to a west coast-
based Naval Special Warfare Unit.
  PO1 (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, CA, died August 6 in 
Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook 
helicopter crashed. Petty Officer Benson was assigned to an east coast-
based Naval Special Warfare Unit.
  MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, CA, died August 
6 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 
Chinook helicopter crashed. Master Chief Petty Officer Langlais was 
assigned to an east coast-based Naval Special Warfare Unit.
  Sgt Adan Gonzales Jr., 28, of Bakersfield, CA, died August 7 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant 
Gonzales was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  Sgt Joshua J. Robinson, 29, of Omaha, NE, died August 7 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant 
Robinson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division,

[[Page S7447]]

I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  PFC Rueben J. Lopez, 27, of Williams, CA, died August 11 in Kandahar 
Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised 
explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Private First Class Lopez 
was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade 
Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY.
  SPC Kevin R. Shumaker, 24, of Livermore, CA, died August 31 in a 
stateside hospital of a noncombat related illness. Specialist Shumaker 
was assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade 
Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY.
  SPC Koran P. Contreras, 21, of Lawndale, CA, died of wounds suffered 
when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device 
September 8 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Specialist Contreras was assigned 
to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 
10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY.
  SPC Douglas J. Jeffries Jr., 20, of Springville, CA, died of wounds 
suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised 
explosive device September 8 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Specialist 
Jeffries was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY.
  SSG Daniel A. Quintana, 30, of Huntington Park, CA, died September 10 
in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit using small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Quintana was 
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry 
Brigade, Schweinfurt, Germany.
  Cpl Michael J. Dutcher, 22, of Asheville, NC, died September 15 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Dutcher was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  PFC Carlos A. Aparicio, 19, of San Bernadino, CA, died September 23 
in Wardak, Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Private First 
Class Aparicio was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry 
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, 
LA.
  SGT Tyler N. Holtz, 22, of Dana Point, CA, died September 24 in 
Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit using small arms fire. Sergeant Holtz was assigned to 
the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
  SPC Garrett A. Fant, 21, of American Canyon, CA, died September 26 in 
Helmand Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces 
attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Specialist Fant 
was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy 
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS.
  SSgt Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, MI, died September 28 
while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Staff Sergeant Sprovtsoff was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations 
Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
  Sgt Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, NM, died September 28 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant 
Diaz was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground 
Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  LCpl Benjamin W. Schmidt, 24, of San Antonio, TX, died October 6 
while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Lance Corporal Schmidt was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine 
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
  SPC Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, of Salinas, CA, died October 8 in Logar 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his 
unit using small arms fire. Specialist Cerros was assigned to the 2nd 
Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
  CW3 James B. Wilke, 38, of Ione, CA died October 10, in Doha, Qatar. 
Chief Warrant Officer Wilke was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air 
Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd 
Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, TX.
  SFC Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, of San Diego, CA, died October 22, in 
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces 
attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Sergeant First 
Class Domeij was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint 
Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
  LCpl Jordan S. Bastean, 19, of Pekin, IL, died October 23 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Bastean was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, 
CA.
  LCpl Jason N. Barfield, 22, of Ashford, AL, died October 24 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Barfield was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps 
Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA.
  SSgt Stephen J. Dunning, 31, of Milpitas, CA, died October 27 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff 
Sergeant Dunning was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd 
Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.
  SGT Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, died October 29, 
in Kabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces 
attacked his vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. 
Sergeant Eugenio was assigned to 756th Transportation Company, 224th 
Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, Van Nuys, CA.
  LCpl Nickolas A. Daniels, 25, of Elmwood Park, IL, died November 5 
while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Lance Corporal Daniels was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, 
CA.
  I would also like to pay tribute to the one servicemember from 
California who has died while serving our country in Iraq since July 5, 
2011. This brings to 892 the number of servicemembers either from 
California or based in California who have been killed while serving 
our country in Iraq. This represents 20 percent of all U.S. deaths in 
Iraq.
  PFC Steven F. Shapiro, 29, of Hidden Valley Lake, CA, died October 21 
in Tallil, Iraq. Private First Class Shapiro was assigned to the 3rd 
Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st 
Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.

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