[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 ``WE STOOD!''--REMEMBERING THE FALLEN OF THE CHINOOK HELICOPTER CRASH 
ON AUGUST 6, 2011, IN AFGHANISTAN, ``WHO GAVE THAT LAST FULL MEASURE'' 
 ON THIS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, ARMY, AND 
                                  NAVY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KING

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in 
remembrance on this up and coming one year anniversary of the thirty 
magnificent lost heroes from the Navy Special Warfare Units, The Army 
and Air Force. Who so heroically gave That Last Full Measure for God 
and Country aboard a Chinook Helicopter in Afghanistan on August the 
6th, 2011. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families 
and all of their Brothers and Sisters in Arms, on this anniversary, as 
I read this poem penned in their honor by Albert Caswell.
  P01 (SEAL) Darrick C. Benson,
  CPO (SEAL) Brian R. Bill,
  P01 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell,
  CPO (SEAL) John W. Faas,
  CPO (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston,
  LCDR (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall,
  MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langials,
  CPO (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason,
  CPO (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills,
  CPO Nicholas H. Null,
  SCPO (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratziaff,
  CPO (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves,
  CPO (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson,
  P01 (SEAL) Jon T. Tumilson,
  P01 (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn,
  P01 (SEAL) Jason R. Workman,
  P01 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman,
  P02 (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar,
  P01 Expeditionary Warfare Specialist Jared W. Day,
  P01 Expeditionary Warfare Specialist John Douangdara,
  P01 Expeditionary Warfare Specialist Michael J. Strange,
  SCPO Expeditionary Warfare Specialist Kraig M. Vickers,
  Army SGT Alexander J. Bennett,
  SPC Spencer C. Duncan,
  Chief Warrant Officer Brian J. Nichols,
  Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter,
  SGT Patrick D. Hamburger,
  Airmen Tech SGT John W. Brown,
  Staff SGT Andrew W. Harvell,
  Tech SGT Daniel L. Zerbe,
  The United States Army, Air Force, Navy.

                               We Stood!

     We!
     WE STOOD!
     WE STOOD!
     so you can sleep!
     While, out across our Nation, our Mother's now so weep!
     WE FOUGHT,
     so you can live!
     All in such blessed peace,
     that which our most selfless sacrifice so gives!
     As all in such pain and heartache our families must now so 
           live!
     WE STOOD, so you could sleep!
     Upon, That Bed of Freedom so very sweet!
     As to all of you our promises WE Did So Keep!
     As it was all for you, WE Now So Sleep!
     So Sleep, all in such cold dark quiet graves so very deep!
     WE GAVE!
     All of Our Most Precious Lives!
     While, all of our Brothers In Arms did so cry. . .
     and did not ask why!
     As WE so raised our hands so way up high!
     And so swore to pledge our most precious lives!
     To Make A Stand!
     To Make A Difference With It All!
     As WE so gave That Last Full Measure While Standing Tall!
     As WE died and so bled!
     To so keep all of our most solemn vows of honor, said!
     As way out across our Nation Our FAMILIES Now So Weep!
     All For The Greater Good, WE so gave all we could!
     AS WE STOOD!
     As WE pray now to our Lord their fine souls to so keep!
     For THEY So Stood For What Was Right.
     All with their most brilliant souls so burning bright!
     As THEY died,
     all for that Old Red White and Blue this sight!
     As into that face of evil,
     THEY so marched off casting their most heroic lights!
     To so go forth,
     all in such a most brilliant force to fight!
     For THEY'D,
     MUCH RATHER HAVE DIED FOR SOMETHING!
     THAN, TO HAVE LIVED FOR NOTHING AT ALL!
     FOR STRENGTH IN HONOR!
     Was but THEIR most sacred battle cry. . . call!
     Because, moments . . . are all that WE so have!
     To Make A Difference!
     To Hear That Call!
     To Change The World!
     To go off so boldly with flags unfurled!
     Troops mount up, as Heaven calls!
     Move on! Move out!
     As there are 30 more new Angels,
     In The Army of Our Lord . . .
     To fight that battle, who shall not pause!
     To so watch over us all!
     And when there comes a gentle rain,
     their tears will wash down upon us to so remain!
     To ease our pain,
     so we won't have to cry anymore!
     As forever in our hearts YOUR most sacred names,
     WE will carry ALL!
     Because,
     YOU died so WE can sleep!
     Upon, That Bed of Freedom . . . YOUR Gift of Peace!
     As now WE LAY YOUR FINE BODIES down to rest,
     to sleep!
     BECAUSE YOU STOOD!
     Amen!

                          ____________________