[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 80 (Friday, June 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S4018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      Medic Specialist Cody Towse

  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to one of 
Utah's great soldiers, Army Medic Cody Towse who was killed by an 
improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on May 14, 2013. He was 
coming to the aid of a fellow soldier when he was hit by one of four 
blasts that day.
  Specialist Towse was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry 
Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division from Fort 
Bliss, TX. He was deployed to the Kandahar region of Afghanistan in 
December 2012 and has served courageously there. While in Afghanistan, 
Towse was instrumental in training Afghan medics in emergency 
procedures; and became known as the candy doctor because he loved to 
give candy to the Afghan children. In fact, I think it speaks volumes 
about the character and love of this young man when, for his 21st 
birthday, he asked his parents to send him candy that he could give the 
children.
  Specialist Towse's love for service began at an early age as he 
trained and worked as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for Elk Ridge 
City. He took great pride in his work and in helping others.
  Sadly Specialist Towse's body returned home to Elk Ridge, UT last 
week encased in a silver, flag-draped coffin met by family and hundreds 
of admirers and friends wanting to pay tribute to this fallen soldier. 
Neighbors and friends lined the streets and quietly waved flags of 
respect, giving a special tribute to one of Utah's own.
  Our Founding Fathers declared the United States a freedom-loving 
people--a declaration on which they risked everything--their lives, 
their fortunes and their sacred honor. Throughout our Nation's history, 
our liberty and our freedoms have been protected and cherished by our 
military. And so as we lay to rest this courageous hero, I pay tribute 
to Specialist Towse who has helped pave the road to freedom.
  I love the following passage that so poignantly describes the peace 
and comfort I take from the examples and lives of our nation's 
soldiers. It states:

       They died for liberty--they died for us. They are at rest. 
     They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they 
     rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, 
     the tearful willows, the embracing vines. They sleep beneath 
     the shadow of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or 
     storm, each in the windowless palace of rest . . . they are 
     at peace.

  I am humbled by this young man's life and sacrifice. May God bless 
his family and all those he left behind with peace and comfort from 
their memories of this wonderful man and soldier.

                          ____________________