[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                         California Casualties

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to eight 
servicemembers from California or based in California who have died 
while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since I last 
entered names into the record on July 10, 2013. This brings to 410 the 
number of servicemembers either from California or based in California 
who have been killed while serving our country in Afghanistan. This 
represents 18 percent of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan:
  LCpl Benjamin W. Tuttle, 19, of Gentry, AR, died July 14, 2013, at 
the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center following a medical evacuation 
from the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz, CVN 68, during a scheduled 
port visit in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. Lance Corporal 
Tuttle was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine 
Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary 
Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA.
  SPC Nicholas B. Burley, 22, of Red Bluff, CA, died July 30, 2013, in 
Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces 
attacked his unit with indirect fire. Specialist Burley was assigned to 
the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat 
Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.
  SPC Kenneth Clifford Alvarez, 23, of Santa Maria, CA, died August 23, 
2013, in Haft Asiab, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy 
forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device during 
combat operations. Specialist Alvarez was assigned to 2nd Engineer 
Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, White Sands Missile Range, NM.
  SSG Robert E. Thomas Jr., 24, of Fontana, CA, died September 13, 
2013, at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, of wounds 
suffered during a non-combat related incident on April 21, 2013, in 
Maiwand, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Thomas was assigned to the 1st 
Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, 
TX.
  LCDR Landon L. Jones, 35, of Lompoc, CA, died September 22, 2013, as 
a result of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crash while operating in 
the central Red Sea. Lieutenant Commander Jones was assigned to 
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six at Naval Air Station North Island, 
San Diego, CA.
  CWO Jonathon S. Gibson, 32, of Aurora, OR, died September 22, 2013, 
as a result of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crash while operating in 
the central Red Sea. Chief Warrant Officer Gibson was assigned to 
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six at Naval Air Station North Island, 
San Diego, CA.
  CPT Jennifer M. Moreno, 25, of San Diego, CA, died October 6, 2013, 
in Zhari District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces 
attacked her unit with an improvised explosive device. Captain Moreno 
was assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, 
WA.
  LCpl Matthew R. Rodriguez, 19, of Fairhaven, MA, died December 11, 
2013, while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Rodriguez was assigned to 1st Combat 
Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, 
Camp Pendleton, CA.

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