[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE OF UNITED STATES ARMY SERGEANT FIRST 
                         CLASS WILLIAM K. LACEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON BARBER

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2014

  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army 
Sergeant First Class William K. Lacey, or Kelly, as his family wants 
him to be remembered, who was killed in action on January 4, 2014 after 
a rocket propelled grenade attack by insurgents hit his unit in 
Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. He leaves behind his mother, father, 
stepmother, two daughters, three step daughters and many friends.
   Born at Eglin Air Force Base where his father, Master Sergeant John 
H. Lacey, was stationed, Kelly spent most of his childhood in Florida. 
He attended Niceville High School before joining the Army in 2003. 
While in the Army, he attended Meridian Community College and received 
an Associate Degree. Sergeant First Class Lacey was assigned to the F 
Company, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat 
Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
   Kelly was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, and he had 
already completed three previous deployments to Iraq: the first a 5 
month deployment, the second a 14 month deployment and the other a 
year-long deployment. From April 2011 until March 2012, Kelly served in 
Afghanistan.
   From his earliest time in the Army, Sergeant First Class Lacey was 
considered a great soldier. Over his career he earned more than a dozen 
honors including three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement 
Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals 
with Bronze Service Star and two Iraq Campaign Medals with Bronze 
Service Stars. For his bravery in action, Sergeant First Class Lacey 
was awarded a Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device ``V'', two 
Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart posthumously.
   We remember Kelly and offer our deepest condolences and prayers to 
his family. Everyone in our great nation owes Sergeant First Class 
Lacey and his family a debt of gratitude for his selfless sacrifice and 
courage. It is vital that we keep our men and women in uniform who are 
in harm's way in our thoughts and prayers. I call on my colleagues and 
all Americans to remember Kelly and the many others who have made the 
ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedoms and all that we value as a 
nation.

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