[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S2137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


              Sergeant First Class Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I want to pay tribute to a Kentucky 
Special Operations Forces soldier who was lost in service to his 
country, the life of SFC Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller of Catlettsburg, KY, 
which prematurely ended on February 3, 2010, in Pakistan, where he was 
serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed when 
the enemy attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was 
35 years old.
  For his service in uniform, Sergeant First Class Sluss-Tiller 
received many awards, medals, and decorations, including the Bronze 
Star, the Purple Heart, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Army 
Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Army 
Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense 
Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary 
Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, two Afghanistan 
Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with 
Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the 
Humanitarian Service Medal, three noncommissioned officers professional 
development ribbons, the Army service ribbon, two overseas service 
ribbons, the NATO Medal, the combat action badge, and the senior 
parachutist badge; obviously a much decorated soldier.
  Pictured behind me is Sergeant First Class Sluss-Tiller with his 
daughter Hannah, who was only 3 years old when he died. Matthew's wife 
Melissa proudly sent this picture to my office so it can be honored on 
the Senate floor. It was taken the summer before Matthew was killed, 
and it was his last picture with his daughter.
  Melissa remembers the bond between Matthew and Hannah fondly. ``He 
used to sing to me and Hannah,'' she says.

       He would dance with her standing on his feet, singing 
     loudly. Thinking of it makes me smile. He loved being a 
     husband and a father, and he was great at both.

  Born and raised in eastern Kentucky, Matthew graduated from Lawrence 
County High School in 1993. Brenda Thornbury, his former art teacher, 
remained friends with Matthew after he graduated and recalls he knew 
from a young age what he wanted to do. ``Matthew was a wonderful 
person,'' she says.

       He was always eager to do whatever he needed to do to serve 
     his country . . . he knew he would serve his country. He 
     loved the Lord, and he loved his family.

  Matthew's father Edward Tiller agrees. ``From the time I bought him 
his first GI Joe, he wanted to be an Army man,'' he said.
  In short, it seems clear that for Matthew, the Army was not just a 
job, it was a way of life. He was dedicated to justice and service in 
the name of our country.
  In 1991, Matthew enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as a heavy 
construction mechanic and served at the 261st Ordnance Company located 
at Cross Lanes, WV. In 1993, he left the family farm and enlisted in 
the Active-Duty Army as a signal specialist. He served at Fort Bragg, 
NC, as well as in Germany and in Kuwait.
  SFC Jamie Mullinax, a friend of Matthew's who trained with him at 
Fort Bragg, knew well the look of happiness we can see in Matthew's 
face behind me. He says:

       If you knew Matt, you knew that smile. He always strived to 
     do the best at what he did. I know he believed in what he was 
     doing and loved wearing the military uniform and believed in 
     what it stood for.

  As the list of awards, medals, and decorations I read earlier makes 
clear, Matthew excelled at being a soldier. In his many years of 
training, he successfully completed the U.S. Army Airborne course, the 
Jumpmaster course, the Master Jumpmaster course, the Air Movement 
Operations course, the Military Transition Team course, the Civil 
Affairs Qualification course, and the Advanced and Basic 
Noncommissioned Officer's courses.
  Prior to his time of deployment, Matthew deployed in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo. In his 
final deployment Matthew was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs 
Battalion, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, based out of Fort Bragg.
  In his free time Matthew loved golf, hunting, hiking, camping, and 
riding motorcycles, and he was a passionate fan of UK basketball.
  The many people who came to pay their respects at Matthew's funeral 
in eastern Kentucky witnessed the recognition of Matthew's sacrifice 
when they saw a three-star general come to their small town to lead the 
honor guard.
  LTG John Mulholland delivered these remarks at the service:

       Matthew was part of America's Army Special Operations 
     Forces and as such was one of the finest soldiers in the 
     world.

  He went on:

       That's no exaggeration, that he was embarked on a very 
     important if not critical mission that is directly tied to 
     the security of this country.

  Of course, as impressive as his service record was, I think the 
picture behind me makes clear that the most important job to Matthew 
was husband and father. I know his family misses him terribly.
  Melissa says the following about her husband:

       I believe that our souls are beacons glowing immensely with 
     light so powerful and beautiful that only in heaven can we 
     become a true vision of ourselves. I know my Matthew is 
     standing tall in heaven, his light so stunning a reflection 
     of who he was. God needed him, and I cannot question that.

  We are thinking of Matthew's loved ones today, including his wife 
Melissa, his daughter Hannah, his parents Edward Tiller and Jane 
Blankenship, his stepparents Von Tiller and Forest Blankenship, his 
siblings Selena Dawn Pack Blankenship, Michael Blankenship, and Annette 
Sorg, and many other beloved family members and friends.
  Our country has lost a faithful and devoted hero with the passing of 
SFC Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller. I know my colleagues join me in expressing 
great condolences to his family for their loss, and great gratitude to 
them for lending our country such an honorable and noble patriot.
  I hope Hannah and all of Matthew's loved ones know that America will 
always--always--be grateful for his sacrifice.
  I yield the floor.

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