[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 18, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3775-S3776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

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                    MASTER SERGEANT AARON C. TORIAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this morning I wish to commemorate the 
life and service of a brave U.S. marine from Paducah, KY, MSgt Aaron C. 
Torian. This highly accomplished marine was tragically killed on 
February 15, 2014, from injuries sustained during combat training 
operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was 36 years old.
  For his service in uniform, Master Sergeant Torian received many 
medals, awards, and decorations--including the Purple Heart, the Navy 
Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, the Navy and 
Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon with Gold 
Star, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three stars, the Global 
War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 
and the Good Conduct Medal.
  When he was 28, Master Sergeant Torian was named the Second Marine 
Division's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. It is a high honor. 
This distinction recognizes marines who excel in physical fitness, 
leadership skills, and tactical and technical proficiency. Receiving it 
made Aaron a role model for hundreds of NCOs in the Second Marine 
Division.
  At the time he won the award, he simply said:

       I had to step up. I just figured that this is what I'd 
     joined the Marine Corps to do, and so I always did it 100 
     percent.

  ``His work ethic was remarkable,'' says Aaron's mother Esta Smith. 
She said:

       He was a warrior as a marine. . . . He ultimately gave 
     everything for his country and he never put himself anything 
     but last. He gave everything because he loved his country.

  Born in 1977, Aaron was a native of Paducah and grew up in the region 
before his family moved to Maryland. Aaron graduated from Thomas Stone 
High School in Waldorf, MD, where he was a star athlete in baseball and 
football. He was awarded a football scholarship to the University of 
Tennessee at Martin, where he graduated in 2001. Aaron then went on to 
earn a master's degree in instructional leadership at Tennessee Tech in 
2003.
  Aaron's time at Tennessee Tech was notable for a few other reasons 
besides his degree. He worked as a graduate assistant football coach, 
and he also met the woman who would become his wife, Jurley Pomeroy. 
Together the couple had three children.
  ``He was a great dad and always everything his children needed him to 
be,'' says his wife Jurley. ``When he got off the plane, being the best 
dad and best husband was his number-one priority.''
  Aaron joined the Marine Corps in 2003 and promoted to Master Sergeant 
in September of 2013. In addition to being a wonderful father and 
husband and an exemplary marine, he was a faithful member of College 
Acres Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC. He was a community volunteer 
for his local college baseball grounds crew and also at the St. 
Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church annual Greek festival.
  Aaron's mother said:

       Aaron held on to the thing he believed in: faith, love, and 
     freedom. . . . The conversation was always about how blessed 
     he felt and how he thanked God for his beautiful family. 
     Humility was the definition of Aaron.

  Aaron's final deployment was his sixth in total. He served two tours 
in Iraq and four in Afghanistan. At the time of his final deployment, 
he was assigned to the Second Marine Special Operations Battalion, 
Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine

[[Page S3776]]

Corps Forces Special Operations Command based out of Camp Lejeune, NC.
  In late February of this year, Master Sergeant Torian was laid to 
rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Just 
last month at the Memorial Day ceremonies in Aaron's native McCracken 
County, KY, county officials unveiled a commemorative street sign for 
MSgt Aaron C. Torian. For 1 year it will be displayed in front of the 
county courthouse and then placed permanently at a location of his 
family members' choosing.
  ``Thank God for the blessing and honor of allowing me to be your 
mom,'' says Aaron's mother Esta. ``Semper Fi--always faithful. My son, 
you are a true American hero.''
  We are thinking of Aaron's family today as I share his story with my 
Senate colleagues, including his wife Jurley, his children Elijah, 
Laura Bella, and Avery, his mother and stepfather Esta and Jim Smith, 
his father Joe Torian, and many other beloved family members and 
friends.
  I want the family of MSgt Aaron C. Torian to know that just as his 
life of dedication and service is recognized at the McCracken County 
Courthouse and in the hallowed shrine of Arlington, so too it is 
recognized in the Senate.
  I know all of my colleagues join me in solemn reverence and gratitude 
for this brave young man's willingness to pledge everything for our 
country. We honor his supreme sacrifice on behalf of all Americans.

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