[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4109-S4111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



               Tribute to Master Sergeant Roger D. Sparks

  Madam President, I would like to spend just about 5 minutes this 
afternoon speaking of another hero, and this is a man who has 
demonstrated above and beyond his commitment, his service to the United 
States. I would like to speak about MSgt Roger D. Sparks.

       It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid 
     the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my 
     assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties 
     before personal desires and comforts. The things I do, that 
     others may live.

  ``The things I do, that others may live''--this is the solemn oath by 
which all pararescue airmen pledge their allegiance and dedicate their 
service to our country. It is the sacred creed of a most honorable 
profession.
  Alaskans are extremely proud of the exceptionally heroic achievements 
of the Combat Search and Rescue Airmen assigned to the 176th Wing in 
the Alaska Air National Guard. These airmen embody the core values of 
the Air

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Force--integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all they 
do--and are undoubtedly the best our country has to offer.
  The National Guard Bureau recently confirmed that the rescue 
squadrons of the 176th Wing comprise the busiest Combat Search and 
Rescue unit in the entire U.S. Air Force. This of course brings great 
pride to us as Alaskans. These brave men and women risk their lives 
every day so others may live, and I am honored to thank them for their 
service and recognize the extraordinary bravery of one of their own.
  I am pleased to honor one of these heroic pararescue airmen, 
specifically a parajumper--or a PJ--one MSgt Roger D. Sparks from the 
212th Rescue Squadron out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In the 
near future, the Air Force will award Sergeant Sparks with the Silver 
Star Medal for gallantry in combat during a daring, lifesaving rescue 
in the face of extreme danger in Afghanistan on November 14, 2010.
  On that day, Sergeant Sparks--pictured here; the gentleman in the 
background; there he is with his pararescue team--responded to cries of 
help from an Army platoon pinned down on all sides by a fierce and 
coordinated Taliban assault.
  What started as a relatively routine rescue mission--and routine by 
their standards is still extremely heroic by any normal standard--this 
rescue mission quickly broke down into a dire situation that claimed 
the lives of five U.S. soldiers but could have been an absolutely 
catastrophic loss of life had it not been for the bravery and selfless 
actions of Sergeant Sparks and his team.
  At the time of this rescue, the PJ team had been providing dedicated 
medical evacuation support for the 101st Airborne unit during Operation 
Bulldog Bite. This was a coalition offensive which was aimed at driving 
the enemy out of the Watapur Valley in the Kunar Province of 
Afghanistan near its eastern border with Pakistan.
  Throughout the 5-day operation, the team rescued 49 casualties and 
executed 30 hoist operations, most of which were done while they were 
exposed to enemy fire. The most significant of all these missions 
though took place on November 14.
  To paraphrase the account from Sergeant Sparks' team commander, Capt. 
Koa Bailey, what began as a relatively routine rescue operation for two 
wounded and one deceased soldier quickly turned into anything but 
routine. As the rescue team approached the battle zone and took on 
fire, they quickly realized the situation was rapidly deteriorating for 
the U.S. soldiers on the ground.
  According to Captain Bailey, a different operator came on the radio, 
indicating that the first operator was hit. You could hear the fear in 
the guy's voice. While we were listening it went from two to six 
wounded. So with complete disregard for their own safety, Captain 
Bailey and Sergeant Sparks were lowered into the battle amidst a hail 
of enemy fire.
  It was later determined that the hoist line used to lower them into 
combat was actually even struck by several rounds. As soon as their 
boots hit the ground, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded less than 20 
feet away, knocking both airmen to the ground. Quickly gathering 
themselves, Sergeant Sparks and Captain Bailey took charge of the 
beleaguered platoon who were trapped in a furious, chaotic fight.
  Sergeant Sparks and Captain Bailey were on their own to handle the 
situation the best they could, with extremely limited first aid 
equipment and no ground artillery support. Over the next 5 hours, as 
bombs hammered enemy positions and bullets spattered against the rocks, 
Sergeant Sparks abandoned cover to locate, consolidate, and treat the 
wounded.
  According to his team commander, Sergeant Sparks selflessly exposed 
himself to destructive enemy fire, in order to save American lives, 
competently handling the treatment of nine patients during the worst 
possible mass casualty situation.
  Taken from the narrative:

       When Sergeant Sparks exhausted his medical supplies, he 
     improvised using belts, T-shirts or boot strings in a 
     desperate attempt to keep his patients alive. After 
     assembling all the casualties in a central location, Sergeant 
     Sparks gathered body armor and positioned it around the 
     helpless soldiers to protect and shield them from enemy fire. 
     Repeatedly returning to the most critically wounded, Sergeant 
     Sparks performed vital medical procedures in a deliberate 
     process to ensure that each of the solders received continued 
     care and attention until airlift arrived.
       He feverishly triaged chest wounds, punctured lungs, 
     shattered hips, fist-sized blast holes, eviscerated stomachs, 
     and arterial bleeders with extremely limited medical supplies 
     and only the light of the moon piercing the darkness of the 
     remote mountaintop. Upon return of evacuation aircraft, 
     Sergeant Sparks directed the hoisting of the most critically 
     injured and briefed the crews on each casualty's injuries and 
     medical requirements, choosing to remain behind until the 
     last man departed.

  Sergeant Spark's quick and composed actions ensured nine solders 
received medical care as quickly as possible amidst constant enemy fire 
and despite extremely limited resources. Sergeant Sparks' leadership 
and courageous actions saved lives and allowed the remainder of the 
infantry platoon to continue with their assigned mission. His 
extraordinary efforts under direct fire and in immediate danger to his 
own life resulted in saving four American lives and one host nation 
civilian as well as returning four soldiers killed in action to their 
families.
  Tragically, the fierce battle ultimately claimed the lives of five 
solders that day. All told, only eight soldiers of the platoon involved 
in the 6-hour battle were left with no visible wounds. However, if it 
were not for the courage and selfless action of Sergeant Sparks, 
Captain Bailey, and the entire rescue team, the loss of life would have 
been much higher.
  I would like to take this opportunity to honor Sergeant Sparks' brave 
teammates, who also disregarded their own personal safety throughout 
their support of Operation Bulldog Bite so that others might live. 
These men are: SSgt Aaron Parcha, SSgt Jimmy Settle, SSgt Ted 
Sierocinski, TSgt Brandon Hill, MSgt Brandon Stuemke, SMSgt Christopher 
``Doug'' Widener, Capt. Marcus Maris, and Capt. Koaalii Bailey.
  There were many heroes on that day, including these pararescuemen and 
the soldiers that were engaged in battle. But I am particularly honored 
to congratulate MSgt Roger Sparks on the award of the Silver Star and 
thank him and his family for their dedicated and selfless service to 
our Nation.
  As with all the members of the 176th Wing, I am absolutely in awe of 
his achievement, eternally grateful for his service, and sincerely 
proud to have him serving in the great State of Alaska.
  I ask unanimous consent that the complete text of Master Sergeant 
Sparks' Silver Star Medal citation be printed in the Record.


 CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR TO ROGER D. SPARKS

       Master Sergeant Roger D. Sparks distinguished himself by 
     gallantry in connection with military operations against an 
     armed enemy of the United States as a Pararescue Jumper 
     assigned to the 212th Rescue Squadron in the Watapur Valley, 
     Afghanistan on 14 November 2010. On that date, Sergeant 
     Sparks responded to a call in support of Operation BULLDOG 
     BITE and the Army's 101st Airborne Division. While in the 
     air, circling the objective, the ground situation grew 
     extremely hostile and the number of casualties increased from 
     two to six. As a result of the increased fighting in the 
     area, Sergeant Sparks' team took the lead position for the 
     evacuation mission. With limited information regarding the 
     ground situation, Sergeant Sparks and Captain Bailey began 
     their 40 foot descent from the helicopter via a hoist to the 
     ground and immediately began taking enemy fire. Bullets flew 
     by the two pararescuers and the lowering cable was hit three 
     times while they dangled in the air. They yelled for rapid 
     descent and the flight engineer lowered them to the ground 
     with enemy rounds flying all around. Upon reaching the 
     ground, the pair was assaulted with a rocket propelled 
     grenade. Exploding just 20 feet away, the blast knocked them 
     both off their feet. As the gunner engaged the enemy with 
     danger close rounds, Sergeant Sparks ran approximately 70 
     yards uphill, to take cover. As he approached the tree, it 
     was blown to pieces by another enemy fired rocket propelled 
     grenade. Still under intense enemy fire, with bombs hammering 
     danger close enemy positions, Sergeant Sparks abandoned cover 
     to provide aid to the wounded. Despite continued enemy fire 
     and with no concern for his personal safety, Sergeant Sparks 
     immediately performed lifesaving measures for nine wounded 
     Soldiers. He feverishly triaged chest wounds, punctured 
     lungs, shattered hips, fist sized blast holes, eviscerated 
     stomachs, and arterial bleeders with limited medical supplies 
     and only the light of the moon. Upon return of evacuation 
     aircraft, Sergeant Sparks directed evacuation of the injured 
     while briefing crews on each casualty's injuries and

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     medical needs; choosing to remain behind until the last man 
     departed. His extraordinary efforts under direct, immediate 
     danger to his own life resulted in saving four American 
     lives, one Host Nation civilian and returning four Soldiers 
     killed in action to their families. By his gallantry and 
     devotion to duty, Sergeant Sparks has reflected great credit 
     upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.