[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4145-S4146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      Specialist Dylan J. Johnson

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to remember the life and 
sacrifice of a remarkable young man, Army SPC Dylan J. Johnson. Dylan 
died 3 years ago today, June 26, 2011, of injuries suffered from an 
improvised explosive device in Diyala Province, Iraq, in support of 
Operation New Dawn.
  Dylan was born November 07, 1990, in Tulsa, OK. His father Jeff 
Johnson said Dylan ``had aspired to military service for years and 
dressed as a soldier for Halloween six years running.'' After Dylan 
graduated from Jenks High School, he joined the military in August 
2009, largely inspired by the men on both sides of his family who 
served with the military during World War II and Korea.
  After completing basic training at Fort Knox, KY, Dylan was assigned 
to the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st 
Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, TX.
  Specialist Johnson departed on Memorial Day 2011 for his first 
overseas deployment and arrived in Iraq June 2. On June 26, 2011, Dylan 
tragically died of injuries he sustained when insurgents attacked his 
armored vehicle with an improvised explosive device. One other soldier 
in the vehicle was killed alongside of Dylan.
  ``Dylan possessed a kind spirit and was a bit reserved in my world 
literature class,'' said teacher, Ron Acebo. ``We all ache for the loss 
of this young life and grieve with his family. As teachers, we all hold 
hopes and dreams for our students. We do not know what he could have 
achieved but we are humbled that he had made the supreme sacrifice for 
his country. . . . and that is how he will be remembered.''
  A memorial service was held July 6, 2011, at Kirk of the Hills Church 
in Tulsa, OK and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on August 
9, 2011.
  At a ceremony on his birthday in 2013, the State of Oklahoma 
dedicated to his memory the bridge on U.S. 75 across Polecat Creek, 
just south of Main Street in Jenks, OK. A sign reading ``Specialist 
Dylan Johnson Memorial Bridge'' was emplaced on the structure, and his 
father asked those gathered to remember Oklahoma's other fallen 
soldiers when they cross it.
  Dylans's military honors include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, 
the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and 
the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Combat Service Star.
  In addition to his father, Dylan is survived by his mother Joy Sehl; 
his stepmother Lynda Johnson; two sisters, Alexandra Johnson and 
Kathryn Sehl; and two stepsisters, Brittany Dinan and Brooke Dinan. All 
are of Tulsa, OK.
  Today we remember Army SPC Dylan J. Johnson, a young man who loved 
his family and country and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                      Specialist Jordan M. Morris

  Madam President, I now wish to remember the life and sacrifice of a 
remarkable young man, Army SPC Jordan M. Morris. Along with 4 other 
soldiers, Jordan died August 11, 2011 of injuries he sustained from an 
improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Jordan was born in Elk City, OK on February 12, 1988, and later moved 
to Ripley, OK. While attending Ripley High School, he was a member of 
the baseball team, National Honor Society, 4-H, and served as Student 
Council president. He was concurrently enrolled and graduated from the 
Oklahoma School of Science and Math. As an active member of the 
Hillcrest Baptist Church, he was very involved with the youth group and 
enjoyed spending time serving others on various mission trips.
  After graduating as class valedictorian from Ripley High School in 
2006, he fulfilled a dream he had from the age of 8 as he was accepted 
to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Jordan spent 4 years at 
West Point, majoring in mechanical engineering. Friend Caleb Eytcheson 
said Jordan ``wanted to be the best, and he knew West Point is where 
they trained the best. He wanted to serve his country,'' he said.
  Jordan joined the Army in January 2011, serving as an infantryman. 
After completing training at Fort Benning, GA he was assigned to 1st 
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th 
Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. On May 5, 2011, Jordan deployed to 
Afghanistan.
  Doug Scott, assistant principal of Ripley High School said Morris was 
intelligent, had a great sense of humor and was very popular in school. 
``He showed his unselfish side by going overseas,'' Scott said.
  Jordan's baseball coach, Donnie Hoffman said: ``The world is not as 
good a place, when you lose people with the character that he was. The 
legacy he leaves behind was the way he led his life, the character, the 
discipline, the dedication, the honor.''
  Jordan was buried August 20, 2011 at Palmer Marler Funeral Home in 
Stillwater, OK.
  Jordan is survived by his parents Brett and Nita (Faber) Morris of 
Stillwater; two brothers Levi James and Jesse Isaac Morris of 
Stillwater; grandparents Wilma Faber, of Tulsa, James and Patricia 
Morris, of Broken Arrow; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, 
as well as his former West Point classmates and fellow soldiers in the 
1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th 
Mountain Division.
  Today we remember Army SPC Jordan M. Morris, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                       Specialist Joshua M. Seals

  Madam President, I also wish to remember the life and sacrifice of a 
remarkable young man, Army SPC Joshua M. Seals. Specialist Seals died 
August 16, 2011 of non-combat injuries at Forward Operating Base 
Lightening in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry 
Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard.

[[Page S4146]]

  Joshua was born April 10, 1990, in Glendale, AZ and later moved to 
Porter, OK. While attending Porter High School he played football, was 
an honor roll student and a member of the academic team. He was also 
active in Wagoner County 4-H and showed Dutch rabbits.
  He joined the military as a truck driver in 2008 while still in high 
school. Aunt Trina Seals said ``his mother and father served in the 
Army, and he felt it was just something he wanted to do.''
  ``My thoughts and prayers go out to the Seals family and friends,'' 
said Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, Oklahoma's adjutant general. ``As we 
mourn his loss in the days ahead, we will be forever honored and proud 
that he chose to serve his country and the people of Oklahoma in the 
National Guard.''
  Principal Larry Shackelford described him as a great student and a 
wonderful young man with a bright outlook.
  A memorial and burial service was held August 27, 2011 at Greenwood 
Cemetery in Porter, OK.
  Specialist Seals is survived by his parents Rhonda and Stanley; wife 
Andrina; and siblings Jeremy, Sarah and James.
  Today we remember Army SPC Joshua M. Seals, a young man who loved his 
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                  Specialist James T. Wickliff-Chacin

  Madam President, I pay tribute to a true American hero, Army SPC 
James T. Wickliff-Chacin of Edmond, OK who died on September 20, 2013 
serving our nation in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan. Specialist Wickliff-
Chacin was assigned to 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade 
Combat Team, Fort Stewart, GA.
  James died at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX of 
injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near 
his dismounted patrol during combat operations in Pul-E-Alam, 
Afghanistan on August 12, 2013. He was 22 years old.
  Born February 18, 1991 in Venezuela, James moved to Oklahoma with his 
family in 2006. He graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School in 2010. 
After graduation, he enlisted as an infantryman in the Army in June 
2010 and arrived at his unit in October 2010.
  ``He had a good future,'' his father said. ``He had all the scores to 
go to whatever college he wanted.'' But James wanted to join the Army. 
Friends said he was proud of his service even before he graduated from 
high school.
  ``I remember him as a young man who very much wanted to go into the 
military,'' said his former high school principal Jason Brown. The 
following year, before graduation, James had asked ahead of time if the 
school was going to do anything to recognize students who would be 
serving in the military. ``I told him he would have to wait but he was 
in for a surprise,'' Brown said. ``During graduation we always asked 
for those individuals to stand up who wanted to go into the military. I 
distinctly remember looking for and finding him in the audience and he 
was smiling ear to ear.''
  This was his second deployment; he previously deployed to Iraq from 
March to June 2011.
  In May 2013, James wrote on his Facebook page ``I am proud to carry 
the legacy of my family. We are warriors at heart that fight against 
all odds to protect those who need us. There is nothing else that I 
would rather be doing with my life.''
  James was laid to rest at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK on 
October 3, 2013. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the 
Army Commendation Medal of Valor.
  Today we remember Army SPC James T. Wickliff-Chacin, a young man who 
loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.

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