[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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