[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5294-S5295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MIGUEL RIVAS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps, Miguel Rivas. Rivas hails from 
Magoffin County, KY, and served his country with honor in two tours of 
duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Only 18 years old, and having just graduated from Magoffin County 
High School, Rivas joined the Marine Corps in 2004. He did so out of a 
sense of duty to the country as well as to obtain an education and 
employment.
  In January of 2006, he was deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq with the 
1st Marine Expeditionary Force. During this tour he worked on 
administrative support duties in addition to holding long, 16-hour 
shifts on tower duty.
  Rivas was deployed on a second tour in November of 2012, this time in 
Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was a part of the ``drive team'' that is 
responsible for transporting civilians, military employees and high-
ranking officials between bases.
  Rivas served his country honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan. For his 
service, he is well deserving of our praise here in the Senate.
  Therefore, I ask that my Senate colleagues join me in honoring Miguel 
Rivas.
  The Salyersville Independent recently published an article detailing 
Rivas' service in Iraq and Afghanistan. I ask unanimous consent that 
the full article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           [From the Salyersville Independent, July 3, 2014]

               Rivas Serves Two Tours to the Middle East

                           (By Heather Oney)

       Miguel A. Rivas, a graduate of Magoffin County High School, 
     joined the United States Marine Corps in May 2004 at the age 
     of 18, wanting to fight for America's freedom, as well as 
     secure an education and employment. Rivas said he also joined 
     because he wanted to travel, which the Marines have allowed 
     him to do, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as all 
     over the U.S.
       On the same day he enlisted, Rivas left for recruit 
     training in Parris Island, South Carolina, and in July went 
     to a school of infantry

[[Page S5295]]

     in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for basic training.
       ``We dug man holes and stayed in them for 24 hours,'' Rivas 
     remembers. ``This was one of my favorite parts of being a 
     Marine.''
       In September 2004 he was sent to Camp Johnson, North 
     Carolina, for Personal Administration School to learn basic 
     administration procedures of the Marines. Then in November 
     the same year he went to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force 
     Headquarters Group, in Camp Pendleton, California, where 
     Rivas worked on a daily basis in administration.
       Rivas was deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq, in January 2006 
     with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. 
     While there, he held administrative support duties, as well 
     as tower duty, where they would stand for 16-hour shifts in 
     the tower, watching to make sure no one entered the base from 
     their positions. He worked at a gate on the base, scanning 
     all the eyes of the Local Nationals that would enter the base 
     to work.
       ``The living conditions were not so bad,'' Rivas said. ``We 
     had hard-standing buildings to sleep in at night and then we 
     had trailers that had showers and bathrooms. We had a chow 
     facility to eat so we didn't have to eat the MRE's unless we 
     were out on patrols for a few days. So, overall, the living 
     conditions were okay.''
       After returning from Iraq, he held multiple administrative 
     and supervisory positions at Camp Pendleton, California, 
     Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Yuma, Arizona.
       In November 2012, Rivas was deployed for his second tour, 
     this time sent to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the United States 
     Forces Afghanistan, working with the Navy and Air Force to 
     make sure every servicemember received their awards before 
     departing to the U.S.
       Also in Afghanistan, Rivas was on the drive team, 
     responsible for safely transporting civilian military 
     employees, servicemembers and high-ranking officers around to 
     different bases in Afghanistan.
       Living in a five-story building that included everything 
     inside, such as a gym, their rooms (with a restroom in each 
     one), and Wi-Fi connections, Rivas said this was the best 
     living conditions he had ever had.
       Rivas is married to Elizabeth Chaves Rivas and they have 
     four kids, Lizette Marie Arizmendi, Ruben Fernando Arizmendi, 
     Antonio Miguel Rivas and Kaylani Aziana Rivas.
       ``I want everyone to know she is the reason that I had a 
     long successful Marine Corps career,'' Rivas said. ``My kids 
     are my life and the greatest joy in the world is being a 
     father.''

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