[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5428-S5429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Specialist William E. Allmon
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to pay tribute to
the life and sacrifice of Army SPC William E. Allmon, of Ardmore, OK
who died on April 12, 2008, of wounds suffered when his vehicle
encountered an improvised explosive device while serving his Nation in
Baghdad, Iraq.
William was a combat engineer who joined the Army in June 2000 and
was on his second deployment to Iraq. He previously deployed as part of
Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2005 to January 2006. He was
assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.
``If you didn't know him, you missed out on a lot,'' wrote SGT
Richard White in a letter read tearfully by his wife during a funeral
service. ``You are not only my best friend, you are my brother.''
A funeral service was held on April 22, 2008 at Pleasant Valley South
Baptist Church in Silver Creek, GA.
William is survived by his wife Jennifer, their son Damien and
stepson Jason ``Luke'' Johnson, his mother Donna Fortune, and his
father William Allmon.
He loved his family and his children. ``We're going to miss his smile
and his antics--he was a kid at heart. When we went to Chuck E. Cheese,
he'd get as much out of it as the kids,'' said the soldier's father,
William Allmon.
Today we remember Army SPC William E. Allmon, a young man who loved
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Staff Sergeant Kevin R. Brown
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life
and sacrifice of Army SSG Kevin R. Brown, of Harrah, OK who died on
September 25, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while
serving his Nation in Muqdadiyah, Iraq.
A cavalry scout, Brown joined the military in September 1988, a year
after graduating from Harrah High School. He was inspired to join the
military by his father Richard Haynes Brown, a senior master sergeant
who retired at Tinker Air Force Base, OK after 22 years of service.
In April 2006 he was assigned 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, TX and
deployed for his second tour to Iraq in October 2006.
A funeral service was held at the Brown family plot in Rineyville,
KY, near Fort Knox, TN.
Kevin is survived by his parents Glenda and Richard Haynes Brown, his
wife Lena of Killeen, TX, the couple's daughters Maria, 13, and
Charlene, 14, a sister Brandy Ross of Moore, OK, and two stepchildren
Jeremy and Pamela.
I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Kevin's family. He
lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will
be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our
Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who
twice volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice
of his life for our freedom.
Private First Class Cody M. Carver
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I also wish to remember Army PFC Cody M.
Carver who died on October 30, 2007 of wounds sustained when enemy
forces engaged his unit with small-arms fire and an improvised
explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.
Born June 23, 1988, Cody joined the Army in November 2006. Upon
completing basic training he returned to Oklahoma to serve as a
hometown recruiter. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 15th
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort
Benning, GA where he was deployed to Iraq on September 28, 2007.
Cody's father, Darrell Lee Carver, was wounded during the Vietnam
war. That, along with the September 11, 2001 attacks was his motivation
for joining the Army, his mother said. ``He had talked about joining
the Army since the ninth grade. I guess it was about the same time 9/11
happened. That bothered him so bad, he just wanted to go and make it
right,'' she said.
A memorial service was held on November 10, 2007 at Coweta High
School, with burial at the Vernon Cemetery in Coweta, OK.
His mother remembers him as very much a single man with a huge sense
of humor. ``I asked him at Valentine's Day if there was anyone he
wanted me to send flowers to,'' said his mother. ``He said, `Mom, that
would be too many flowers. You couldn't afford it.' ''
Cody is survived by his parents Darrel and Pam Carver of Haskell, OK,
brothers Lee and Jake Carver of Haskell, OK, and his grandparents
Charles Orsburn and Barbara Phillippe of Wagoner, OK, and Ronald and
Edna Carver of Coweta, OK.
Today we remember Army PFC Cody M. Carver, a young man who loved his
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Sergeant First Class David R. Hurst
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life
and sacrifice of Army SFC David R. Hurst, of Fort Sill, OK who died on
June 8, 2008, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his
Nation in Baghdad, Iraq.
Born October 21, 1976, David was a 1994 graduate of Ridgewood Prep
School in Metairie, LA. He enlisted in the Army in March 1995 and
completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, GA
before being honorably discharged in June 1998.
Returning to active duty in August 1999, he served as a basic
training drill sergeant at Fort Sill, OK, from November 2005 to October
2007 and was then reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment,
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort
Polk, LA.
A funeral service was held on June 17, 2008 at Schoen Funeral home
with internment at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in New
Orleans, LA.
David is preceded in death by his mother Harrette Kock and survived
by his father Max Wayne Hurst, his stepmother Lillian T. Hurst, his
brothers Chris and Mark Hurst, and numerous nieces, nephews, other
relatives, and friends.
I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to David's family. He
lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will
be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our
Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who
twice volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice
of his life for our freedom.
Sergeant First Class Jeffry D. Kettle
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life
and sacrifice of Army SFC Jeffry D. Kettle who died on August 12, 2007
of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in
Nangarhar province near Kuzkalakhel, Afghanistan.
Born August 26, 1975 and listing Madill, OK as his home of record,
Jeff was a product of Texas City, TX. Military service ran in his
family with his grandfather, uncles, brother, and father also
completing service time. ``Jeff was the ultimate warrior,'' said Ronald
Kettle, noting his son joined the Army in 1993 right after graduating
from high school. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces
Group based at Fort Bragg, NC and was on his fourth deployment.
A memorial service was held August 31, 2007, at Calvary Baptist
Church in Texas City, TX. Jeff was buried with military honors at
Arlington National Cemetery on August 22, 2007. His flag-draped coffin
was carried to the grave site by a six-man casket team of soldiers from
the 3rd Infantry Regiment. In the brief ceremony, relatives including
his parents and his wife recited the Lord's Prayer. His father said his
son, 31, wished to be at Arlington because ``he wanted to be buried
among heroes.''
Jeff is survived by his parents Ron and Cindy Kettle, his wife Brandi
Kettle, two sons Jeffrey and Logan, grandmother Anne Moore, and two
brothers Ryan and Clay Kettle.
I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Jeff's family. He
lived a
[[Page S5429]]
life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will be
remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our
Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who
volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his
life for our freedom.
Captain Torre R. Mallard
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to remember another remarkable
young man, Army CPT Torre R. Mallard. Assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd
Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, TX. Torre died March 10, 2008 of
wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device while serving his
Nation in Balad Ruz, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The son of a retired army master sergeant, Torre was born August 20,
1980 in Anniston, AL, and lived throughout the United States and
Europe, eventually graduating from Salmen High School in Slidell, LA,
in 1998.
While attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Torre was
actively involved in the boxing and football programs. During the
spring semester of his sophomore year at the academy he served a 4-
month term as a company commander, one of the highest positions in the
Cadet Chain of Command at the academy. In June 2002 he earned a
commission in the Army and graduated with a degree in computer science.
A memorial service was held on March 12, 2008 in Anniston, with
burial in the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, NY.
Torre is survived by his wife Bonita, two young sons Torre Jr. and
Joshua, and his parents Mose and Robin Mallard.
Today we remember Army CPT Torre R. Mallard, a young man who loved
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Specialist Michael E. Phillips
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also pay tribute to
the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Michael E. Phillips who died on
February 24, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Michael left for basic training on June 24, 2006. Upon finishing
advanced infantry training, he was assigned to Bravo Company 1 of the
502nd Strike Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.
On October 13, 2007, he and his teammates deployed to Iraq in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just 4 months into his deployment an
improvised explosive device tore through the door of the vehicle he was
driving. Despite the severity of his injuries he continued to smile and
reassure those taking care of him. Even in the most grim and serious
times, Michael still fought and lifted up those around him.
He is survived by his parents Steven and Angelia Phillips, his
brothers David and Anthony, and his sister Barbara--all of Ardmore, OK.
Michael excelled at drawing and had been offered admission to the San
Francisco Art Institute, his mother said. But serving his country meant
more than going to college, she said.
``He came home one day and said he wanted to join the Army, and we
got in the car and went down to the recruiting station,'' Anglia
Phillips said. ``He said terrorism was like a virus. It had to be
stopped. It had to be contained.'' Her son was reenlisting to join for
2 more years because ``he didn't want to leave his squad, his guys,''
she said.
Today we remember Army SPC Michael E. Phillips, a young man who loved
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Corporal Bryan J. Scripsick
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I also wish to remember Marine Corps Cpl
Bryan J. Scripsick who, along with three other Marines, succumbed to
injuries sustained after a suicide bomber attacked their position in
Anbar province north of Baghdad, Iraq on September 6, 2007.
Bryan was born August 21, 1985. Although the family home is in Wayne,
OK, he graduated in 2004 from Pauls Valley High School, where he played
safety and wide receiver on the football team.
Rather than pursuing his dream of playing college football, Bryan
chose to join the Marine Corps right after his 19th birthday in August
2004. He was assigned to 3rd Assault amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA and was on
his second tour to Iraq.
More than 100 people filled the First United Methodist Church for a
memorial service held on September 13, 2007. Burial took place at the
Mount Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley, OK. At the cemetery, members of
the Marine honor guard carried the casket to the gravesite where the
flag was folded above the casket and presented to Bryan's parents and
his brother. He was then honored with three volleys from a rifle party
and the playing of taps.
Bryan is survived by his parents Jon and Jan Scripsick, and his
brother Brett Scripsick of Pauls Valley, OK.
Today we remember Marine Corps Cpl Bryan J. Scripsick, a young man
who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for
freedom.
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