[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5502-S5504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Specialist Derek A. Calhoun
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my honor to pay tribute to
the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Derek A. Calhoun, of Oklahoma City,
OK who died on June 23, 2007, of wounds suffered when his vehicle
encountered an improvised explosive device while serving his Nation in
Taji, Iraq.
Derek was born on September 8, 1983 in Oklahoma City, OK and attended
Moore High School. After completing high school, he enrolled at Wright
Business School where he received his associate degree. In 2005, he
enlisted and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.
Derek had been in Iraq for 8 months and was on his first tour of duty
when he was killed. He was injured several months earlier when a car
bomb exploded outside a building he was in. He had shrapnel in his
wrist, abdomen and shoulder and spent the several months in the
hospital having two surgeries. Because of his injuries, Derek was
unable to use his right hand and was going through physical therapy to
get his hands back to normal.
A funeral service was held on July 3, 2007 at South Lindsey Baptist
Church in Oklahoma City, OK with internment in Moore City Cemetery with
full military honors.
Derek is survived by his parents Alan and Lou Calhoun of Oklahoma
City; one sister Lanesha Morris of Oklahoma City; grandparents Jean and
JoAnn Calhoun of Choctaw, OK; three nieces Sierra, Cheyenne and Autumn
Morris; and one nephew Takoda Morris. Derek is preceded in death by his
grandparents Brooks and Eula Choate.
Today we remember Army SPC Derek A. Calhoun, a young man who loved
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Specialist Ryan S. Dallam
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life
and sacrifice of Army SPC Ryan S. Dallam, of Norman, OK who died with
two other servicemembers on April 6, 2007, of wounds suffered from a
roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq.
Ryan was born September 22, 1982 in Norman and lived in Midwest City,
OK for a time after his parents divorced. When his mother Laura went to
teach on an American Indian reservation in AZ, he accompanied her and
graduated from Show Low High School in 2002. He later attended Oklahoma
City Community College.
His father Scott Dallam retired in 2003 after 23 years in the Army. A
third generation soldier, Ryan joined the military during the early
spring of 2005 and reported to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic
training. As a member of the Headquarters Company, 1st/18th Infantry,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Schweinfurt, Germany,
Ryan deployed to Iraq in September 2007 and he was scheduled to come
home on leave the next week. His family was enjoying making plans to
spend time with him when the chaplain arrived at their home with the
unwelcome news.
A memorial service was held at First Christian Church in Norman on
April 12, 2007 with interment at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Fort
Sill, OK.
``He really liked what he was doing,'' Scott Dallam said. ``That
makes us feel pretty good. He really enjoyed it and the camaraderie of
being in the military and being around other soldiers.''
Ryan is survived by his mother Laura Dallam; father Scott Dallam;
stepmother Leslie Dallam; and a younger brother and sister.
Today we remember Army SPC Ryan S. Dallam, a young man who loved his
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Corporal Jaron D. Holliday
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life
and sacrifice of Army CPL Jaron D. Holliday, of Tulsa, OK who died with
two other servicemembers on August 4, 2007, of wounds suffered from a
roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Hawr Rajab, Iraq.
Jaron always wanted to be in the Armed Forces and began researching
which branch he wanted to go into when he was 11, his mother, Kelly
Holliday, said. ``That was always his desire--to go into the military
and serve,'' his mother said. ``When 9/11 happened, he was 15, and he
said, `If I were old enough to serve, I would.' ''
The oldest of eight siblings--seven boys and one girl--Jaron was
home-
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schooled and graduated through the Christian Home Education Fellowship
of Oklahoma in 2004. He joined the Army in 2005 when he was 19 and was
assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, AK.
Funeral services were held August 16, 2010 at Tulsa Bible Church with
interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK.
Jaron is survived by his parents John and Kelley Holliday and seven
siblings.
``He was a people-watcher,'' his mother said. ``He loved people. He
was the kind of person who, if he saw someone sitting by themselves
looking depressed or upset, he made it his mission to make them smile
before he left, and usually accomplished that goal.''
``We didn't want to waste time going to an amusement park or sitting
in a movie theater because you can't look at each other and talk to
each other in those places. We decided to make memories by just being
together,'' said his mother.
Today we remember Army CPL Jaron D. Holliday, a young man who loved
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Specialist Thomas R. Leemhuis
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I also wish to remember Army SPC Thomas R.
Leemhuis who died along with four other servicemembers on June 21, 2007
of wounds sustained when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive
device in Baghdad, Iraq.
Tom was born in Lawton, OK on August 2, 1983 and attended Binger-Oney
High School in Caddo County, OK before moving to nearby Anadarko after
he graduated in 2002.
In 2005 he was inspired to join the Army after the death of his uncle
Melvin Jody Stevens, a Vietnam veteran. Upon completing basic training
he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
About 500 friends, relatives and fellow soldiers attended a memorial
service at Binger-Oney High School Auditorium with internment at
Williams Family Cemetery in Binger. At the service, Tom was remembered
as a fun-loving young man who enjoyed cracking jokes and playing video
games. ``His No. 1 football team was the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and he
loved to wear his Nebraska hat around the University of Oklahoma,''
said his mother. ``He loved to push it to the limit.''
Tom had first thought of becoming a teacher and basketball coach when
he got out of the military, but then decided to become a police officer
because he hated drugs. He had decided to return to Binger after he
completed his commitment with the Army because he wanted to make a
difference there. He was extremely proud of the military and being a
Native American.
Tom is survived by his mother Patty Leemhuis; father Paul Whitehorn
of Birmingham, AL; a brother Paul Whitehorn Jr. of Binger, OK; and
three sisters, Stephanie Leemhuis of Dublin, CA; Renee Whitehorn of
Anadarko, OK; and Dream Cox of Birmingham, AL.
Today we remember Army SPC Thomas R. Leemhuis, a young man who loved
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.
Staff Sergeant William D. Scates
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I would also like to honor the life and
sacrifice of Army SSG William D. Scates, of Oklahoma City, OK who died
with three other servicemembers on August 11, 2007, of wounds suffered
from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Arab Jabour, Iraq.
Born March 8, 1976 in Oklahoma City, Dan was a graduate of Western
Heights High School and had a lifelong passion to join the military.
``When he was a little boy, he was always drawing pictures of soldiers.
That's all he ever wanted to be,'' said his mother. He had been in the
Oklahoma Army National Guard before joining the Active Duty Army where
he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, GA.
A memorial service was held September 1, 2007 in Oklahoma City with
interment in Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, TX. His mother
Moreana Whitson said her son wanted to be buried there because it was
in El Paso where he met his wife Raquel, while in training.
Dan is survived by his wife Raquel; daughters Jade 9, and 7-month-old
Kendra; his mother Moreana Whitson; his stepfather Randy Whitson; and
two sisters Courtney Champagne of Idaho and Shannon Scates of Oklahoma
City. He was preceded in death by his father William Leon Scates, who
died when Dan was a child.
At the memorial service, the Rev. Michael Jackson noted that Dan ``as
a child protected kids in the neighborhood from the bullies'' and said
he was doing the same thing in Iraq.
The minister read a poem that Dan's mother had written some time ago
about her son, who was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq.
``A long time ago, when you were just a little bitty fellar,'' she
wrote, ``little did I know the hero in you. We are not here today to
mourn,'' Jackson said. ``We are here to celebrate a hero who is going
home to receive his greatest award . . . his greatest honor.''
``I believe he was a hero before he was born,'' Jackson said. ``Then
he lived up to that calling, not just as an adult, but through his
whole life.''
I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Dan'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
volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his
life for our freedom.
Private First Class Jerimiah J. Veitch
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life
and sacrifice of Army PFC Jerimiah J. Veitch, of Dibble, OK who died
with four other servicemembers on June 21, 2007, of wounds suffered
when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade while serving
his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort
Carson, CO.
Born in Moore, OK, Jerimiah moved to San Jose, CA and then back to
Dibble, OK with his mother Valorie Sanchez and stepfather Tony Sanchez
before high school. According to his sister Amanda Testerman, he gave
his all at Dibble High School where he graduated in 2005 so that he
could play football and use the weight room.
A memorial service was held at Union Hill Baptist Church with
interment in Dibble Cemetery in Dibble, OK.
At the funeral, LTC Steven Michael said that Jerimiah was only 5 foot
4 inches, but was ``strong as an ox, tenacious.'' One year he took
second place in a State weightlifting competition, lifting more than
1,000 pounds in three lifts in the 132-pound weight class. More than
400 pounds of the total he lifted with a single deadlift.
After returning home from the Army he planned to go to Dibble, buy
some land and build a house. He wanted to go to work for his stepfather
in the roofing business. ``He is more of a son than anyone could ask
for,'' his father said. ``He was my partner. He was the heart of our
family.''
Jerimiah is survived by his mother Valorie Sanchez; stepfather Tony
Sanchez; his sister Amanda Testerman; and two brothers Caleb and Jacob
Veitch.
I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Jerimiah'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
volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his
life for our freedom.
Sergeant Ryan M. Wood
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life
and sacrifice of Army SGT Ryan M. Wood, of Oklahoma City, OK who died
with two other servicemembers on June 21, 2007, of wounds suffered from
a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq.
Born June 11, 1984 in Oklahoma City, OK, Ryan graduated from Putnam
City North High School in 2002 and signed up for the Army after the
September 11 terrorist attacks. ``The war gave Ryan a mission,'' said
his sister, Candice Bunce. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division,
Schweinfurt, Germany. ``He accomplished his mission and left this world
with dignity and honor.''
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Ryan was an accomplished artist who had received an acceptance letter
from the University of Central Oklahoma to study art and political
science. On his second tour to Iraq, he had the names of two other
soldiers who died in combat tattooed on his chest.
His stepfather Scott Vincent said he hoped Wood's death will remind
others that American soldiers are dying for their country in Iraq.
``The majority of them are proud to be there,'' he said. ``They don't
want to be forgotten. They want to have the tools to do their job.''
Funeral services were held at the Church of the Servant in northwest
Oklahoma City, OK.
Speaking at the funeral, Ryan's uncle Army Maj. John Litchfield said
his nephew had a noble spirit that his men could sense. He spent 607
days in combat, his uncle said. ``Even as a teenager, that noble spirit
would not allow you to sit by and accept the injustices of the world,''
he said.
``Ryan felt Iraq was a job we had to finish. It wasn't something we
could walk away from,'' Scott Vincent said. ``He was dedicated to being
there, and he was extremely well-loved by all his men.''
Ryan is survived by his mother Renee Wood-Vincent; father Bonner
Wood; stepfather Scott Vincent; sister Candice Bunce; and numerous
other relatives and friends.
Today we remember Army SGT Ryan M. Wood, a young man who loved his
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for
freedom.
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