[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-

[[Page S5503]]

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.''

[[Page S5504]]

  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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