[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 130 (Thursday, September 11, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5557-S5559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                        Sergeant John A. Carroll

 Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to pay tribute to 
the life and sacrifice of Army SGT John A. Carroll, of Ponca City, OK 
who died on September 6, 2006, of injuries sustained when he came in 
contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during a dismounted 
security patrol while serving his Nation in Ramadi, Iraq.
  John was born September 1, 1980 in Greene County, PA and moved to 
Lawrenceville when he was 8 years old. In his mid-teens he left to live 
with his father in Georgia where he earned his general education 
development degree. While traveling from State to State in search of 
employment, he was approached by an Army recruiter in Oklahoma 
promising a chance to continue his education and a large signing bonus. 
He was sold and enlisted in 1999.
  John met his wife Jessica Carroll in Florida while on leave from the 
1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, 
Germany. He was on his third tour of Iraq and was due to be discharged 
in October 2006. After completing his service, they planned to live in 
Tennessee because they loved the mountains and the scenic surroundings.
  A graveside service was held on September 17, 2006 at Mount View 
Cemetery, McMinnville, TN. Full military honors were administered by 
the Fort Campbell Honor Guard.
  John is survived by his wife Jessica; mother Dawn Petrakovits; father 
Roger Carroll; two brothers Micah Carroll and Ben Beardsley; two 
sisters Liz Carroll and Rebecca Petrakovits; and mother-in-law Nancy 
Hicks and father-in-law Jerry Hicks.
  Today we remember Army SGT John A. Carroll, a young man who loved his 
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                      Corporal Wilfred Flores, Jr.

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Army CPL Wilfred Flores, Jr., of Lawton, OK, who died on 
March 31, 2007, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive 
device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Ramadi, 
Iraq. He was 11 days short of his 21st birthday.
  The son of retired Army Sergeants First Class Wilfred Sr. and Vicky, 
he was born April 10, 1986, at Fort Sill, OK. A member of the Jr. ROTC 
program, he graduated from Eisenhower High School in Lawton in 2004 and 
entered the Army Delayed Entry Program.
  While waiting for his enlistment time, he volunteered at Giddy Up & 
Go, a non-profit therapeutic horse riding program for disabled children 
and adults. Wilfred joined the Army as an infantryman after completing 
basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, GA. After 
training he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. He was 
on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  A memorial service was held on April 15, 2007, at Frontier Chapel on 
Fort Sill, OK. Burial with full military honors followed on April 16, 
2007, in the new Fort Sill National Cemetery near Elgin, OK.
  Wilfred is survived by his parents Wilfred Sr. and Vicky Flores; 
sister Theresa Siegrist; grandfather retired Air Force SSG Modesto 
Flores, Jr.; three nieces; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
  Vicky Flores said her son was very religious, very generous and 
believed ``God had a hand in everything. He loved his job,'' she said. 
``He was there because he wanted to be there. He died doing what he 
loved the most.''
  Today we remember Army CPL Wilfred Flores, Jr., a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                        Sergeant Buddy J. Hughie

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Army SGT Buddy J. Hughie, of Poteau, OK, who died while 
serving his Nation in Kamdesh, Afghanistan on February 19, 2007.
  Born October 23, 1981 in Carlsbad, NM, and a 2005 graduate of Poteau 
High School, Buddy and his unit were conducting a joint mission with 
the Afghan National Army and the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in 
the country's Nuristan province when the group came under enemy small-
arms and rocket-propelled-grenade fire. After two Afghan soldiers in 
the group were wounded, he left his position to provide medical 
assistance when he was shot and killed.
  ``Sgt. Buddy Hughie was a great American,'' said LTC Bobby Yandell, 
commander of the 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry. ``Sgt. Hughie was one 
of those soldiers that you did not have to worry about; he always did 
the right thing. We mourn his loss, but celebrate the life of a great 
soldier.'' Buddy, who previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2002-2003, 
volunteered to return to the country, Yandell said.
  More than 600 people filled Poteau High School's Sherman Floyd 
Fieldhouse to honor Buddy's life. Burial was conducted on February 28, 
2007, in Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, SC.
  ``He didn't have to be in Afghanistan, he didn't have to serve that 
45 days in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He was there because 
he believed in what he was doing. More importantly, he backed those 
beliefs by action'' said BG Myles L. Deering, the commander of the 
Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade.
  He is survived by his wife Alexis Hughie; son Cooper; grandparents 
Kenneth and Delores Hughie; his mother Julie Hicks; a sister Jennifer 
Claiborn; a brother Dennis Hicks; and his great-grandparents Andrew 
``Buddy'' and Dimple Rogers.
  Today we remember Army SGT Buddy J. Hughie, a remarkable young man 
who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.


                        Sergeant Justin L. Noyes

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Marine Sgt Justin L. Noyes, of Vinita, OK, who died on 
July 2, 2006, of injuries sustained while attempting to disarm an 
improvised explosive device in Al Anbar Province, Fallujah, Iraq.
  Born August 8, 1982 in Tulsa, OK, Justin played football and baseball 
at Vinita High School where he graduated in 2002.
  Just 1 day before his 18th birthday and shortly after graduating from 
high school, Justin enlisted in the Marine Corps. He and his brother, 
Jeremy were first deployed to Iraq for the start of the war in 2003 and 
were there when

[[Page S5558]]

Saddam Hussein's statue came tumbling down.
  While conducting training in North Carolina, he met his wife Sarah 
and they were married on May 15, 2005, in Florida in a ceremony 
overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
  In August 2005, Justin was reassigned as an explosive ordnance 
disposal technician with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine 
Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.
  A memorial service was held on July 17, 2006 at Cowboy Junction 
Church in Vinita, OK. As the hearse carrying his body made its way to 
the church, it passed more than 500 American Legion members lined along 
the road, each holding an American flag. Justin's death apparently 
touched the Craig County community to its core. Hundreds of residents, 
some saluting, some with their hands over their hearts, and all waving 
flags of every size, poured out of homes, offices, department stores 
and convenience stores to line the funeral route, which flowed through 
downtown Vinita. As the funeral procession traveled through 
neighborhoods, young boys with flags on their bicycles stopped out of 
respect. Full military honors were rendered for the burial at Fairview 
Cemetery in Vinita, OK.
  Justin is survived by his wife Sarah; his mother Stacey Noyes; father 
and stepmother Mark and Karen Noyes; brothers Jeremy Norsworthy and 
Chris Barnes; and sisters Hannah and Rachel Noyes.
  Today we remember Marine Sgt Justin L. Noyes, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                    Lance Corporal Trevor A. Roberts

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Marine Corps LCpl Trevor A. Roberts, of Oklahoma City, OK, 
who died on March 24, 2007, of injuries sustained after an improvised 
explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in 
Anbar province, Iraq.
  Trevor was born October 6, 1985 in Moore, OK. He joined the Marine 
Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine 
Division, Oklahoma City in his senior year before graduating from 
Westmoore High School in 2004. After graduation he attended 1 year at 
Oklahoma City Community College before being one of 30 people from his 
unit who volunteered to go to Iraq as an artillery specialist.
  Nearly 1,000 people attended a memorial service at Eagle Heights 
Church with burial in Heritage Burial Park in Oklahoma City, OK.
  At the memorial service, the Rev. Rob Olmstead recalled Trevor going 
on numerous mission trips, including one to Bangkok to work with 
orphaned children the summer before he attended boot camp. Trevor felt 
``God is calling me to go work for these children in the foreign 
mission field,'' said his father, Chuck. While in Iraq, seeing the 
plight of the people solidified in his mind that he wanted to be a 
missionary, Roberts' parents said. ``He saw some stuff he did not want 
to have to see,'' Chuck Roberts said. ``It hurt him. He could look at 
the Iraqi people and see their hurt and their pain, and he could also 
see their joy. He could look in their eyes and just see.''
  Trevor was preceded in death by his grandfather Carl Roberts. He is 
survived by his parents Chuck and Twyla Roberts; brother Nathan 
Roberts; maternal grandmother Helen JoAn Hey and her husband Lester; 
grandfather Willis Ferguson; paternal grandmother Rita Roberts; uncles 
Andy Ferguson and his wife Angie, Barry Ferguson and his wife Amy, and 
Mike Roberts and his wife Sandra; aunts Susan Hall, Linda Roberts, and 
Patty Bratton and her husband Mark; and numerous extended family, 
friends, and his beloved Corp.
  Joey Ware, who knew Trevor more than 10 years, said his friend always 
looked out for those around him. ``Trevor would do anything for anybody 
no matter what it cost him,'' Ware recalled.
  Shortly before his death he wrote on his web page about his faith and 
the dangers he faced: ``Sometimes I'm awakened at night, and I can not 
go back to sleep for hours because something is heavy on my heart. For 
some reason, this is one such thing. How fast life can change on us. 
Over here, it might be a firefight or a roadside bomb that makes a 
normal drive a stir of chaos. Things most definitely don't always work 
out the way we dream and hope, but we have to keep going, for you never 
know what tomorrow might bring.''
  Today we remember Marine Corps LCpl Trevor A. Roberts, a young man 
who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.


                     Specialist Joshua D. Sheppard

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Army SPC Joshua D. Sheppard, of Quinton, OK, who died on 
December 22, 2006 of wounds sustained when his patrol came in contact 
with enemy forces using small arms fire while serving his Nation in 
Baghdad, Iraq.
  Born July 10, 1984 and a 2003 graduate of Quinton High School, Josh 
enlisted in the Army in July 2003 at the age of 19. After completing 
basic combat training at Fort Benning, GA, and advanced individual 
training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, he was assigned to the 642nd 
Engineer Support Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain 
Division, Light Infantry, Fort Drum, NY, in December 2003. He deployed 
to Iraq in September 2006.
  An avid outdoorsman, Josh enjoyed fishing and working with wood. He 
was hoping to use his GI bill for an education and to learn skills that 
would allow him to come back to his community and work as a contractor 
with heavy equipment, his mother said. He wanted to become a contractor 
and open a saw mill. ``It was his love. He loved the outside,'' said 
his mother, Julie Young. ``If he got too claustrophobic sitting inside, 
he would go down to the woodshop.''
  Funeral services and burial were conducted at Lona Valley Cemetery in 
Kinta, OK.
  ``He would have done great things,'' said his brother Reuben, an Army 
private. ``When we were in school, he was my best friend, and he was my 
best friend when he was in the service.''
  He is survived by his mother Julie Young; stepfather Marty Young; and 
four brothers.
  Today we remember Army SPC Joshua D. Sheppard, a remarkable young man 
who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.


                      Corporal Jared M. Shoemaker

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Marine Corps Cpl Jared M. Shoemaker, of Tulsa, OK, who 
died on September 4, 2006, of injuries sustained after an improvised 
explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in 
Al Anbar Province, Fallujah, Iraq.
  The second son of Ken and Linda Shoemaker, Jared was born April 22, 
1977. He graduated from Edison High School in 1995, a 3-year letterman 
in football, with area coaches naming him to the Oklahoma All-State 
team. He continued his football career, earned a degree in psychology 
and a minor in criminal justice and met his future wife Kari at 
Northeastern State University.
  In January 2003, Jared joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After 
graduating from basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San 
Diego, CA, he reported to the Infantry Training Battalion at Marine 
Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he graduated as a machine gunner. 
He was then assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment 
and later reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th 
Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Broken Arrow, OK.
  In January 2005 he was hired by the Tulsa Police Department. In June 
of that year he graduated from the police academy and served as a 
patrol officer until he was mobilized to active duty status in December 
2005. His friends recalled that he excelled as a police officer in 
every capacity, graduating at the top of his class academically. He 
also excelled in military service, earning the Albert Schwab Award for 
Marine of the Year in 2005.
  A memorial service was held on September 15, 2006 at First United 
Methodist Church in Tulsa, OK. Full military honors were rendered for 
the burial at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow, OK.
  Jared is survived by his wife Kari; his parents Ken and Linda 
Shoemaker; brother Steve Shoemaker; brother and sister-in-law Ben and 
Kristen Shoemaker and their daughter Ellie; grandparents Forrest and 
Gloria Shoemaker;

[[Page S5559]]

Betty Ellsworth; Howard and Christa Ellsworth; uncle Stephen F. 
Shoemaker and family; mother-in-law Darla Harrison; and numerous aunts, 
uncles, and cousins.
  Today we remember Marine Corps Cpl Jared M. Shoemaker, a young man 
who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.


                       Corporal Derek A. Stanley

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Army CPL Derek A. Stanley, of Tulsa, OK, who died on June 
5, 2006, of noncombat injuries while serving his Nation at Forward 
Operating Base Salerno in Khowst province, Afghanistan.
  Derek was born November 25, 1985, in Claremore, OK. After attending a 
Tulsa high school, he enrolled in Thunderbird Youth Academy in Pryor, 
OK, and graduated in December 2003 in the top quarter of his class with 
his general education development degree.
  After enlisting in the Army in March 2004, he received training at 
Fort Leonardwood, MO. Upon completing basic training, he remained at 
Fort Leonardwood for 19 additional weeks of Chemical Brigade training 
before being assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Light Infantry, Fort Drum, 
NY. His unit deployed to Afghanistan on March 15, 2006.
  About 100 friends and relatives filled Millsap Funeral Service Chapel 
in Fort Gibson, OK, on June 15, 2006, to remember Derek. Burial 
services were conducted at Fort Gibson National Cemetery where BG James 
E. Chambers presented a flag to Derek's mother.
  Derek is survived by his mother Darlyn Smith; father Faron Stanley; 
brother Aaron Stanley; grandparents Winnie Young, R.C. Smith, and Leona 
Weesner; great-grandfather Otto Smith; and numerous aunts, uncles, 
cousins and friends.
  Today we remember Army CPL Derek A. Stanley, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                     Staff Sergeant Clint J. Storey

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Army SSG Clint J. Storey, of Enid, OK, who died on August 
4, 2006, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device 
detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Ramadi, Iraq.
  Born February 27, 1976, Clint's life crumbled around him in 1993, 
quitting school as he struggled to come to terms with the death of his 
father. However, he found his purpose a few years later when he earned 
his general education development degree and enlisted in the Army in 
February 1998.
  After completing training at Ft Knox, KY, Clint reported to HHC 1/5 
Infantry Battalion at Ft Hood, TX, where he served as a scout platoon 
driver and gunner and deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. In September 
2000, he reported to HHC 2-34 Armor Battalion in Ft Riley, KS, as a 
Squad Leader and Section Sergeant before volunteering to serve as a 
recruiter in Los Angeles, CA, from September 2002 to 2005.
  In September 2005, Clint was assigned to 1st Calvary Regiment, 1st 
Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany, where he served as the 
Headquarters Platoon Sergeant and later as the senior scout in 2nd 
Platoon. From there he deployed to Biaj and later to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in 
January 2006.
  Dozens of flags lined the streets as funeral services were held at 
Central Christian Church in Enid, OK, on August 16, 2006. About 100 
people held flags as family and friends gathered around Storey's casket 
at Enid Cemetery, where he was buried with full military honors. While 
home on leave from Iraq, Clint and his wife Melissa became pregnant 
with the couple's second child. Melissa was presented with the folded 
flag that had laid atop her husband's casket. Military officials then 
presented another folded flag to his mother.
  On August 27, 2006, close to 200 mourners gathered in the garden 
outside St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Palmer, MA, as a second 
memorial service was held in his wife's hometown. The Vietnam Veterans 
of America Western MA Chapter 111 organized military honors at the 
service, which included an honor guard, a 21-gun salute, a recording of 
``Taps'' and a carefully folded American flag offered to Adela the 
couple's 4-year-old daughter.
  Clint is survived by his wife Melissa; daughter Adela; mother Carolyn 
Inherst; stepfather Bill Inherst; sisters Charlene Phillips, Tammy 
Divine and Tonja Whitehead; and numerous other family members and 
friends.
  Today we remember Army SSG Clint J. Storey, a young man who loved his 
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                       Sergeant Clint E. Williams

  Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Army SGT Clint E. Williams, of Kingston, OK, who died on 
September 14, 2006, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive 
device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Baghdad, 
Iraq.
  Born August 6, 1982, in Durant, OK, Clint graduated from Kingston 
High School in 2001 where he was the senior class president and a 
member of the baseball team.
  He joined the Army in April 2003 and was assigned to the 1st 
Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, 
Fort Hood, TX. He previously deployed to Iraq from October 2003 through 
November 2004 and returned in November 2005.
  In June 2006, he was seriously wounded after a bomb exploded near him 
outside of Hawr Rajab south of Baghdad. Although the explosion killed a 
fellow soldier, Clint kept firing on enemy positions, held his ground 
and ran more than 300 meters to get additional fire support despite 
receiving wounds to his legs and hand. A fearless man, his favorite 
quote was ``All one really needs in life is a few good pals and 
together they can take on anything in life.'' Even after being injured 
in that battle, he volunteered for dangerous duty on raids rather than 
sit and wait for battle.
  A memorial service was held on September 23, 2006 at Jerald Barton 
Memorial Gymnasium in Kingston, OK.
  At the memorial service, his friend B.J. Bush recalled Clint as ``a 
good ol' boy with a knife in his front pocket and a can of snuff in the 
back. He was happiest with his gun and bow sighted in and his pole 
rigged with hook and line.'' He was laid to rest in Willis Cemetery, 
overlooking his beloved Lake Texoma.
  Clint is survived by his father Lavoyed Williams; mother Marci 
Sprouse; three brothers Duron Williams, Dalton Williams and Daniel 
Williams; sister Jessica Williams; grandmothers Jean Williams and Nancy 
Sprouse; grandfather Jack Sprouse; and two nephews Jarren Williams and 
Devin Williams.
  Today we remember Army SGT Clint E. Williams, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.

                          ____________________