[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 168 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7961-S7963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                   Master Sergeant Joshua L. Wheeler

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, the Presiding Officer, Senator Lankford, 
and I want to recognize and pay tribute to Army MSG Joshua Wheeler. 
Joshua was born in Roland, OK. He was deployed to Kirkuk Province, 
Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. I didn't remember him 
at the time, but I was there during that time. He was deployed to 
Kirkuk to support Operation Inherent Resolve. That was his 14th 
deployment in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Joshua's unit, 
along with Iraqi and Kurdish forces, raided a compound near the city of 
Kirkuk, freeing 70 prisoners from captivity. Josh died of injuries 
sustained in that firefight. He would have turned 40 this month.
  Josh attended and graduated from Muldrow High School in 1994, and a

[[Page S7962]]

classmate of his, Ms. Tra Moreland, said this about Josh and his 
character:

       If you would have asked me 20 years ago, would he be the 
     man--the kind of man to do this, to give his life for 
     everyone else? I'd say most definitely! I wish everybody 
     could have known him!

  Josh enlisted in the Army straight out of high school. During his 
military career, he served in the 24th Infantry Regiment, 75th Ranger 
Regiment, and from 2004 until the events that bring us here today, he 
was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, where he 
served with the Delta Force.
  I think we all understand what the Delta Force is all about. It is a 
unit of the elite, the very best of the best. That was Josh--the best 
of the best. Josh was the epitome of a selfless and patriotic soldier.
  Mr. Lance Hunter, Sergeant Wheeler's friend of 30 years, said that 
Josh was the kind of person who would stop and help a stranger change a 
tire on the side of the road and always dedicated himself to 
challenges.

       When he enlisted, I knew he would go as far as he could go. 
     He was made to be a soldier.

  A soldier he was. During his career, Master Sergeant Wheeler had 
earned 11 Bronze Stars, including 4 with Valor Device, and countless 
other medals. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his 
actions during the raid on the ISIS prison. He is a true American hero.
  Secretary of Defense Ash Carter expressed how selfless Sergeant 
Wheeler's actions were, stating that ``they weren't part of the 
original rescue mission plan, but were critical to the mission's 
success.'' In other words, he did something he didn't have to do. 
Still, the Secretary is one of thousands who know what a hero Josh 
really is.
  I was honored to hear that his hometown honored him by engraving his 
name in a stone monument and releasing hundreds of balloons in his 
memory. On top of being a highly decorated soldier, he was a consummate 
family man and father of four. Joshua's grandfather, Mr. Jack Shamblin 
of Roland, OK, said his grandson loved fishing and hunting and was a 
family man and was always taking care of everyone else, including his 
four half sisters.
  His brother Zack said:

       He was a soldier, but I didn't realize he had all of these 
     accomplishments, all these achievements--it just blows my 
     mind. He's an American hero, he just wanted to take care of 
     people.

  Ms. April Isa, a classmate of Josh's and an English teacher now at 
the old high school said:

       He was always funny, even mischievous, but always the guy 
     who seemed like he had your back. Most of our class was 
     cliques, but he wasn't with just one group. He was friends 
     with everyone.

  Josh lived a life for his family and friends. I had occasion to talk 
to Ashley, and I found out that he was a real Jesus guy. He loved 
everyone, and he knew what was going to happen to him, and we know 
where he is today. He will be remembered for his commitment to and 
belief in the greatness of our Nation, and his memory and legacy will 
continue forever in the love of his wife Ashley and his four sons, 
Zachariah, Matthew, Joshua Junior, and the youngest, David, just 3 
months old.
  The fight that took Josh's life is tragic. But make no mistake; his 
sacrifice made a difference and will continue to make a difference, not 
just in Iraq but in the security of our great Nation. We are safe in 
our country, and it is secure because of Josh and our service men and 
women. We must continue our unwavering support of them.
  I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Josh's family. 
Senator Lankford and I are honored to pay tribute to this true American 
hero who volunteered to go into the fight and to make the ultimate 
sacrifice of his life for our freedom. It is my sincere hope that his 
family takes solace in knowing that their husband, father, brother, 
grandson, and friend is a true American hero and will not be forgotten. 
We say God bless you, Josh. We will see you again.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Inhofe). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I come to the floor of the Senate today 
to talk about the sacrifice of one of Oklahoma's own, MSG Joshua 
Wheeler of Roland, OK, Sequoyah County, America. The current Presiding 
Officer today is Senator Inhofe, and the two of us together recognize 
and celebrate the life of someone who laid down his life for the 
Nation.
  Roland and Muldrow are proud towns in eastern Oklahoma. It is 
Cherokee country, where families take care of other families and small-
town American patriotism still thrives. It is the land of tall trees 
and very strong churches.
  Josh was killed in action on October 22 while liberating captives 
held by ISIL in northern Iraq. Josh was part of a team assisting 
Kurdish commandos to rescue 70 hostages who were about to be executed 
by Islamic State militants. There was aerial reconnaissance that had 
shown a newly dug mass grave at the prison where these 70 prisoners 
were being held.
  When the Kurdish attack on the prison where the hostages were being 
held stalled, Master Sergeant Wheeler responded. He could not watch the 
Kurdish forces face the attack without help. He would not allow those 
men inside the facility to face execution when he could help them 
escape. Master Sergeant Wheeler breached the wall. He engaged the 
enemy. The full force of the attack came directly at him, and he saved 
the day and six dozen men.
  You need to know that Master Sergeant Wheeler was the best of the 
best, the most highly trained warrior in the entire Department of 
Defense. Josh deployed three times as a Ranger in support of combat 
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, then Master Sergeant Wheeler was 
assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in 2004 and was 
deployed 11 additional times in support of combat operations in Iraq 
and Afghanistan.
  Master Sergeant Wheeler was highly decorated. We can see this from 
his uniform. Let me tell you a little bit about his awards. They 
included four Bronze Star Medals with Valor Device; seven Bronze Star 
Medals; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service 
Medal; the Air Medal; the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor 
Device; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; seven Army Commendation 
Medals; the Joint Service Achievement Medal; eight Army Achievement 
Medals; the Good Conduct Medal, sixth award; the National Defense 
Service Medal with Bronze Service Star; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
with three Bronze Service Stars; the Iraq Campaign Medal with six 
Bronze Service Stars; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; 
the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Noncommissioned Officer 
Professional Development Ribbon, third award; the Army Service Ribbon; 
the Presidential Unit Citation; the Valorous Unit Award, second award; 
the Ranger Tab; the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Expert Infantryman 
Badge; the Master Parachutist Badge; three Overseas Service Bars; and 
finally, posthumously, the Purple Heart.
  He did everything his country asked him to do and more. Master 
Sergeant Wheeler was the first American serviceman killed in combat in 
Iraq since 2011. Americans, Kurds, and Iraqis alike owe Master Sergeant 
Wheeler and his family our deepest gratitude and respect for a life of 
selfless service. John 15:13 tells us that no greater love is this, 
than one who lays down his life for his friends. Josh did exactly that. 
Master Sergeant Wheeler's sacrifice exemplifies the highest virtue in 
defense of his family, friends, and Nation.
  Speaking of his friends, they called him a cutup. He was someone who 
made everyone laugh. He was a friend to everyone.
  I spoke to his wife Ashley last week, and she recounted his faith, 
toughness, and passion for his boys--all four of them. He was able to 
come home a few months ago for the birth of his fourth son. It was a 
peaceful and joyous respite from the brutal realities of war that Josh 
faced for years.
  Josh spent his life defending the weak and standing up for those who 
needed help. He spent much of his childhood caring for his siblings. He 
valued life, freedom, and duty.

[[Page S7963]]

  In contrast to Master Sergeant Wheeler's heroism and selflessness, 
let me remind you whom he was fighting against. In the days following 
the Paris attack, we understand that the barbarians of ISIL had no 
problem randomly killing people at a restaurant, soccer stadium, or 
concert. They kill for intimidation and pleasure. They do not even 
value their own lives, much less the lives of the people around them. 
The Islamic State has committed some of the most horrific acts of death 
the modern world has ever seen. Their fight is against all modern 
society, and their goal is to return the world to a medieval state 
ruled by fear. They have abducted girls and women, called them subhuman 
for practicing the wrong religion according to them, and sold them as 
sex slaves. In the world of ISIL, women can't get an education, drive a 
car, or even have their own rights. They kill and torture anyone who 
doesn't agree with them. Their reach extends to our own citizens. No 
one can forget the horrific deaths of James Foley, Stephen Sotloff, and 
Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old woman who wanted to do good for the people 
of Syria but met pure evil when she got there.
  Recently, FBI Director James Comey spoke about ISIL's attempts to 
inspire Americans to turn on each other with blind brutality. Go out 
and kill, they say. It doesn't matter who, just act. Good men stand up 
to such evil. They don't allow it to grow and multiply.
  We honor Master Sergeant Wheeler's sacrifice and tenacious commitment 
to confront evil. We humbly thank his family for the sacrifice they 
made so that we may all live in a more peaceful world. Our Nation 
cannot say thank you loud enough or long enough to his family.
  When I spoke to Ashley, Josh's wife, she recounted when the doorbell 
rang early that morning. It didn't even cross her mind that it was 
about Josh. He was so tough and so dedicated. Who would have ever 
thought he would be gone? The painful and long process of grieving over 
a lost hero has just begun. Master Sergeant Wheeler was killed in 
action defending our freedom on October 22. His final service will be 
this week--just a few days before his birthday. The long days of 
Thanksgiving and Christmas are still ahead.
  Please join me in praying for the family of Master Sergeant Wheeler 
as our Nation grieves the loss of a husband, father, grandson, and 
friend to those who knew him. He is a hero to the Nation and the many 
lives he saved a month ago this week. May God bless Josh's family. May 
his boys grow up to be men who remember their dad's love for them and 
our Nation.
  With that, I yield back.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  (Mr. LANKFORD assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Daines). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________