[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER MARINE STAFF 
                   SERGEANT (SSG) JASON AARON ROGERS

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                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Marine Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jason Aaron Rogers who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice while defending our great nation on April 7, 2011. SSG Rogers 
was killed in Northern Helmand Province, Afghanistan when an improvised 
explosive device detonated while he was clearing a path for wounded 
marines in a live mine field during combat operations. He was assigned 
to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine 
Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
  SSG Rogers was born on April 9, 1982, in Jackson, MS. He graduated 
from Brandon High School in 2000. Shortly after September 11, 2001, SSG 
Rogers joined the Marine Corps, where he served eight years. He was 
deployed on six overseas assignments, five of which were combat 
deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was 28 years old at the time of 
his death.
  SSG Rogers' mother, Jenny Smith, recently said, ``I'm extremely 
proud. He was proud to serve our country. He had a calling to offer his 
life for friends and family. He loved America. Every year, we hold the 
Annual Running for Jason 5K Run/Walk in Brandon to honor his service.''
  Mayor Tim Coulter of Brandon, Mississippi said, ``We are saddened by 
the death of one of our hometown heroes, Jason Rogers, a brave man of 
character. He will be missed by our city and our hearts and prayers are 
with his family at this time.''
  Brandon Winfield, a childhood friend of SSG Rogers said, ``The loss 
of Jason Rogers is going to make this world an emptier and lonelier and 
colder place. I could write a War and Peace sized story of the kind of 
person he was. Some people have it; the room just seemed to be dizzier 
and brighter with him in it.''
  SSG Rogers is survived by wife Angela Rita Marie Rogers. He is also 
survived by his parents, Jennifer and William Smith, and Liz and Tracy 
Aaron Rogers.

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