[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 92 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E736-E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SERGEANT 
                   FIRST CLASS (SFC) SABURANT PARKER

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 26, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Mississippi Army National Guard Sergeant First Class (SFC) Saburant 
Parker, known to his friends as ``Sabot'' (sab-oh), who paid the 
ultimate sacrifice while defending our great nation on May 23, 2005, 
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SFC Parker was killed when his military 
vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Haswa, Iraq. 
Also killed were Specialist (SPC) Bryan Edward Barron, Sergeant (SGT) 
Audrey Daron Lunsford, and Sergeant (SGT) Daniel Ryan Varnado.
  SFC Parker, a Foxworth native, was assigned to C Company, 1st 
Battalion, 1-155th Infantry Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, 
Biloxi, Mississippi. SFC Parker served in the Mississippi Army National 
Guard for 16 years and served with the 155th Separate Armored Brigade 
in Bosnia. SFC Parker was also employed as a loader operator at Angie 
Lumber Company in Angie, Louisiana, and wrestled on the weekends for 
Southern Championship Wrestling. He was the 2004 champion of the 
cruiser weight division.
  Major General (MG) Harold A. Cross, Mississippi Army National Guard 
Adjutant General, posthumously awarded SFC Parker the Purple Heart, the 
Bronze Star and the Mississippi Medal of Valor during a memorial 
service held at Hurricane Creek Baptist Church in Hattiesburg. He spoke 
to the audience during the service and was quoted in an Associated 
Press article.
  ``Once again we come together in a small community to honor a 
soldier,'' MG Cross said. ``It comes to mind that over 1.2 million 
people have paid the ultimate sacrifice in our 228-year history that we 
might be free.''
  Mississippi Army National Guard Brigadier General (BG) John Rhodes 
served as the 1-155th infantry battalion commander in 2005. BG Rhodes 
recently said SFC Parker will be remembered along with those who died 
with him.
  ``SFC Parker, SPC Bryan Edward Barron, SGT Audrey Daron Lunsford, and 
SGT Daniel Ryan Varnado are remembered in many ways, but we knew them 
as warriors who represented something larger than themselves,'' BG 
Rhodes said. ``They operated in a hostile environment and faced the 
dangers of combat on a regular basis. Yet, if given the choice, they 
would not have wanted it any other way. They sacrificed their lives 
trying to provide a better life for people who they didn't even know. 
This is who they were and what they represented. They exemplified the 
modern day Mississippi Riflemen. Stand Fast, Mississippians! Stand 
Fast!''
  During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Andrew 
Robertson served as company commander of Charlie Company, 1-155th 
Infantry Regiment, MS Army National Guard, Biloxi, Mississippi, serving 
operational control under 2-11 Armed Cavalry Regiment (ACR), U.S. Army. 
He says there were no

[[Page E737]]

greater people than the Charlie Company soldiers who endured being in 
the most dangerous and highest casualty area of operation as part of 
OIF III under Task Force 155 Heavy Brigade Combat Team.
  ``In 2005, there were no greater Americans than our fallen patriots, 
Charlie Company infantrymen and their families. None greater. This, I 
believe, America needs to know,'' LTC Robertson said.
  SFC Parker's daughter, Sheliah Parker, shared that her father's 
service made the family proud. ``I'm very proud,'' Sheliah said. ``He 
is the reason why I pushed myself so hard to become the first college 
graduate in the family. He is the reason I wanted to succeed. I think 
about him every day.''
  SFC Parker is survived by his wife, Kitza, daughters, Merissa and 
Sheliah, stepson, Ramsey Cumpton, mother, Ora Lee Hayes, brother, Mark 
Parker, and sister, Sable Parker.
  SFC Parker's sacrifice to protect our nation will always be 
remembered.

                          ____________________