[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 7, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E780-E781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SERGEANT 
                       (SGT) KYLE CLAYTON THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Mississippi Army National Guard Sergeant (SGT) Kyle Clayton Thomas who 
paid the ultimate sacrifice while training to defend our great nation 
on May 29, 2017, at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, 
California. SGT Thomas died in a rollover accident while he and three 
other soldiers were conducting combat maneuver operations in a M1A2 
SEPv2 Abrams Main Battle Tank. The soldiers with him were treated and 
released from Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, 
California.
  SGT Thomas, an Amory native and 2011 Amory High School graduate, was 
assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion 198th Armored, 155th Armored 
Brigade headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi.
  SGT Thomas joined the Mississippi Army National Guard in 2012. His 
mother, Jo Ann Boussouar, says her son was always interested in the 
military. As a young boy, SGT Thomas would say that he wanted to be a 
tank driver. Her son was able to fulfill his dream to serve in the 
military, and she is proud of his willingness to sacrifice his life for 
the safety of his family.
  ``Kyle has a tattoo that said, `For those I love, I will sacrifice,' 
'' she said. ``That's what he did.''
  SGT Thomas divided his time between his assembly job at NauticStar 
Boats manufacturing plant in Amory and the Mississippi Army National 
Guard. SGT Thomas's obituary describes him as a compassionate person 
who loved life and spending time with his family. It says when his 
daughter, Devina Jayde Smith, was born, an incredible bond was formed. 
SGT Thomas's father, Eddie Thomas, says the whole family is proud of 
SGT Thomas's commitment to his family and to the defense of our nation.
  ``I was very proud,'' Mr. Thomas said. ``His service made me feel 
wonderful.''
  In a statement issued by the Department of the Army and Air Force, 
Colonel (COL) Doug Ferguson, Commander of the Tupelo-based 155th 
Armored Brigade Combat Team, expressed his sympathy over the loss of 
SGT Thomas.
  ``Our deepest sympathies go out to SGT Thomas's family and friends,'' 
said COL Ferguson. ``We have lost a valuable member of our team and 
this loss will be felt across the brigade.''
  SGT Thomas's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army 
Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service 
Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve 
Component Achievement Medal, Mississippi Magnolia Cross, Mississippi 
Emergency Service Medal, Mississippi Longevity Medal, and the 
Mississippi War Medal.
  SGT Thomas died on Memorial Day--the day our nation sets aside to 
honor the service men and women who fought and died to protect the 
freedoms we all enjoy. We cannot forget what this national holiday 
means to families who have experienced that loss.
  SGT Thomas is survived by a daughter, Devina Smith; parents, Eddie 
Thomas (Sheryl) and Jo Ann Boussouar (Hachemi); sisters, Joni Edmonson 
(David), Tiffany Jones; Chrystal Parker (Marty), and Jennifer Sloan 
(Robin); grandparents, Jackie Ann Wallace and Marvelle Jean Tartt; 
aunts, Janette West (Dan), Karen Wallace; uncles, Billy and Bobby 
Wallace; cousins, Danette Starks (William) and Allison Fair (Chris); 
nieces and nephews, Annalee Thomas, Alexis Jones, Olivia and Riley 
Edmonson, Dustin Parker (Brooke), Jake Sloan (Chastity), Lauren Sloan; 
special friends, Chandler Riggs, Bradley Riggs, Ryan Hill, Jessica 
Smith (mother of Devina), Hannah Zaragosa, and Courtlyn McCollum.

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