[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E859-E860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY FIRST SERGEANT 
                        (1SG) NICHOLAS BARTON II

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                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
First Sergeant (1SG) Nicholas Robert Barton II who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice while defending our nation on June 7, 2010, during Operation 
Enduring Freedom. 1SG Barton was killed when his military vehicle was 
hit by an improvised explosive device in Konar, Afghanistan. Sergeant 
(SGT) Joshua A. Lukeala, Specialist (SPC) Matthew R. Catlett, 
Specialist (SPC) Charles S. Jirtle, and Specialist (SPC) Blaine E. 
Redding was also killed.
  1SG Barton was assigned to the Company A, 2nd Battalion, 327th 
Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division 
(Air Assault) of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. ISG Barton gave 16 years of 
devoted service to the Army.
  1SG Barton, a Roxie, Mississippi native, was 35 years old at the time 
of death. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1993, where he 
played center on the football team.
  According to the McComb Enterprise-Journal, his grandmother, Jo Beth 
Coleman said, ``He was a good student and a real likable person. 
Everybody loves him''.
  He was awarded three Bronze Star Medals; the Purple Heart Medal; the 
Meritorious Service Medal; three Army Commendation Medals; three Army 
Achievement Medals; the Meritorious Unit Commendation; two Army 
Superior Unit Awards; five Army Good Conduct Medals; two National 
Defense Service Medals; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Afghanistan 
Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; two Armed 
Forces Service Medals; the Army Service Ribbon; three Overseas Ribbons; 
the NATO Medal; the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge; the Army 
Ranger Tab; the Combat Infantry Badge; the Expert Infantry Badge; the 
Parachutist Badge, the Pathfmder Badge; the Air Assault badge and the 
Weapons Qualification: M4, (expert).
  1SG Barton is survived by his wife, Rebecca Barton, his stepson Jason 
Wells, his parents, SSG Robert N. Barton (retired) and Dona Lee Barton, 
his maternal grandmother, Patricia Paugh, and his paternal 
grandparents, Nathaniel and Jo Beth Coleman.
  1SG Barton's sacrifice for our freedoms will always be remembered.

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