[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 196 (Friday, December 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY SPECIALIST 
                      (SPC) MELVIN LEE HENLEY, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 1, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
fallen Mississippi soldier Army Specialist (SPC) Melvin Lee Henley, Jr. 
who gave his life while in service to our nation on November 21, 2007, 
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SPC Henley died at Camp Striker in 
Baghdad, Iraq of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. 
SPC Henley was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd 
Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.
  SPC Henley, a Jackson, Mississippi native, joined the U.S. Army after 
graduating from Provine High School in 1999. According to the 
Associated Press, he was among the top 10 students in his class.
  George Watkins, SPC Henley's uncle, said his nephew always wanted to 
be a soldier. ``He wanted to make a difference in other people's 
lives,'' Mr. Watkins said. ``He had other relatives who had done the 
same. His grandfather fought in World War II, so he was following in 
those footsteps.''
  Amber Henley, SPC Henley's wife, said they were married less than two 
years when her husband was assigned to Fort Stewart. Three months 
later, SPC Henley received his deployment orders. ``He hated to be away 
from us,'' Mrs. Henley said. ``We were everything to each other.'' SPC 
Henley previously served one tour of duty in Iraq from November 2003 to 
November 2004.
  In 2008, seven fallen soldiers were honored at a tree dedication 
ceremony held at Cotrell Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia. Members of the 
92nd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division 
planted an Eastern Redbud tree along Warriors Walk to honor the 
soldiers who have died fighting in America's global war on terrorism. 
SPC Henley was one of the soldiers honored at the ceremony.
  SPC Henley was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National 
Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on 
Terrorism (Service) Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army 
Overseas Service Ribbon.
  SPC Henley is survived by his mother, Maria Marquis; his wife, Amber 
Henley; and his uncle, George Watkins.
  SPC Henley proudly served America and fought to protect the freedoms 
we all enjoy.

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