[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 188 (Thursday, November 29, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Corporal Matt Henderson

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today to continue my tributes to 
the current generation of Nebraska men and women who have lost their 
lives defending our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each of these 
Nebraskans has a special story to tell.
  Today I will recall the life and service of Cpl Matt Henderson of 
Lincoln, NE.
  Matt was born on May 15, 1979, in Columbia, MO, to Owen and Rebecca 
Henderson. At the time Matt came into the world, his dad, Owen, was 
attending veterinary school. After Owen finished veterinary school, the 
Henderson family moved to ``The Good Life'' to raise both Matt and his 
newly born sister Kellie.
  As Matt grew, he made many friends, loved to play outside, and 
enjoyed hunting and fishing. Many times Matt could be found by his 
dad's side on his equine veterinary visits.
  His favorite furry companion was his curly-haired golden retriever 
Rocket, with which he spent a lot of time and which he taught to play 
fetch.
  Matt loved sports and participated in many sports growing up, 
including baseball, basketball, wrestling, track, and football, but his 
favorite of all was football. He was a devout Nebraska Husker and 
Chicago Bears fan.
  Matt and his wife Jaimie began dating while they attended Palmyra 
Junior-Senior High School in Otoe County. Jaimie remembers Matt wearing 
his football jersey on game days and their dates at the movies, the 
mall, and homecoming dances before they were even old enough to drive.
  After graduating high school in 1998, Matt attended Nebraska Wesleyan 
University where he studied athletic training and criminal justice. He 
also played on the football team and was an avid weightlifter.
  In 2000, Matt joined the U.S. Marine Corps because he was attracted 
to the discipline and direction that it offered. He completed boot camp 
at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego before attending and completing 
infantry training at Camp Pendleton. Due to his strong interest in the 
construction field, Matt also finished combat engineer school at Camp 
Lejeune.
  After engineer school, he was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer 
Battalion at Camp Pendleton.
  On August 4, 2001, Matt proposed to Jaimie on Mission Beach in San 
Diego, just after sunset. They were so excited to finally get married 
and begin planning their wedding in Nebraska, which was scheduled for 
April 12, 2003.
  In January of 2003, however, Matt's unit was informed that they would 
be among the first forces to invade Iraq. Jaimie postponed the wedding, 
which was supposed to take place in just a few months, and instead she 
and Matt were married in a civil ceremony in San Diego. The two of them 
couldn't imagine something happening during Matt's deployment and never 
being able to marry one another.
  In February of 2003, Matt deployed to Iraq. He joined other U.S.-led 
forces in the invasion of Iraq and Kuwait in order to oust Saddam 
Hussein. During his deployment, Matt was chosen to be a squad leader 
due to his leadership abilities, technical skills, and the respect of 
other marines. Matt's family had no communication with him during this 
time and were glued to the TV, watching the news every evening with the 
hopes of catching a glimpse of Matt.
  Upon Matt's return home in May of 2003, he and Jaimie finally had 
their big church wedding in Lincoln, NE, where they renewed their vows 
in front of their family and friends. Following the wedding, Jaimie 
moved to California to live at Camp Pendleton with Matt. Without the 
distance, she and Matt had more time to spend together, and they 
enjoyed socializing with their other friends in the Marine Corps.
  In February of 2004, Matt deployed to Iraq for the second time and 
Jaimie moved back to Nebraska to be closer to their families.
  As a squad leader, Matt was very aware of and concerned about the 
dangers of his second deployment. On May 26, 2004, Matt was leading his 
squad of several other marines and sweeping an area in the Al Anbar 
Province of Iraq for explosive devices and repairing major roads. This 
particular area had seen a dramatic increase in violence and 
demonstrations at the time, and the Province was in full-scale revolt. 
During the sweep, Matt and two of his men, including Shelton, NE, 
native Kyle Codner, were killed when an IED was detonated.
  Matt warned his squad to get back and take cover but was unable to 
get out of range himself. The remainder of his squad survived, with one 
person suffering shrapnel wounds.
  Cpl Matt Henderson's memorial service was held at the First Plymouth 
Church in Lincoln on June 3, 2004. Hundreds of family, friends, and 
fellow soldiers attended the ceremony to honor Matt and pay their 
respects. In what seems an impossible task, Matt's father gave the 
eulogy that day. Matt was laid to rest at the Lincoln Memorial Park 
Cemetery.
  For his ultimate sacrifice, Cpl Matt Henderson received the Naval 
Achievement Medal with cluster, a Purple Heart, and numerous unit 
citations and campaign ribbons. He was the first to receive the 
prestigious Noncommissioned Officer Combat Engineer of the Year Award 
posthumously.
  Matt was a consistent source of inspiration for his fellow marines. 
He was the kind of young man people were just drawn to. He was a tough, 
yet selfless marine.
  Cpl Matt Henderson lived life to the fullest, and he is missed dearly 
by his family and friends. I join all Nebraskans and Americans across 
the country in saluting Matt's bravery and his sacrifice.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cassidy). The Senator from Florida.
  Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, I say to the Senator from Nebraska, this 
Senator has had too many opportunities to give the same kind of speech 
in remembrance of fallen Floridians just like her constituent who gave 
the ultimate sacrifice in protection of his country, and I thank the 
Senator from Nebraska.