[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 163 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6563-S6564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Honoring Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss

  Mr. HAGERTY. Madam President, I have come to the floor of the Senate 
today on behalf of myself and the senior Senator from Tennessee, Marsha 
Blackburn, to honor the life and legacy of a heroic Tennessean, U.S. 
Army SSG Ryan Knauss, who was killed in a terrorist attack while 
serving the country that he loves so in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.
  Staff Sergeant Knauss served with the Army's 9th Psychological 
Operations Battalion, 8th Psychological Operations Group at Fort Bragg. 
He was from Corryton, TN--a small, rural community where love of 
country and volunteerism runs deep.
  Corryton is known for being the hometown of country music star Kenny 
Chesney, and now it will be known forever as the home of our hero, SSG 
Ryan Knauss.
  Ryan was 23 years old when he laid his life down for his Nation. I 
have spoken with Staff Sergeant Knauss's widow Alena and his father 
Greg. Through our conversations, I got to know a little bit more about 
Staff Sergeant Knauss. And I am here today to share with you all and 
with the American people just who Staff Sergeant Knauss was.
  He was a devoted husband. Ryan met Alena when they were in high 
school working at a local pizza parlor. I sensed her deep love for Ryan 
when we spoke, and I am certain that Alena feels blessed to have had 
the opportunity to be loved by someone like Ryan.

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  He was a loyal son. After speaking with Ryan's father Greg, it was 
clear the love and the commitment that SSG Ryan Knauss had for his 
family and his fellow soldiers was unwavering.
  I can only tell you that after hearing of Ryan's dedication to his 
family and his country, it is the hope and prayer of every parent to 
have a son as honorable and principled as Ryan. As a father, I told 
Greg I couldn't fathom his grief.
  Ryan had hoped to soon become a father himself. He and Alena had 
plans to try for their first child when he came back from overseas. And 
building a nursery was at the top of their to-do list when he was to 
arrive home.
  Staff Sergeant Knauss was a steadfast friend. His own friend spoke of 
his charm and intelligence at a memorial service at his former high 
school in Corryton. He was a charismatic person to whom people were 
instantly drawn.
  SSG Ryan Knauss was a proud and honorable soldier. And when his 
country needed him at such a dire time, he fiercely answered the call.
  Even as a child, Ryan knew his calling was to serve. In a friend's 
elementary school yearbook, Ryan wrote that he wanted to serve in the 
U.S. Armed Forces. And as a freshman in high school, he signed up for 
the ROTC program. As one of his fellow soldiers explained, ``This was 
his dream job, and he . . . ran with it.''
  Ryan's unit, Detachment 10, described it as follows:

       Ryan knew the dangerous situation he was going to, but 
     protecting innocent civilians is one of the values that drove 
     him. It has been said that life is not important except in 
     the impact it has on other lives, and Ryan had an incredible 
     impact on his family and friends. And thanks to his actions, 
     thousands of children will have the joy of knowing a 
     childhood free from danger and oppression.

  The Bible teaches us that no one has ``greater love than this, than 
to lay down one's life for one's friends.'' Staff Sergeant Knauss did 
just that. He died a hero's death. He made the ultimate sacrifice for 
his Nation, for all of us.
  Ryan will be remembered as a selfless and heroic man--a Tennessee 
volunteer--who, with a servant's heart, gave everything of himself at 
just 23 years old for the country that he loved so dearly.
  I ask that each of you here today join me in continuing to pray for 
the Knauss family and uplift them in the coming days and months as they 
lay their soldier to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.