[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10401]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT ANISSA SHERO

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I have the sad duty to report another 
death of a West Virginian in Afghanistan. For many generations, the 
people of West Virginia have answered the call and many have paid with 
their lives. West Virginians understand the cost of freedom and have 
always been willing to pay that cost when called for duty.
  Today we are reminded again how much that cost is because we now know 
of the death of Anissa A. Shero in Gardez, Afghanistan. She is from 
Grafton, WV. This was a tragic death in an airplane crash. She is the 
first woman Air Force casualty in the war in Afghanistan. She was 
married to SSgt Nathan Shero this past September, 2001. She had just 
been married. He is also deployed.
  Her father was a disabled Vietnam war veteran who lost both of his 
legs as a result of a casualty, and her grandfather fought in the 
Battle of the Bulge in the Second World War. She was a volunteer who 
chose to serve her country in the face of grave danger. When terrorists 
struck, she was there. She left behind the mountains of West Virginia, 
in a sense, to go to the mountains of Afghanistan, to risk her life so 
our lives would be freer and safer.
  She was part of an extraordinarily successful effort to eradicate the 
Taliban and to make tremendous disruption to and demoralize the Al-
Qaeda forces, and again to give us more freedom and hope. Men and women 
in both nations are safer now because of her work, and unfortunately 
because of her death.
  All of us who value freedom owe Sergeant Shero a profound debt of 
gratitude and honor, and I know the thoughts and prayers of many people 
in this Chamber, the other body, and all over America, certainly all 
over West Virginia, are like mine, with her family and her friends. She 
represented the very best of West Virginia and the very best of 
America. She was strong, courageous, and dedicated. She will forever 
serve as a role model for West Virginians, for men and women alike, who 
love their country and who, like her, know that our ideals are worth 
fighting for.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed 
to address the Senate as in morning business.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, may I inquire how long the Senator is 
asking for?
  Mr. HAGEL. I would need no more than 15 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized for up to 15 
minutes.

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