[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14509]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep 
sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man from 
Indianapolis, IN. Private Jesse M. Halling, 19 years old, was killed in 
Tikrit, Iraq on June 7, 2003 when his military police station came 
under grenade and small-arms fire. Jesse joined the Army with his 
entire life before him. He chose to risk everything to fight for the 
values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway around the 
world from home.
  Jesse was the sixth Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his 
country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today, I join Jesse's family, his 
friends, and the entire Indianapolis community in mourning his death. 
While we struggle to bear our sorrow over his death, we can also take 
pride in the example he set, bravely fighting to make the world a safer 
place. It is this courage and strength of character that people will 
remember when they think of Jesse, a memory that will burn brightly 
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Jesse Halling was a hard-working student, admired by all who knew him 
for his strong work ethic and remembered by both friends and teachers 
as a well-liked young man. Friends recall that Jesse always wanted to 
be a soldier, to follow in the footsteps of his father, who had served 
for 4 years in the Air Force.
  Jesse graduated from Ben Davis High School in 2002, where he was a 
member of the weighlifting and Spanish clubs. After graduating high 
school, where he served as part of his school's ROTC unit, Jesse joined 
the Army in the military police division.
  Jesse leaves behind his father, Alma Halling, and his mother, Pamela 
Halling. As I search for words to do justice in honoring Jesse 
Halling's sacrifice, I am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he 
addressed the families of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We 
cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. 
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated 
it, far above our poor to add or detract. The world will little note 
nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they 
did here.'' This statement is just as true today as it was nearly 150 
years ago, as I am certain that the impact of Jesse Halling's actions 
will live on far longer than any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Jesse M. Halling in the 
official record of the Senate for his service to this country and for 
his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace. When I think 
about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the unfortunate pain 
that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that families like 
Jesse's can find comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah who said, 
``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away 
tears form off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God 
bless the United States of America.

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