[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18655]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING U.S. MARINE SPC. PAUL T. NAKAMURA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2003

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life 
and patriotism of 21-year-old U.S. Marine Spc. Paul T. Nakamura of 
Santa Fe Springs, California. A brave soldier, he was killed in the 
line of duty in Iraq on Thursday, June 19 when a rocket-propelled 
grenade hit the military ambulance in which he was tending to a wounded 
American soldier. Nakamura joined the Army Reserves because he loved 
our country and was so proud to be an American. He has provided 
tremendous service and has made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved 
country.
  A graduate of Santa Fe High School, Nakamura was a passionate 
swimmer. He worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the Santa 
Fe Springs Aquatic Center since he was 17 and belonged to the high 
school water polo team. Nakamura was also a boy scout and Junior 
Olympian who earned the respect and friendship of many in his 
community.
  Nakamura's closest friends included the members of his Boy Scout 
troop and his younger sister, Pearl, with whom he spent countless hours 
swimming, bowling and shooting pool. Among his close friends and family 
members, Nakamura was known as a daredevil, particularly when he was a 
child. If something was dangerous or frowned upon by adults, Paul 
Nakamura would want to try it. Once when camping with his Boy Scout 
troop, he and several of his friends rode their bikes down a steep 
hill. The other boys pressed on their brakes to slow down, but Paul 
sped down the hill full speed ahead.
  Assigned to the 437th Medical Company based in Colorado Springs, 
Marine Spc. Nakamura was deployed to the Middle East in February. The 
last time he spoke to his family was on Father's Day. He continually 
reassured his family of his safety, and they knew he did not want them 
to worry. But knowing that their son always put others before himself, 
Nakamura's parents, Paul and Yoko, did worry about his safety. They 
remain extremely proud of him, knowing that he died helping others.
  His family misses him greatly. Nakamura's father, a veteran of the 
Korean war, gave his departing son his old Army dog tags and told him 
to bring them home safely. Sadly, Paul Nakamura will never be able to 
do this. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the Nakamura 
family and his loved ones left behind.

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