[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19370-19371]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      SGT PHILLIP RANDALL RUGG II

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to speak about 
some very exciting and heartwarming events in Monroe, Louisiana, today 
and tomorrow. I regret I will be unable to attend the events. But, they 
are very important to Marine Sergeant Phillip Randall Rugg, II, his 
family, the city of Monroe, and for all the people of Louisiana. Quite 
frankly Sgt. Rugg's actions tell a story that will be heartwarming to 
the Nation.
  As we consider how to best defend our borders, and also as we 
continue to aggressively pursue the standing up of a new government in 
Iraq to establish a democracy there, I wish to pay tribute to our 
military by highlighting the heroic actions of one of the Marines' 
best.
  Marine Sgt. Phillip Randall Rugg II, is being honored today by the 
city of Monroe, Louisiana. Monroe is a city of about 50,000 in 
northeast Louisiana that has its share of men and women in the active 
and reserve forces serving our country at this time. They are doing the 
brave and difficult work necessary for us to achieve victory. Having 
won the war, we are now in an all-out effort to win the peace. These 
men and women from Louisiana and around the Nation are putting their 
lives on the line, and the Nation is grateful.
  Monroe is opening its arms and its hearts to a true hero. With his 
wife Nicol and his 2-year-old son Trey, Sgt. Rugg will be honored by 
the people of Monroe. I rise to explain why.
  A few months ago, on March 22, then-Corporal Rugg was serving in Iraq 
with the 1st Tank Battalion, the 1st Marine Division. On that day, his 
tank recovery vehicle was hit by at least four rocket-propelled 
grenades. Shrapnel from the RPGs tore through his body, leaving him 
unable to use his legs. His vehicle was on fire. Using only his arms, 
with great injury to himself, he pulled himself out of his vehicle. 
Once outside, he realized that his gunnery sergeant, Guadalupe 
Denojean, was still inside the burning vehicle.
  Then, without regard to his own safety, obviously having been 
severely injured with broken legs, he climbed back into the burning 
vehicle which was engulfed in flames and pulled the gunnery sergeant 
out. Regrettably, after this incident, Sgt. Rugg's wounds were not able 
to heal fully and his left leg had to be amputated below the knee. He 
may have had part of his leg removed, but no doctor or enemy weapon 
could remove his spirit.
  I spoke to this young marine yesterday by phone. He is proud of his 
service. He is proud of his country. He said: Senator, this is not a 
story about sadness or pity. I am proud I went to serve in defense of 
my nation.
  I want to say how proud we are of him and his family, how proud I am 
that one of the cities in Louisiana is honoring him today. This is the 
Marine spirit. It is one that has existed for over 200 years. It is a 
flame that will not go out.
  He has now been promoted to sergeant. Again, he is proud to serve his 
country. As he told me yesterday: Senator, I have no regrets. I was 
happy to do what I did. My family is happy to support me in this 
effort.
  He will soon reenter school to complete his degree in accounting. His 
other leg is rehabilitating well, and he is working with his doctors 
and therapists to some day not only walk, but run. He also wants to get 
back on the golf course. With his positive outlook, I am sure Sgt. Rugg 
will go on to do great things and continue to be a proud father and 
devoted husband. As the city of Monroe celebrates the recovery and 
return of Sgt. Rugg, I am certain his faith and positive outlook will 
only bring more causes for the Rugg family to celebrate in the years to 
come.
  Former Senator Max Cleland of Georgia is a triple amputee as a result 
of a grenade explosion in Vietnam. Senator Cleland says his injuries 
changed his life and gave him even greater purpose to serve his country 
as a Senator and Cabinet Secretary. Senator Cleland always says he is 
stronger at the broken places. After talking with Sgt. Rugg, I know 
that he, too, is stronger at the broken places.
  I want to tell Sgt. Rugg how proud the United States Senate is of his 
service. I want to tell the thousands of other men and women in uniform 
how grateful we are for what they do each day to protect and promote 
liberty. I want to wish Sgt. Rugg and his family well, and know my 
thoughts and prayers are with them. Sgt. Rugg, I salute you.
  I ask unanimous consent to print the following document in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

[[Page 19371]]



                   Sergeant Phillip Randall Rugg, II

       Phillip Randall Rugg, II was born at St. Francis Hospital 
     in Monroe, Louisiana on April 26, 1977 to Jan Elizabeth 
     Falletta Rugg and Phillip Randall Rugg. Randall was 
     christened at Our Lady of Fatima church and attended Our Lady 
     of Fatima School from grades K-8. He attended St. Frederick 
     High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and 
     baseball for three years and graduated with honors in 1995. 
     Randall attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe and 
     Louisiana Tech University from 1995 to 1998.
       On June 28, 1999, Randall joined the Marine Corps and 
     immediately did twelve weeks of basic training at the Marine 
     Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. After basic 
     training, Randall attended fourteen weeks of Tank Mechanic 
     School at Fort Knox where he graduated first in his class. On 
     February 25, 2000, Randall was assigned permanent duty at the 
     Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command in Twenty Nine 
     Palms, California.
       On March 25, 2000, while serving at Twenty Nine Palms, 
     Randall married Andrea Nicol Freeman of Ferriday, Louisiana. 
     Randall received several letters of commendation and 
     appreciation, and was meritoriously promoted twice while 
     stationed at Twenty Nine Palms. His military achievements 
     were overshadowed, however, by the birth of Phillip Randall 
     Rugg, III, on March 18, 2001, whom Randall and Nicol have 
     nicknamed Trey.
       On March 22, 2003, the third day of Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom, shortly before sunrise, Randall, Sergeant Eric W. 
     Percy and Master Gunnery Sergeant Guadalupe Denogean 
     (referred to by his crew as ``Master Guns'') were operating 
     an M88 Tank Recovery Vehicle when they sustained direct hits 
     from at least five to eight rocket-propelled grenades which 
     were fired from a nearby farmhouse. Sergeant Percy escaped 
     the vehicle through the side door, which had been blown off 
     in the explosion. Randall, finding his legs were useless 
     managed to pull himself up to the top hatch and roll out of 
     the vehicle from the turret, which is eighteen feet from the 
     ground. Once out of the M88, Randall and Sergeant Percy 
     realized that ``Master Guns'' was still inside. Randall and 
     Sergeant Percy managed to return to the inside of the M88 and 
     drag him to safety. Within minutes, Randall, Sergeant Percy, 
     and Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean were flown to a field 
     hospital to receive medical attention. Sergeant Percy had 
     received two shrapnel wounds, Sergeant Denogean had received 
     a head injury rendering him unconscious and Randall had 
     sustained extensive shrapnel wounds to both legs, his face, 
     and one shoulder. The damage to Randall's left leg was 
     irreparable, requiring an amputation below the knee. His 
     right leg sustained compound fractures of both lower leg 
     bones and tissue damage requiring skin grafts. All three 
     soldiers are recovering.
       Randall spent a week in the hospital in Ramstein, Germany 
     before being flown to Bethesda, Maryland where he spent 
     seventeen days in the Bethesda Naval Hospital. He returned to 
     Louisiana on April 15th. Once Randall's injuries heal and he 
     is able to be fitted for a prosthesis for his left leg, he 
     plans to go back to college and graduate in accounting.
       Randall's story is similar to thousands who have gone 
     before him. This Country, founded on the belief in freedom 
     for all of her people, stands upon the shoulders of those who 
     have, time and again, willingly stepped into harm's way to 
     protect our freedom. Through life-altering injury to body or 
     mind, or by paying the ultimate price, these brave young men 
     and women and their families have borne the weight of freedom 
     for our families and the families of our children. What makes 
     Randall special is that he is ours, and through his 
     sacrifice, we have become his.
       What an honor and a privilege it will be to thank Randall 
     in person on July 24th and 25th, 2003. The Community Salute 
     to Sergeant Phillip Randall Rugg, II, will feature a free 
     community gathering at the American Legion Hall at Forsythe 
     Park in Monroe to meet Randall from 3 to 6 p.m. on July 24th. 
     There will be a sponsor's reception and silent auction from 7 
     to 10 p.m. on July 24th also at the American Legion Hall at a 
     cost of $15 per person. The following day, July 25th, there 
     will be a golf tournament at Calvert Crossing Golf Club, For 
     information regarding sponsorships call (318) 329-5890. All 
     checks made payable to Sergeant Phillip Randall Rugg at 
     American Horizons Bank.

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