[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20969-20970]
[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 
Mitchell, IN. Army Specialist Ronald ``Ronnie'' Allen, Jr., 22 years 
old, was killed near Balad on August 25, 2003 when the Army unit he was 
riding in was struck by another vehicle. Ronnie 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.
  Ronnie was the 14th Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his 
country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He leaves behind his mother, Jyl 
Harrison, and his stepfather, Derek Harrison, and their children 
Andrea, Nathan and Eric. Today, I join Ronnie's family, his friends, 
and the entire Mitchell 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 Ronnie, a memory that will burn brightly during 
these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Ronald Allen, Jr. told his family he was proud to be serving his 
country in Iraq because he felt like he could make a real difference 
there. He told them he was proud to be a soldier and that he loved his 
country. Today, his family remembers him as a true American hero,

[[Page 20970]]

and we honor the sacrifice he made while serving his country.
  Ronald dreamed of joining the military as a young man and even early-
enlisted in the Army during his junior year of high school. Two weeks 
after he graduated from Mitchell High School in 2000, Ronald left home 
to begin full-time duty at Fort Carson in Colorado. He was assigned to 
the 502d Personnel Service Battalion, 43d Area Support Group.
  As I search for words to do justice in honoring Ronald Allen, Jr.'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 power 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 Ronald's actions will live on 
far longer than any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Ronald Allen, Jr. in the 
official Record of the U.S. 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 Ronald'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 from off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God 
bless the United States of America.
  Mr. President, I also wish today to honor the accomplishments of the 
Hoosier soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 293d Infantry Regiment, and the 
1st Battalion, 152d Infantry Regiment, from the Indiana National Guard, 
who have become the first National Guard battalions in the Nation to 
receive the Combat Infantry award since the Korean war.
  The Combat Infantry award is a highly coveted honor given by the 
Department of the Army to soldiers who have satisfactorily performed 
infantry duties as part of a unit that participated in ground combat. 
The Infantry badge honors soldiers who have operated under the worst 
conditions, yet still successfully performed his or her mission in a 
combat environment. In addition, medics who supported the soldiers will 
receive the Combat Medical Badge. I am immensely proud that these 
Indiana battalions have become the first units in more than 50 years to 
earn this distinction.
  All members of the battalions will receive the Combat Infantry award 
as a symbol of our Nation's gratitude for the bravery they demonstrated 
and the sacrifices they and their families have made during Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. The 1st Battalion, 293d Infantry Regiment, and the 1st 
Battalion, 152d Infantry Regiment, are the first Indiana National Guard 
units to go into combat since World War II. As this award recognizes, 
they have made an exemplary return to battle, honoring themselves and 
their home State of Indiana through their efforts.
  The battalions have been stationed in Iraq for more than 5 months. 
During their time in Iraq, the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 293d 
Infantry Regiment, have provided security for the Talil Air Force Base, 
a key airstrip in Southern Iraq. The unit took over responsibility for 
the base just days after the war's deadliest battle took place on April 
1 to secure control of the airstrip. The members of the 1st Battalion, 
152d Infantry Regiment, have engaged in a wide range of missions, 
including guarding the Baghdad Airport, one of the most strategically 
important sites in Iraq.
  I am proud to honor the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 293d Infantry 
Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, 152d Infantry Regiment. The thoughts 
and prayers of all Hoosiers are with them as they continue their role 
in rebuilding Iraq. May God watch over the soldiers as they complete 
their duty and may God bless the United States of America.
  Mr. President, I further rise today to honor the heroic service of 
United States Army Cpl Damien Luten, 24, of Indianapolis, IN. Corporal 
Luten was a member of the U.S. Army's 507th Maintenance Company, which 
crossed into Iraq from Kuwait on March 21, 2003, as part of a convoy 
supporting a patriot missile battalion, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  On March 23, 2003, the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed by 
Iraqi military forces and irregulars in the city of An Nasiriyah. 
According to the U.S. Army, Corporal Luten's convoy found itself in a 
desperate situation due to a navigational error caused by the combined 
effects of the operational pace, acute fatigue, isolation and the harsh 
environmental conditions. The tragic results of this error placed the 
soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company in a torrent of fire from 
Iraqi soldiers who attacked the isolated convoy.
  Eleven of the company's 33 soldiers were killed in combat or later 
died from injuries. Seven soldiers were captured in the attack, 
including PFC Jessica Lynch who was later rescued by American Marines. 
This toll, though devastating, may have been much greater had it not 
been for the valorous acts of soldiers such as Corporal Luten, who 
sought to protect his unit by attempting to return fire with the unit's 
only .50-caliber machine gun. However, the machine gun failed and as 
Corporal Luten was reaching for his M-16, he was wounded in the right 
leg by enemy fire. Corporal Luten has been awarded the Purple Heart for 
the wound he received in combat.
  As I reflect on Corporal Luten's service, I am reminded of a quote by 
Douglas MacArthur:

       The soldier, above all other people prays for peace, for he 
     must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.

  The United States will be eternally grateful for the courage and 
bravery Corporal Luten exhibited on the field of battle.
  Corporal Luten is expected to return to his base in Fort Bliss, TX, 
where he will have at least one more surgery on his leg. This will be 
the ninth surgery Corporal Luten has undergone to repair his injured 
leg. If Corporal Luten has his way, his injury will not mark the end of 
his military service. He plans to re-enlist and enter the Army's 
Chaplain Corps when his current tour concludes in April 2004.
  I know that all Hoosiers share my deep sense of pride in Corporal 
Luten and all of the men and women of our Armed Forces from Indiana who 
safeguard our freedom. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he 
continues his recovery and begins his new service in the Army.

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