[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Page 29414]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise to honor the 17 soldiers who lost 
their lives this past Saturday in Iraq when two Black Hawk helicopters 
collided.
  This tragedy stands as the deadliest single incident since Operation 
Iraqi Freedom began in March. It is the largest single loss of life for 
the 101st Airborne in 15 years.
  All 17 young soldiers served in the 101st Airborne Division based at 
Fort Campbell. All 17 died serving their country with valor and with 
courage.
  I would like to read each of their names for the Record:

       SGT Michael D. Acklin, II, age 25, of Louisville, KY; SPC 
     Ryan T. Baker, age 24, of Browns Mills, NJ; SFC Kelly Bolor, 
     age 37, of Whittier, CA; SPC Jeremy DiGiovanni, age 21, of 
     Pricedale, MS; SPC William D. Dusenbery, age 30, of Fairview 
     Heights, IL; PFC Rick Hafer, age 21, of Nitro, WV; SGT Warren 
     S. Hansen, age 36, of Clintonville, WI; PFC Sheldon R. Hawk 
     Eagle, age 21, of Grand Forks, ND; PFC Damian L. Heidelberg, 
     age 21, of MS; CWO Erik C. Kesterson, age 29, of 
     Independence, OR; 1LT Pierre Piche, age 28, of Starksboro, 
     VT; SGT John W. Russell, age 26, of Portland, TX; CWO Scott 
     A. Saboe, age 33, of Willow Lake, SD; SPC John R. Sullivan, 
     age 26, of Countryside, IL; SPC Eugene A. Uhl, III, age 21, 
     of Amherst, WI; PFC Joey Whitener, age 19, of McDowell 
     County, NC; 2LT Jeremy L. Wolfe, age 27, of Menomonie, WI.

  Mr. President, my heart goes out to the families of these brave young 
men. America mourns your loss and honors you for the profound sacrifice 
you must now bear.
  My heart goes out to the community of Fort Campbell which grieves the 
loss of these 17 young men and the 36 other valiant soldiers of the 
101st who have lost their lives since the war in Iraq began. Each and 
every one of these soldiers is a credit to our country.
  The great American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: 
``Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win 
them.''
  We will press forward in honor of those who have lost their lives 
fighting this just and honorable war. With their names emblazoned on 
our hearts, we will secure the victories of peace.
  God bless them. God bless their families. And God bless America.

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