[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 30459-30460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TEXAS TROOPS IN IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2003

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
brave men and

[[Page 30460]]

women of our Armed Forces and especially to honor those who have 
bravely fought and given their lives in Iraq.
  Texans have a long history of serving in our military, and the same 
holds true today in Iraq.
  There have been more men and women from Texas who have given their 
lives in Iraq, than from any other State other than California.
  Since the U.S. launched its first airstrike in Iraq, 273 Americans 
have been killed in hostile action; 158 of those deaths coming after 
the President declared major combat to be over on March 1.
  As of Friday, the Defense Department knew of 34 Texans who had been 
killed serving their country in Iraq.
  Our hearts go out to the family members of these individuals who have 
made the ultimate sacrifice for their country:

       Sgt. Edward Anguiano, 24, of Los Fresnos, was killed in 
     action on March 23;
       Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Arnold, 30, of Spring, was 
     killed in action on March 22;
       Spc. Richard Arriaga, 20, of Ganado, was killed in an 
     action on September 18;
       Sgt. Michael Barrera, 26, of Von Ormy, was killed in action 
     on October 28;
       Staff Sgt. Gary Collins, 32, of Hardin, was killed in 
     action on November 8;
       Capt. Eric Das, 30, of Amarillo, was killed in action on 
     April 7;
       Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, of El Paso, was killed in 
     action on March 23;
       Master Sgt. George Fernandez, 36, of El Paso, was killed in 
     action on April 2;
       Pvt. Robert Frantz, 19, of San Antonio, was killed in 
     action on June 17;
       Spc. Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza, 26, of Texas, was killed in 
     action on February 25;
       Pfc. Analaura Esparza-Gutierrez, 21, of Houston, was killed 
     in action on October 1;
       Chief Warrant Officer Second Class Scott Jamar, 32, of 
     Granbury, was killed in action on April 2;
       Staff Sgt. Phillip Jordan, 42, of Brazoria, was killed in 
     action on March 23;
       Cpl. Brian Kennedy, 25, of Houston, was killed in action on 
     March 21;
       Spc. James Kiehl, 22, of Comfort, was killed in action on 
     March 23;
       Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Mata, 35, of Amarillo, was 
     killed in action on March 23;
       Cpl. Jesus Medellin, 21, of Fort Worth, was killed in 
     action on April 7;
       Sgt. Daniel Methvin, 22, of Belton, was killed in action on 
     July 26;
       Pfc. Anthony Miller, 19, of San Antonio, was killed in 
     action on April 7;
       Sgt. Keelan Moss, 23, of Houston, was killed in action on 
     November 2;
       Spc. Joseph Norquist, 26, of San Antonio, was killed in 
     action on October 9;
       Staff Sgt. Hector Perez, 40, of Corpus Christi, was killed 
     in action on July 24;
       Second Lt. Jonathan Rozier, 25, of Katy, was killed in 
     action on July 19;
       Cpl. Tomas Sotelo, Jr., 20, of Houston, was killed in 
     action on June 27;
       Spc. James Wright, 27, of Morgan, was killed in action on 
     September 18;
       Pfc. Stephen Wyatt, 19, of Kilgore, was killed in action on 
     October 13;
       Pfc. Chad Bales, 20, of Coahoma, died on April 3.
       Spc. Zeferino Colunga, 20, of Bellville, died on August 6.
       1st Sgt. Joe Garza, 43, of Robstown, died on April 28.
       Spc. John Johnson, 24, of Houston, died on October 22.
       Spc. Christian Schulz, 20, of Colleyville, died on July 11.
       Spc. Joseph Suell, 24, of Lufkin, died on June 16.
       Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, died on July 9.
       Sgt. Henry Ybarra, 32, of Austin, died on September 11.

  These men and women gave their lives defending their country and 
fighting to liberate a country that has never experienced freedom.
  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these 
individuals.
  They served their country bravely, and they will forever be 
remembered as heroes.

                          ____________________