[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7334-7335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO CALIFORNIA SERVICEMEN KILLED IN ACTION

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, as we pray for all those who are in harm's 
way, I rise to pay tribute to nine young Americans who were killed in 
the Iraqi war. All of them are from California or were based in 
California.
  LT Thomas Mullen Adams, age 27; hometown: La Mesa, CA, was killed 
Saturday, March 22, in a helicopter accident after takeoff from a ship 
in the Persian Gulf. He graduated from Grossmont High School in La Mesa 
in 1993 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1997. He was a 
decorated naval flight officer, earning two National Defense Service 
medals and three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
  LT Thomas Mullen Adams' family lineage can be traced back to 
Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
  CPT Ryan Beaupre, age 30, was attached to the 1st Marine 
Expeditionary Force based in Camp Pendleton, CA. He lived in an 
apartment in Encinitas, CA, overlooking the Pacific Ocean where he 
often surfed. He was born in Saint Anne, IL. He was killed on Thursday, 
March 20, in a helicopter accident in Northern Kuwait, near the Iraqi 
border.
  Mr. President, 2LT Therrel Shane Childers was with the 1st Battalion, 
5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA; 
age 30; hometown: Harrison, MI. He was killed on Friday, March 21 in a 
firefight with enemy troops in Iraq. He graduated from the Citadel in 
Charleston, SC, in 2001. He is survived by his parents, Joseph and Judy 
Childers. He was known to be an active runner and loved the outdoors.
  LC 04 Jose Gutierrez--his hometown was Los Angeles, CA. He was born 
in Guatemala. At age 16, he traveled by himself across Mexico, to 
California. When he arrived in the United States, he was taken in by 
Marcelo and Nora Mosquera of Lomita, CA. His sister still lives in 
Guatemala City, Guatemala. His age was 22. He was killed on Friday, 
March 21, in a firefight with enemy troops in southern Iraq. He was an 
infantry rifleman, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment 
of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.
  Cpl Brian Matthew Kennedy was attached to the 1st Marine 
Expeditionary Force based in Camp Pendleton, CA; age 25; hometown: 
Glenview, IL. He was killed on Thursday, March 20, in a helicopter 
accident in Northern Kuwait, near the Iraqi border. He graduated from 
Glenbrook South High School in Illinois in 1995. He played football and 
lacrosse during high school. He was also a member of Future Teachers of 
America and the National Honor Society. He joined the Marines in 1999 
and was stationed in Camp Pendleton for 3 years. His father, Mark 
Kennedy, lives in Houston, TX. His mother, Melissa Derbyshire, lives in 
Port Clyde, ME.
  SSgt Kendall Damon Waterbey joined the Marines in 1992 and was 
stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. He was age 29; hometown: Baltimore, 
MD. He was killed on Thursday, March 20, in a helicopter accident in 
northern Kuwait, near the Iraqi border. He is married and has a 10 
year-old son, Kenneth. His brave son said this about his father:

       He had to do what he had to do for our country. I was proud 
     of him. He's going to stay my hero.

  Sgt Michael E. Bitz was from Ventura, CA. He was age 31. He was 
killed

[[Page 7335]]

on Sunday, March 23, when he encountered Iraqi troops pretending to 
surrender. He was assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 2nd 
Marine Division in Camp Lejune, NC.
  Cpl Jose A. Garibay was from Orange, CA. He graduated from Newport 
Harbor High School; age 21. He was killed on Sunday, March 23 when he 
encountered Iraqi troops pretending to surrender. He was assigned to 
the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force 
in Camp Lejune, NC.
  Cpl Jorge Gonzalez was from Los Angeles, CA. He was age 20. He was 
killed on Sunday, March 23 when he encountered Iraqi troops pretending 
to surrender. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine 
Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Camp Lejune, NC.
  Mr. President, may all of these beautiful young people rest in peace. 
May we have a short war. And may we also pray for the wisdom of those 
who sent these young people on their mission.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________