[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8182]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I take a couple of moments to comment on 
the actions in support of our troops in Iraq. First, our condolences, 
as always, go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones. 
Being from Tennessee, I particularly express my sympathies to the 
family of Marine LCpl Patrick Nixon from Gallatin, TN, who was killed 
while attempting to secure a critical bridge across the Euphrates River 
in Nasiriyah.
  I also offer our prayers and condolences for those who have lost 
loved ones, and also offer prayers to those in the field fighting for 
us.
  I commend the tremendous performance of our Armed Forces and continue 
to be amazed by their degree of professionalism, their boldness, and 
the courage they represent each and every day. There will be tough days 
ahead, as we all know, but we all feel the steady progress being made.
  I take a moment to commend the Navy SEALs and Army rangers who 
rescued PFC Jessica Lynch from a hospital in Nasiriyah where she was 
being held. Most people had the opportunity to see the very dramatic 
footage a few hours ago of her being rescued by those special forces. 
We join with her family and friends in Palestine, WV, in celebrating 
her recovery. This is one more example of the outstanding flexibility, 
training, and performance of America's military men and women.
  I should mention, because it relates to a trip I took this weekend in 
visiting the base at the 101st Airborne in Tennessee, I had the 
opportunity to visit with Major General Petraeus's wife, Holly 
Petraeus, whom I first met 11 years ago when they previously had been 
stationed at Fort Campbell. I got to know her at that point in time and 
saw her when General Petraeus and I had the opportunity to start the 
Army 10-miler together a few months ago. I say ``start'' because I am a 
slow runner; when we started the race, he took out ahead of me after 
the first 20 yards.
  General Petraeus now is on the front page of the Washington Post. The 
opening paragraph:

       U.S. Army troops seized the southern edge of this key 
     Euphrates River city today as Iraqi militia fighters appeared 
     to retreat in the face of overwhelming firepower. . . .
       Shortly before 2 p.m., Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, 
     commander of the 101st Airborne, drove in an armed convoy up 
     a rocky escarpment into Najaf, urged on by clapping Iraqis 
     who gestured impatiently for the Americans to press deeper 
     into the city center.

  It gives me a great deal of pride for the 101st Airborne to be able 
to hear these real-life stories of the bravery and boldness of General 
Petraeus. I was with Holly Petraeus this past Sunday at the 101st 
Airborne. She hosted Karen, my wife, and me to lunch and attending a 
church service. She is doing a tremendous job of keeping up the spirit 
of all the families there and has become a real focal point for the 
community efforts in Hawesville, KY, Clarksville, TN, and on the base 
to support our troops. We have a lot to be proud of, with tough days 
ahead.
  Meanwhile, the Senate will be addressing the supplemental emergency 
spending in order to support our troops, as well as the underlying 
budget, which I hope to complete--which we will complete by April 11.
  I yield the floor.

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