[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9512-9518]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, as I have said before, every day our 
troops have been in the field the Senate has opened with a tribute to 
them. We have had Members from both sides, from many States, talk about 
their own Members and colleagues. We have talked about different groups 
in the field. I begin today giving a tribute to a group of Navy 
reservists from Texas who are making history in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom.
  The unit is the Strike Fighter Squadron that hails from the Joint 
Reserve base at Fort Worth. As we speak, the members of this 
outstanding unit are flying jet fighters in combat against Saddam 
Hussein's evil regime. They are best known by their nickname the 
``Hunters.''
  When President Bush ordered the Hunters to active duty last October, 
this distinguished squadron joined the crew of the aircraft carrier USS 
Theodore Roosevelt for duty in the Persian Gulf--the first time since 
the Korean War that an entire Naval Air Reserve squadron has deployed 
aboard an aircraft carrier.
  Since then, the Hunters have exceeded all of the Navy's requirements. 
The 12 Hornets that comprise the squadron have flown 1,500 sorties over 
Iraq. The air crews have made more than 500 landings aboard the 
Theodore Roosevelt at night and nearly twice that number during the 
day.
  But it takes more than just remarkable statistics to truly tell how 
well

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the Hunters are serving our Nation. You can hear the pride in their 
voices. One crew member described the personal sacrifices his comrades 
were making when he said, ``Some of us are taking pay cuts of $50,000 
to $100,000 per year to be out here and make this happen. We're happy 
to be a part of this ship and this air wing, and we're ready to do our 
job.'' Many of the pilots left their jobs as civilian airline pilots to 
fight for our country.
  These brave Naval reservists also are facing what many feel is the 
worst part of a deployment: being away from family. That means missing 
birthdays, anniversaries, and other important family obligations that 
are gone forever. Yet they are undaunted. One proud member said, 
``We're leaving our jobs and our families behind until this 
mobilization is done. Several members of the squadron are also 
geographic bachelors who don't live in Fort Worth, which means that 
they'll still be away from their loved ones after we've come back to 
base.''
  The feeling among members of the squadron is that each volunteered to 
serve in the operation they describe as ``America's Big Stick.'' One 
officer pointed out, ``If our country needs us, we're going to step up, 
because this job is about something that's bigger than all of us.''
  Mr. President, with volunteers like the Hunters, this operation and 
the future of our national security is in good hands. We owe them and 
their families a debt we never can repay.
  I yield to the Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, the world has been watching images from 
Iraq, of the Iraqi people celebrating the end of a brutal tyranny, and 
of the American soldiers who have given the Iraqi people hope for a new 
beginning.
  Over the past 3 weeks, the men and women of America's Armed Forces 
have shown a degree of precision and professionalism unprecedented in 
military history. Their commitment to their country builds on the 
expectations, traditions and character of those who have gone before 
them. It builds on the traditions of over two centuries of American 
courage and sense of honor, built by people such as Dan Inouye, Bob 
Dole, Charlie Rangel, John McCain and millions of other American 
veterans.
  The end of Saddam's regime does not end our commitment in Iraq. It is 
only the beginning. America's soldiers will continue to face great 
risks in Iraq. Lives will continue to be lost.
  Restoring order, peace-keeping, and rebuilding in Iraq are the tasks 
ahead, and our men and women in uniform will be asked to risk their 
lives to meet these challenges, as they have in bringing an end to 
Saddam Hussien's tyranny.
  Among the many brave men and women who have sacrificed in Iraq, I 
would like to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of those men 
and women in uniform from my State of Nebraska.
  Thousands of Nebraskans are on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air 
Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Their stories are the stories of 
America's courage, achievement, and sacrifice in Iraq.
  On Monday, Army LTC Mike Presnell phoned his mother in Grand Island, 
NE. He placed the call on a reporter's phone from the gold-plated 
bathroom in one of Saddam Hussien's Baghdad palaces, now under 
coalition control.
  Colonel Presnell told his mother about his historic experience and 
how proud he was of his colleagues.
  Nearly 60 years after the first American landed at Omaha Beach, a 
courageous Omahan landed the first coalition aircraft at Baghdad 
International Airport.
  Piloting an Apache helicopter disabled by enemy gunfire unable to 
radio for help, CWO 4 Greg Inman, of Omaha, NE, touched down shortly 
after U.S. forces staked claim to the airport. Warrant Officer Inman's 
landing was the standard for the courageous service that we have come 
to expect from our forces in Iraq.
  CPT Travis Ford, a 30-year-old Marine from Ogallala, NE, lost his 
life in service to his country. Captain Ford was killed on April 4 when 
his Cobra helicopter crashed during combat operations near Ali 
Aziziyal, Iraq. He leaves behind a wife and 2-year-old daughter. He 
was, in the words of his father-in-law, a ``Marine's Marine.''
  I spoke to his mother and wife yesterday. His mother, Josie Ford 
said, ``Senator, Travis did something very important for his country. 
I'm proud of him.'' Mrs. Ford, we're all proud of him.
  Our military men and women are the Nation's quiet heroes, for there 
is no glory in war.
  Behind headlines and beyond breaking news, there is the human 
struggle and the human tragedy. Lives are risked and lost.
  The experience of war reinforces the desire for peace. General 
Douglas MacArthur once said:

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

  Our sacrifices in Iraq, we pray, will make a better and more secure 
life for the people of America, Iraq and the world.
  For their service, bravery and sacrifice, in this noble cause of 
defending freedom and making a better world, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing--in honoring--the men and women of the United 
States Armed Forces. They have always been America's quiet heroes. Upon 
their sacrifice and courage we are inspired to build a more noble and 
just world.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I thank all my colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle for coming down and being a part of what we have to do 
here in the Senate. It is incredibly important that we pay tribute to 
our troops. We see much progress over recent days in the conflict in 
Iraq, in our efforts to topple a totalitarian regime that has been 
incredibly harsh on its people. The progress we have seen is 
incredible, and it is due to the unbelievable professionalism and 
training of the service men and women in the Armed Forces of the United 
States. They have done an incredible job. They have had the best 
technology. We have had the best individuals, professionally trained, 
out there making an enormous difference.
  I think all you have to do is look at what we have done in Baghdad on 
the Iraqi regime's strategic sites, where we have tried so diligently 
and our forces have been so successful in minimizing what has happened 
to the civilians in Iraq. We have also seen the joy on the faces of the 
Iraqi people as they have seen the liberation from a regime that has 
been so daunting to them.
  I come from a rural State. It is most important, certainly when you 
live out in the rural areas, to have good neighbors because you depend 
on your neighbors for a lot, whether you need to borrow a cup of sugar 
or you need someone to help you bring your crops in from the field or, 
more importantly, the way we depend on our neighbors to help us as a 
community in raising our families, making sure we are safe.
  We are in a global community now. Our actions in Iraq that will 
follow--and in neighboring countries--in rebuilding not only Iraq but 
certainly the alliances we have with other countries, are going to be 
so important. These are our neighbors in the global community.
  I think we are all anxious to see other nations join, those that may 
not have been there during the war, in making sure those alliances will 
be made and that we will have a concerted effort globally in rebuilding 
Iraq and the total of the Middle East because we all understand how 
important it is in the global community for us to have good neighbors. 
There is no doubt the Iraqi people, with the assistance of the U.N., 
the United States, and other alliances and neighbors, can build a very 
strong democracy which will be a guidepost as well as a good example 
for others.
  I, too, want to reach out to our soldiers, our men and women in the 
armed services. One of the most important thoughts I have heard from 
some of our service men and women is for us here in the States and at 
home to reach out to their families. We have an incredible opportunity, 
as Senator Hutchison has

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said, to recognize those missed birthdays--they have missed births 
altogether--important dates, and other events. Let's make sure in our 
communities we reach out to those families; that we lift them up in our 
prayers and reach out in ways in which we can be helpful. I think one 
of the greatest ways we can honor the men and women who are serving us 
in the Armed Forces is to reach out to their families and make sure we 
are supportive.
  I know we have a medical unit out in Jonesboro, AR, that is headed 
now to Washington to finish up training in Walter Reed. They will be 
shipped out shortly after that to Kuwait. We are seeing new families 
who are obviously having their loved ones shipped out. We want to make 
sure we continue the process of supporting them.
  As we look to that rebuilding, we know the reconstruction in Iraq is 
going to be challenging. But because of the professionalism, because of 
the technical aspects of the Armed Forces of the United States, the 
rebuilding will be not nearly as challenging as that of past wars 
because we have been able to determine where we wanted to make the 
biggest impact and target that without disturbing, as much as was 
possible, the overall community in Iraq, particularly civilians.
  We pay tribute once again to the troops, to our service men and 
women. We are very proud of their professionalism, their technical 
capabilities. We lift up their families once again as a body in prayer 
for all of them.
  I now yield to the Senator from Montana, Mr. Baucus.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I would like to take a minute to honor the 
contributions of Montanans serving overseas. There are thousands of 
Montanans in harm's way. Today I would like to mention a few.
  Army SGT Charles Horgan is a soldier with the Army's 1st Battalion, 
30th Infantry Scout Platoon of Fort Benning, GA. Many of you 
undoubtedly heard the stories of battle outside of the Iraqi city of An 
Nasiriyah. Sergeant Horgan was a Humvee gunner in the lead scout unit. 
His vehicle encountered a group of Iraqis in Bedouin robes running the 
other direction.
  A wire-guided missile struck the bridge, blowing him from his gunning 
position. Shrapnel from the rocket tore open his leg and foot and 
wounded the driver, SSG. Jamie Villafane. For the next 10 minutes, 
their unit was engulfed in a shootout with enemy troops. Charles 
Horgan, part of his right heel blown off, crawled to safety. Horgan is 
currently recovering at Walter Reed.
  It is not known if Horgan will ever walk again unaided. He is 21 
years old from Helena, MT, and a graduate of Helena High--my alma 
mater. He is an aspiring artist who loves drawing. I wish him the best 
as he recovers, and I take my hat off to him.
  I talked to him on the phone the night before last. I have talked to 
his parents a couple of times. He will be on his way home to Montana 
very shortly. He is a terrific young man.
  Navy E3 Phillip Lance Stewart, 20, a 2001 graduate of Great Falls 
High in Great Falls, MT, is a firefighter aboard the USS Abraham 
Lincoln in the Persian Gulf.
  Lance, the son of Chuck and Gail Stewart and grandson of Delphine 
Murphy, all of Great Falls, told his family in a short phone call 
recently that the letters and boxes from family and friends is what 
keeps all of them going.
  He also really misses his brothers and sister--and that is a lot to 
miss because Lance has six brothers and sisters, including a twin 
brother.
  Lance's family has decorated his house with big yellow ribbons and 
can hardly wait until Lance is home again, safe and sound.
  Army PFC Sedar Steinert, 19, a former North Middle School and Skyline 
Alternative School student from Great Falls, MT, was deployed to Iraq 
with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, with headquarters at Fort Polk, 
LA.
  Sedar's unit is providing artillery and scout support on the road to 
Baghdad. We all hope for his safe return.
  SP Ryan Richard Carpenter was born in Dillon, MT. His family 
currently resides in Belgrade and Dillon, MT. His parents are Richard 
and Julie Carpenter. Specialist Carpenter joined the Army Reserve in 
1997 and met his wife in 2001. His wife is also in the Army Reserve, 
the couple met while serving an Army Reserve drill weekend that was 
focused on night vision goggle training.
  During the drill weekend the couple's squad's call name for the 
training exercise was Ammo 3. That is what they called it: Ammo 3. From 
that chance encounter, the couple soon realized that they signed up for 
the Army Reserve in the same month of the same year, but met by chance 
roughly 4 years later. The couple was married later that year
  Specialist Carpenter was called up to active duty on February 7, 
2003, and is serving with the 811th Ammunition Ordnance Company, based 
out of West Virginia. The unit has been stationed at Camp New York 
since arriving in Kuwait and will soon be going into Iraq to provide 
ammunition support for the 101st Airborne. Specialist Carpenter was 
able to contact his wife from Kuwait and let her know that he had 
arrived safely and was in good health.
  During the conversation, Specialist Carpenter explained to his wife 
that he was assigned night vision goggles for use while driving his 
HumVee, and every time he picks them up, he thinks of the weekend he 
met her, both doing such training. Hearing this, his wife smiled and 
tenderly cried over the telephone, ``Ammo 3!'' The couple then 
reminisced about the weekend they met and then came to a joint 
resolution: It was the United States Army that brought them together, 
and it was the only entity that could temporarily separate them.
  Specialist Carpenter is deeply loved and missed by his wife, family 
and friends, and they pray for his safe and expedient return.
  PFC Jeremiah Coyne of Dillon, MT, went to boot camp during the summer 
between his junior and senior year of high school. He entered the 
National Guard after graduation. Not content simply to serve as a 
guardsman, he went to Active Duty and is now serving proudly in the 
gulf region. We pray for his safety.
  PFC Adam Eversole recently celebrated his 22nd birthday in Kuwait, 
where he was deployed on March 15 as an ambulance nurse. After losing 
his mother, this caring, religious young man enlisted, following in the 
footsteps of his father who served and was wounded in Vietnam.
  After receiving the news that he was headed for Kuwait, he wrote his 
Grandmother, ``Let's remember, I have Jesus with me always, and He will 
look over me and keep me safe. When I get back, I hope to come and see 
you and visit Montana.'' It will be a grateful Montana that greets him.
  Marine CPL Patrick O'Connell is serving in the Unit Fox 25, attached 
to the Second Tank Battalion in Iraq. He is a committed public servant 
who has already been of great service to our State, both as a community 
lifeguard and as a wildland firefighter. He courageously helped battle 
the devastating wildfires of 2000. Now he has extended that generosity 
of character to serve our entire Nation, and he deserves the gratitude 
of us all.
  Brock Patera of the Army's 40th Transportation Company will undergo 
review on April 15 to become a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. He is busy 
earning that rank in the desert. He spends long, difficult, dangerous 
hours behind the wheel of a Humvee. His platoon has been sleeping on 
the ground and unable to receive mail, but like so many countless 
others around him, he remains committed to the task at hand. We wish 
him luck in his coming review and a safe return to his wife Cassandra 
and his 15-month-old son Devin, who miss him dearly.
  John Falconer of the 7th Marines Motor T surprised his parents on the 
morning of April 1 with a phone call from the front lines.
  The phone call was made on a cell phone borrowed from CNN 
correspondent Martin Savage. Savage is imbedded with John's unit. John 
had repaired the fuel pump on Savage's Humvee, and the phone call was 
offered

[[Page 9515]]

in thanks. This was the first time his parents had heard the sound of 
their son's voice in almost a month. When asked what he needed the 
most, John told his mother, ``a mattress.'' He told his mother that 
because he slept on the ground, the dirt was so embedded in his pores 
it would never come out. In the face of hardship, John has remained 
strong and committed to the task before him. He is in our prayers, and 
we all hope for his safe return.
  Mr. President, this is not a complete list of folks from Montana 
serving our Nation. There are many, many more. I do not plan to return 
to the Senate floor every day to give stories, but I do plan to return 
frequently with more stories. I believe that the job our troops are 
doing is a dangerous one and that they are upholding the freedom we, as 
a nation, hold so dear. We honor them and wish then continued success 
and a safe return.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Tennessee.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, last Saturday I visited Fort Campbell, 
which is on the line between Kentucky and Tennessee. It is the home of 
the famous 101st Airborne Division. It is also the home of a couple of 
Army Special Forces units we don't hear so much about. Almost all of 
them are in Iraq today. Some have been there for a long time.
  What was nice about Saturday was the Secretary of the Army was there 
and held and attended a luncheon in honor of the families. Awards were 
given to members of the families of the service men and women who were 
there and those who support our troops at home.
  I heard a great many stories, as you might imagine, about bravery, 
dedication, and professionalism. One was a story about a major whose 
unit was advancing on a mosque when a crowd of Iraqis thought there was 
about to be some damage done to the cleric. The major had the presence 
of mind to order all of the men and women in his unit to go down on one 
knee and point their guns to the ground. It signaled to the Iraqis that 
they were there to help them, not to hurt them.
  But one of the most interesting stories that came out of the 101st 
Airborne Division in Fort Campbell is one I would like to report this 
morning to the Members of the Senate. It is about a special group of 
Tennesseans who embody the qualities that make our Nation exceptional. 
You may have seen the piece on the news about them on CBS News last 
week. They exemplify why our State is called the Volunteer State. It is 
our nickname. More importantly, their story reminds us of the meaning 
of family.
  These men belong to a Tennessee Army National Guard artillery unit 
from Chattanooga. The Secretary of the Army reminded me that more than 
half of our National Guard men and women and reservists have been 
deployed in one way or another since 9/11. They are a big part of what 
we are doing today. We have one integrated army, as he says.
  But these men whom I am talking about are part of an Army National 
Guard artillery unit from Chattanooga that is training at Fort 
Campbell. Like many units, they may be deployed any day.
  While I have endless gratitude for all of the men and women who are 
serving, this unit is special. There are seven fathers and sons in this 
unit; that is, two generations of seven families who are willing and 
ready to fight for the United States.
  They are SSG Rick Mullins and his son SP Jeff Mullins; 1SG Cody 
Mosier and his son SP Tim Mosier; SSG Jasper Ellis and his son SSG Mike 
Ellis; MAJ Paul Ballinger and his son PFC Ryan Ballinger; SGT James 
Kittle and his son SP Jeb Kittle; SSG Roy Ware and his son, SP Jeff 
Ware; SFC Jimmer Bolden and his son, SP Corey Bolden.
  SP Jeb Kittle got out of the Army last summer but signed on recently 
with the Reserve battalion to serve with his father, James. In an 
interview, Specialist Kittle said it would be a once-in-a-lifetime 
experience to go into battle with his father beside him. He said, 
``Everyone feels confident that we can complete the mission and bring 
everybody back alive.'' That is what we pray for every day, that the 
conflict is swift and the troops will come home safely.
  SSG Jasper Ellis and his son, Mike, said they hope for the best; that 
they go in and come back together. And while none of these father-son 
guardsmen are assigned to fight side by side, SSG Rick Mullins said no 
matter what, he and his son will take care of each other. He recalled, 
with tears in his eyes, when he told his wife that he would give his 
life before anything would happen to their son.
  To hear the love and respect these men have for each other is 
inspiring and reminds us that we are all in this together. It reminds 
us of the respect we have for the men and women of our Armed Forces. 
That seven fathers and sons from one National Guard unit in Chattanooga 
would be training together at Fort Campbell to defend our country in 
case they are deployed is something of which I am very proud. I wanted 
to call the attention of the Senate to it today for my home State of 
Tennessee.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to the brave 
men and women from New Jersey, and from throughout the United States, 
serving our Nation overseas.
  Mr. President, words cannot adequately express the debt of gratitude 
that Americans throughout our country feel for the sacrifices made by 
the brave men and women serving in the Middle East, and by their 
families. Many of these families are anxiously awaiting the return of 
loved ones from overseas, while others are grieving the loss of loved 
ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
  At this moment, several thousand News Jerseyans are deployed in Iraq 
and the surrounding region to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
They deserve our support and our prayers. The people of my State are 
honored by their service.
  New Jersey, like many other States, has unfortunately experienced the 
grim realities of war. On march 29, Cpl Michael Edward Curtin became 
the first New Jersey resident killed in battle in Iraq. Earlier, Sgt 
James Riley, another New Jerseyan, was captured by Iraqi forces in an 
ambush near Nasiriyah.
  Mr. President, Cpl. Michael Curtin was only 23 when he was killed in 
a suicide bombing at a checkpoint in Iraq. His parents, Michael and 
Joan, had to endure the most terrible loss any parent can imagine: the 
death of a child--their son. They should take comfort, along with his 
brother, Daniel, and his three sisters, Katherine, Jennifer and 
Stephanie, that all of New Jersey mourns with them. The family is proud 
of Michael and knows he did not die in vain.
  Mr. President, Michael Curtin graduated from Howell High School in 
1998, where he was a standout on the football team. He then worked at 
the Petro-Packaging Company in Cranford before joining the Army. He was 
posted with the Army's 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, where he was 
part of the spearhead that led the invasion in Iraq. Although I did not 
know him personally, from those who did, he was an impressive and 
courageous young man--committed to his family, committed to his 
country.
  Mr. President, along with Senator Lautenberg, I joined Michael's 
family, friends and community this morning to attend his memorial. It 
was a sad and moving experience. I saw a family deep in mourning. A 
community deep in mourning. And it was hard not to be overwhelmed by 
the terrible loss they have endured. The love they have for Michael.
  At the same time, through all the sadness and the tears, there also 
was a certain sense of pride. A well-deserved sense of pride. Because 
as tragic as their loss is and forever will be, it was a loss that was 
not in vain. It was a loss fought on behalf of an ideal. It was a loss 
that reflected Cpl Curtin's commitment to his community. And his 
sacrifice on behalf of his country.
  That commitment represented the best of America. And his family and 
friends should know that all Americans share in their grief and honor 
them for their sacrifice, as well.
  Mr. President, while the family and friends of the late Cpl Curtin 
remain in

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mourning, the family and friends of Sgt James Riley also are suffering, 
though not without hope.
  Mr. President, Athol Riley describes Sgt Riley, his son, as 
practical-minded, strong and stubborn. And we pray that these traits 
will fortify him during his captivity in Iraq. James was with the 507th 
Maintenance Company where he repaired tanks and serviced Patriot 
missile batteries for the Army. His unit was ambushed near the 
Euphrates River and he, along with four other soldiers, were taken 
captive. I know I speak for all of New Jerseyans when I express our 
deepest hope for his swift and safe return to New Jersey. We pray for 
his safe return.
  Mr. President, Sgt Riley was born in New Zealand and moved to 
Pennsauken, a town in South Jersey when he was ten years old. He joined 
the military immediately after high school and has spent the last 
thirteen years serving his country. Sgt Riley is a man of many talents. 
He is known as a science fiction buff and has taught himself to play 
the guitar. We all hope and pray that he will return to his family very 
soon.
  Mr. President, Cpl Michael Curtin and Sgt James Riley are just two of 
the outstanding individuals serving in our armed services who have made 
tremendous sacrifices and paid a tremendous price for their country. 
All of our troops, and all of their families, deserve the thanks of our 
entire Nation. I know I join all New Jerseyans in praying for our 
warriors' continued safety, and for a swift, decisive and successful 
end to the war.
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today to express my thanks, and the 
thanks of all the citizens of New Hampshire, to the amazing men and 
women of our United States Armed Forces, and to our coalition partners. 
We all are very impressed with the incredible success of our military 
effort in Iraq, especially the professionalism, discipline, and 
expertise of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.
  George Washington said, ``Discipline is the soul of any army. It 
makes small numbers formidable.'' And truly, our relatively small force 
has been very, very formidable. In about twenty days, they advanced 
some five hundred miles, while engaged in combat, and have taken 
Baghdad. They have fought with great skill and have acted 
professionally throughout, and they have accomplished this feat, with 
just slightly over a hundred deaths--that is an extraordinary act of 
military expertise.
  Our reserve forces, the American citizen soldiers, have been major 
contributors in this effort. Patriots from New Hampshire have served 
our Nation with honor and distinction from Bunker Hill, to 
Afghanistan--and now they continue to carry on that tradition, serving 
in support of our nation's war on terrorism and in support of the 
coalition's Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  While New Hampshire is a small state, over 1,000 members of our 
Reserves and National Guard have been called to active duty. Those 
called include: 290 Air National Guardsmen from the 157th Air Refueling 
Wing; the 260th Air Traffic Control Squadron; the 157th Security Group; 
and 39 Army National Guardsmen from the 1st Battery of the 172nd Field 
Artillery; the 114th Public Affairs Detachment; and 526 Army Reservists 
from the 94th Military Police Company; the 368th Engineer Battalion; 
the 362nd Public Affairs Detachment; and 167 Marine Reservists from B 
Company, 1st Battery, 25th Marines; and 13 Navy Reservists from the 4th 
Marine Division 125th Battery; the Amphibious Construction Battalion 2, 
Detachment 101; the CINC US Atlantic Fleet, Mobile Ashore Support 
Group; and the Submarine Support Facility, HQ Detachment 101.
  They have left their homes and are serving as military police, 
engineers, air traffic controllers, pilots, public affairs specialists, 
and in other specialties, both within the United States, and abroad, in 
Southwest Asia, Cuba, Kosova, and the Middle East. I especially want to 
thank our citizen soldiers, their families, their employers--each in 
their own way, is making a sacrifice for our nation.
  We can take tremendous pride in what our military has done, and 
especially in what our soldiers, marines and special forces have done 
on the ground, and in the fact that the results have turned out 
extremely positive. We have freed a people who have been oppressed by 
an extremely criminal regime that has killed literally tens of 
thousands of Iraqi people over the years. We are now seeing the people 
of Iraq suddenly freed, and their reaction to that freedom is so 
positive, and genuine. They are realizing that finally Saddam Hussein 
is not going to rule them any longer.
  So, many are justifiably excited that we have had success up to this 
point--but there is still a long way to go in this war. There are many 
pockets of resistance still to be addressed. But as we move forward 
toward Tikrit and other parts of Iraq, I would expect that Saddam 
Hussein's evil regime will continue to collapse. Hopefully we are 
looking at better days for the Iraqi people.
  Abraham Lincoln said, ``Let us have faith that right makes might, and 
in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand 
it.'' Now, 143 years later, another president, George Bush, has also 
clearly seen our nation's duty--and he has demonstrated the courage to 
pursue it to a just end.
  We are a nation which goes into an event like this for good purposes. 
I believe the world will see that we have delivered a country into 
freedom--and provided their people an opportunity for a better life. We 
can take pride in that as a nation.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my sincere thanks 
to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
  Last October, I voted against the resolution authorizing the use of 
force in Iraq and believe it was right that in recent months the 
country debated the wisdom of using military action against Iraq at 
this time. But the military action that is now underway unites us as we 
focus on our ongoing support for our troops. I am confident in their 
abilities, and I hope for their safe and quick return to their 
families. Even more so now that this action has begun, my thoughts, and 
the thoughts of all Americans, are with our service men and women, and 
with their families.
  The dedicated men and women of our military spend time away from 
their homes and families in different parts of the country and the 
world, and are placed into harm's way in order to protect the American 
people and our way of life. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all our 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and members of the Coast Guard for 
their selfless service.
  These brave individuals have volunteered to place themselves into 
harm's way on our behalf. Too many of them have made the ultimate 
sacrifice on the battlefields of Iraq. Many others have been injured. 
Some have been taken prisoner by our adversaries, while others remain 
unaccounted for.
  We honor the memory of those who have given their lives and pray for 
their families, we wish a speedy recovery to the injured, call for the 
prompt and safe release of those taken prisoner, and call for an 
accurate accounting for those listed as missing.
  Each person serving in our military has his or her own story and 
reasons for enlisting. All of them are brave, dedicated men and women 
who have made tremendous personal sacrifices on our behalf.
  Young men and women who at this time last year were looking forward 
to their senior proms and high school graduations are now half way 
across the world protecting our country.
  Parents who a year ago worried if their children would make their 
curfews now fear for their safety in a far off land.
  Our thoughts are with these brave young men and women as we see and 
hear reports of their acts of heroism and patriotism.
  One such brave young man is Petty Officer Third Class Scott Wickland 
of Spooner, WI. This 20-year-old sailor, who is serving aboard the USS 
Constellation in the Persian Gulf, was an integral part of the April 1 
rescue of two Navy pilots whose plane ended up in the water after a 
suspected malfunction while taxiing on Constellation's flight deck. It 
was Petty Officer Wickland's job to be lowered into the

[[Page 9517]]

water from a rescue helicopter and to swim out to the pilots and make 
sure they were brought aboard the helicopter and then returned to the 
carrier. All three returned to the Constellation safely.
  This story is all the more poignant because Petty Officer Wickland's 
uncle, his mother Mary's 20-year-old brother, drowned just a year 
before Scott was born. This accident affected Mary Wickland deeply, and 
she named her son Scott Daniel in memory of her brother, Daniel 
Osborne. She also saw to it that all of her children learned how to 
swim. More than two decades later, Petty Officer Wickland used his 
swimming skills to save two lives.
  Petty Officer Wickland and his fellow military personnel represent 
the best among us, and serve as examples of the dedication to others to 
which all of us should aspire.
  MAJ Kevin G. Nave, a former resident of Port Washington, WI, was 
another example of the best whom America has to offer. Major Nave, who 
was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, Camp Pendleton, CA, was tragically killed on March 26 in a 
vehicle accident in Iraq. He leaves behind a wife, two young children, 
and many other grieving family members and friends.
  Major Nave and his family lived in Port Washington for about 3 years 
prior to his transfer to Camp Pendleton last year. While in Wisconsin, 
Major Nave served as an inspector instructor with Fox Company, 2nd 
Battalion of the 24th Marine Combat Infantry unit. In addition, he 
served his local community as an adviser to the Southeast Wisconsin 
Young Marines, a coordinator for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots 
program, a member of the Milwaukee Armed Services Committee, and as a 
Marine community outreach coordinator for area schools. Friends say 
that he loved his family, being a marine, and his Harley-Davidson 
motorcycle. He organized the first local Armed Forces Week Harley Ride 
last year, and he and his fellow service men and women will be honored 
following this year's event.
  I extend my deepest sympathy to the Nave family and to their friends 
in Port Washington and elsewhere.
  I also extend my best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who have 
been injured while serving in the Persian Gulf.
  LT Terence W. Bacon of Allenton, WI, was one of the members of the 
101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade injured at Camp Pennsylvania, 
Kuwait, on March 22. He is currently recovering from the wounds he 
sustained in this incident.
  SP Patrick McDermott, who was called to active duty as a member of 
the Madison-based 1st Battalion of the 147th Aviation HHSc of the Army 
National Guard, was wounded in the Persian Gulf and is currently 
recovering.
  Marine Cpl Bret Woolhether from Fond du Lac, WI, suffered shrapnel 
wounds in fighting near Nasiriyah on March 27. Despite his injuries, 
Corporal Woolhether is eager to return to duty.
  The servicemen about whom I have spoken today are just a few examples 
of the many Wisconsinites and hundreds of thousands of Americans who 
serve our country in the Armed Forces.
  The war in Iraq and the fight against terrorism are turning upside 
down the lives of Active-Duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel 
and their families. These men and women seek to do their duty to our 
country and honor commitments to their families, and, in the case of 
the National Guard and Reserves, to their employers. As of April 9, 
more than 221,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel were serving on 
active duty, and many more can be expected to be called upon in the 
future.
  Some Wisconsinites are facing the latest in a series of multiple 
activations and deployments for family members. Others are seeing their 
loved ones off on their first deployment. All of these families share 
in the worry and concern about what awaits their relatives and hope, as 
we do, for their swift and safe return.
  We owe it to our military personnel and their families to do 
everything we can to support them in this difficult time. I will 
continue to work to ensure that our troops and their families have the 
resources that they need, both to combat our adversaries and to provide 
for their families, during this tumultuous time and when they return 
home.
  We hope for a quick and decisive victory for our troops, and look 
forward to the day when we can welcome them home into the embrace of a 
grateful Nation.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, over the past few days we have seen 
dramatic proof that the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein is nearing its 
end. Like many Americans, I have been thrilled and heartened by the 
dramatic images of United States troops helping Iraqi citizens tear 
down statues and paintings of this brutal tyrant. For the first time in 
their lives, many Iraqis are tasting freedom, and it is beautiful. I am 
proud of our military and America's commitment to make the people of 
the Middle East more free.
  While our fighting men and women will surely face more difficult days 
ahead, the end of this war is in sight, and I rise to honor four men 
who made the ultimate sacrifice one can make for their country. One of 
them was a native Oklahoman, and three were adopted Oklahomans by 
virtue of their service at Fort Sill in Lawton. I consider each of them 
heroes.
  LCpl Thomas Alan Blair was Oklahoma's first known casualty in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. This 24-year-old Broken Arrow native was 
killed on March 23 in a fierce battle near Nasiriyah when an enemy 
rocket propelled grenade hit his amphibious assault vehicle.
  Tommy graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 1997, but had 
decided long before then that he would be a marine. He chose his career 
nearly a decade ago when he watched his older brother, SSgt Al Blair, 
graduate from boot camp. In a way, he followed in his brothers's 
footsteps, but his family will tell you that he would have been a 
marine no matter what. ``He truly wanted to help people,'' said his 
brother.
  SFC Randall S. Rehn, 36, was a veteran of the first gulf war. His 
wife and baby daughter expected him to come home to Lawton in August. 
In his last known contact with his family, Rehn expressed his desire to 
come home quickly and his hope that ``this is the last time I'm leaving 
my family for so long.'' Friends testify that Randy's greatest passions 
in life were people, family, and friends.
  Randall Rehn died April 3 amid fierce fighting for control of what is 
now Baghdad International Airport. He is survived by his wife Raelynn 
and daughter Megan, of Lawton, as well as his family in Colorado.
  Two fellow members of his Multiple Launch Rocket System of C Battery, 
3rd Battalion, 13th Field Infantry Regiment from Fort Sill died in the 
same fight: SGT Todd Robbins and SP Donald Oaks.
  One of eight brothers and sisters, Todd Robbins, 33, served in the 
Navy for the first gulf war before joining the Army. He leaves behind a 
wife at Fort Sill and a 13-year-old son. ``He always wanted to be in 
the Army,'' said his father Dale Robbins. ``He lived, ate, and slept 
the Army. He loved it.''
  Donald Oaks would have turned 21 on April 26. He was a bright young 
man who was good at math and computers. Also, he enjoyed playing 
baseball and fishing with his dad. He joined the Army to get money for 
a college education after his service. His mother Laurie Oaks said, 
``He was my best friend and was always my hero. He still is.'' He was 
engaged to be married.
  Tragically, the deaths of SGT Robbins and SP Oaks were said to be a 
result of friendly fire in the form of coalition bombs. While our 
military always works to prevent such accidents, they always occur 
during war fighting.
  The fact that their deaths were accidental in no way diminishes their 
sacrifice. They gave their lives to protect us, our freedoms, and to 
make people they had never met, half-way around the world, free in 
their own country.
  As reports from Iraq begin to tell the story of Iraqis enjoying their 
long- awaited freedom, it is important that we remember men like these 
who paid for that freedom with their blood.
  Before our troops so bravely put their lives on the line, there was 
no such freedom in Iraq. Iraqi citizens

[[Page 9518]]

were subject to the cruel and brutal whims of a mad dictator. They 
lived every moment in the oppressive grip of a regime whose power knew 
no limits. They lived in fear with rape, torture, and murder always in 
their minds.
  Because LCpl Blair, SFC Rehn, SGT Robbins, and SP Oaks were willing 
to lay down their lives for freedom, many citizens of Iraq are awaking 
to a new day, and the world is now a safer place.
  As we watch the final days of Saddam Hussein's evil regime unfold, 
let us never forget that the freedom we enjoy every day in America is 
bought at a price.
  LCpl Blair, SFC Rehn, SGT Robbins, and SP Oaks did not die in vain. 
They died so that many others could live freely. And for that 
sacrifice, we are forever indebted. Our thoughts and prayers are with 
them and their families today and with the troops who are still 
fighting to liberate Iraq.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, it is with great sadness, but greater 
pride, that I rise today to recognize a true warrior and Colorado 
native who gave of the ultimate sacrifice. SFC Randall Rehn, of Niwot, 
CO, served with honor and distinction.
  Sergeant Rehn was killed during one of the most significant events of 
this war. His vehicle was destroyed during the fight to take Saddam 
International Airport. It is because of sacrifices such as Sergeant 
Rehn's, a tyrant and his oppressive regime will be defeated.
  While I grieve for the loss of Sergeant Rehn, my pride and respect 
abound. I know that Colorado, as Gov. Bill Owens said, ``has gained a 
hero.'' My prayers go out to the family of this fallen hero and hope 
they know this country honors Sergeant Rehn's sacrifice and recognizes 
their loss.
  Mr. President, I wish to salute a fallen soldier of the great State 
of Colorado. Capt. Russell Rippetoe gave the greatest sacrifice in the 
service of his country and for the freedom of his fellow Americans.
  Captain Rippetoe joined an Army ROTC unit while he attended Metro 
State College in Denver. He entered the Army's elite Ranger unit and 
served in Afghanistan before being deployed to Iraq. Captain Rippetoe 
continued his family's proud tradition of serving his country. His 
father retired as a lieutenant colonel.
  I think his family said it best when they said, ``Russell loved this 
nation and America has lost a true American hero.'' I want to echo that 
sentiment by saying that Colorado has lost a warrior, a great citizen, 
and a son.
  Mr. President, I also stand today to acknowledge a true hero. 
Colorado said farewell to one of its own. Marine Cpl Randall Rosacker 
was laid to rest, as he requested, in a Colorado veterans graveyard 
with full military honors.
  Corporal Rosacker served this great Nation proudly in Afghanistan and 
gave the ultimate sacrifice in the war with Iraq. He was killed in a 
firefight early in the war, but paved the way to future success on the 
battlefield. His service to the country will always be remembered and 
appreciated.
  Corporal Rosacker was born in Alamosa and still has strong Colorado 
roots with grandparents and great-grandparents still residing in 
Colorado. My prayers go out to the family of this fallen hero and hope 
they know this country honors Corporal Rosacker's sacrifice and 
recognizes their loss. Today I ask the Senate to recognize this great 
American as Colorado has.
  And I ask we recognize one of the heroes of the war in Iraq. LCpl 
Thomas Slocum of Thornton, CO, was killed in action while defending the 
principles of freedom and justice against a brutal dictator's regime.
  Corporal Slocum's unit was ambushed by a group of Iraqis who cowardly 
indicated they were surrendering and then opened fire. He was a brave 
and patriotic son of Colorado. He will be remembered by all as ``proud 
to be a marine.'' He believed in what he was doing over there.
  Though any loss of life is tragic, we as Americans can hold our heads 
high because of the sacrifices of our servicemen such as Thomas Slocum. 
My prayers go out to the family of this fallen hero and hope they know 
this country honors Corporal Slocum's sacrifice and recognizes their 
loss.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to SP James 
Kiehl, who gave his life for his country as part of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, and to express my deepest sympathy to his family. SP Kiehl was 
part of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, which was ambushed in 
southern Iraq. While we still don't know for sure what happened that 
day, U.S. forces later recovered his body during an operation in which 
they rescued another member of James's company, PFC Jessica Lynch. My 
prayers are with James's father in Comfort, TX and James's wife, Jill, 
Des Moines, IA. Since James left their home in Texas to go to war, Jill 
has been staying with her parents in Iowa where she is expecting their 
first child. I can only imagine how difficult this time must be for 
her. Although their child will never meet James, the child can take 
comfort knowing that SP Kiehl died a hero and a patriot.
  James Kiehl will be missed by a great many people who were a part of 
his life. I know I join all Iowans in expressing my support for Jill in 
her time of loss. Just as she will keep James's memory alive, it is our 
duty to recognize and remember James's sacrifice. In fact, I understand 
that James Kiehl spoke to his father about his military service saying 
that he did not want to raise his son in a world of terrorism; and so 
his service has helped to make us all safer. We must not forget those 
who have paid the immeasurably high price in the name of freedom. 
Liberty-loving Americans like James Kiehl deserve our unending 
gratitudes.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary status of the 
Senate as we speak?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate has no business pending.
  Mr. REID. We hate to admit that is the way it is. I ask unanimous 
consent to speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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