[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 28]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to CPT Chris 
Soelzer, a resident of Sturgis, SD who died on December 24, 2003, while 
serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Captain Soelzer was a member of the Headquarters Company of the 5th 
Engineer Battalion, which was based out of Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He 
was among three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb hit a military 
convoy near Samarra.
  Answering America's call to the military, Captain Soelzer wasn't sure 
he was going to make a career out of the Army. However, according to 
his brother, ``he was a soldier, that is what he lived for.'' A born 
soldier, he had attended Kemper Military School and College after 
graduating from Sturgis High School. A member of the school band, 
chorus group, and the track team, friends remember him as a quiet and 
gentle person. Captain Soelzer's former principal recalls that ``he was 
a real gentleman, a real nice kid who was involved in a lot of 
things.'' Dave Mueller, a friend from high school remembers Captain 
Soelzer as a bright individual and remarked that ``Academics was his 
big thing. I think he was close to straight A's.''
  Captain Soelzer served our country and, as a hero, died fighting for 
it. He served as a model example of the loyalty and dedication in the 
preservation of freedom. The thoughts and prayers of my family as well 
as the rest of the country's are with his family during this time of 
mourning. Our thoughts continue to be with all those families with 
children, spouses, and loved ones serving overseas.
  Captain Soelzer led a full life, committed to his family, his Nation, 
and his community. It was his incredible dedication to helping others 
that will serve as his greatest legacy. Our Nation is a far better 
place because of Captain Soelzer's contributions, and, while his 
family, friends, and Nation will miss him very much, the best way to 
honor his life is to emulate his commitment to service and community. 
In the words of Dave Mueller, ``He was also a person who you'd barely 
have to know him and he would do everything for you.''
  I join with all South Dakotans in expressing my sympathies to the 
family of Captain Soelzer. I know that he will always be missed, but 
his service to our Nation will never be forgotten.


                       sergeant dennis a. corral

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of Dennis A. Corral, a fellow Nebraskan and Sergeant in the U.S. Army. 
Sergeant Corral was killed on January 1 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was 33 
years old.
  Sergeant Corral served as a supply sergeant in Company C, 1st 
Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort 
Riley, KS.
  A resident of Kearney, NE, Sergeant Corral was a dedicated soldier 
who was committed to his family and country. Sergeant Corral 
volunteered to deploy early so that another soldier with a wife and 
children could spend more time at home, his mother, Yolanda, said. She 
described her son as always willing to ``step forward if they need 
help.''
  In addition to his mother, Sergeant Corral is survived by his father, 
Victor, and brothers, Peter, Christopher, and Rodney. Our thoughts and 
prayers are with each of them at this difficult time.
  Sergeant Corral and thousands of brave American service men and women 
confront danger every day in Iraq and their tremendous sacrifices must 
never be taken for granted or forgotten. For his service, bravery, and 
sacrifice, I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring 
Sergeant Dennis Corral.

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