[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16079]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF SSGT DUSTIN ``BOB'' PETERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2004

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
courageous spirit of SSgt. Dustin ``Bob'' Peters of Shirley, AR. Staff 
Sergeant Peters, just 25, was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, 
July 11, 2004 near Bayji, Iraq.
  After graduating from Shirley High School in 1996, Staff Sergeant 
Peters entered the Air Force where he attended technical training at 
Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and graduated as a vehicle operator journeyman. 
He completed assignments at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and 
Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.
  Staff Sergeant Peters arrived to Little Rock Air Force Base in 2000. 
After returning from Iraq in July of 2003, he volunteered to return to 
Iraq for a second tour of duty to serve with a young group of soldiers, 
most of whom had never been to combat. His sole purpose in returning to 
Iraq was to protect this group of soldiers. One friend of Staff 
Sergeant Peters remembers fondly, ``Peters was respected and loved by 
fellow airmen. They admired this young staff sergeant. He knew his job 
very, very well.''
  Staff Sergeant Peter's exemplary service did not go unnoticed; his 
military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal with one 
Oak Leaf Cluster and with Valor, and an Air Force Achievement Medal 
with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
  Staff Sergeant Peters gave his life to serve our country and will 
forever be remembered as a husband, father, son, and hero. My deepest 
condolences go out to his wife, Heather, their son, Dalton, his mother, 
Linda Bennings, and his father, Dennis Peters. I know Staff Sergeant 
Peters was proud of his service to the U.S. Air Force and to our 
country. He will be missed by his family, fellow soldiers, and all 
those who knew him well.

                          ____________________