[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20183]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                     Private First Class Kevin Ott

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I come to the Senate this evening to pay 
tribute to a fellow Ohioan, a brave soldier who lost his life while 
making our own safer. Army PFC Kevin Ott disappeared north of Baghdad, 
Iraq, on June 25th, 2003. Three days later, on June 28th, everyone's 
worst fears were realized. The military personnel found Kevin's body 
following a very exhaustive search. Kevin Ott was only 27 years of age.
  When I think about the loss of young soldiers, I am reminded of 
something that President John F. Kennedy said to the 1st Armored 
Division in Fort Stewart, GA, as they were prepared to deploy to Cuba. 
In 1962 this is what President Kennedy said:

       Many years ago, according to a story there was found in a 
     sentry box in Gibraltar, a poem which said:

     God and the soldier all men adore
     In time of danger and not before
     When the danger is past and all things righted
     God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.

  President Kennedy continued:

       This country does not forget God or the soldier.
       Upon both we depend.

  President Kennedy said it so well. We depend on our service men and 
women. We depended on Kevin Ott. We will not forget him. We will never 
forget him.
  I rise this evening to remember Kevin, to remember him as he was and 
will forever remain, a devoted son, supportive brother, and patriotic 
soldier. Kevin Ott grew up in Orient, OH, son of loving parents Alma 
and Charles Ott. He and his sisters and brothers were close and would 
remain so throughout their lives. Kevin went to Westfall High School. 
He was on the basketball team and enjoyed spending time with friends. 
He graduated in 1993 and then attended Bluffton College where he was a 
sports lover and played defensive end on the football team.
  While Kevin's love of sports certainly ran deep, his passion also was 
for motorcycles. He certainly loved that bike. His sister Pam remembers 
how Kevin took her for a ride one afternoon. She said:

       I was afraid because I knew he loved to go really fast. 
     But, to my surprise, he went slowly because he knew I was 
     scared.

  Kevin was a good brother, son, and friend. He was deeply devoted to 
his family, and with their love and guidance he became devoted to his 
church and his faith. Throughout his entire life Kevin was a strongly 
spiritual person. He was active in his church from the time he was 4 
years old. His parents fondly remember how his faith guided their son's 
decisions and how it directed his life.
  At the Southwest Community Church of the Nazarene, Kevin worked with 
the youth group, sang in the choir, and went on a mission trip to 
Mexico where he helped build houses.
  These experiences taught him to see the hand of God in all things. It 
increased his faith, the faith that would see him through the difficult 
times in his life.
  The tragic events of September 11 changed the course of Kevin's life 
as it changed the course of so many people's lives. It was then that he 
decided he wanted to join the military. He wanted to prevent such a 
tragedy ever happening again.
  Kevin left his job as a machinist with J.W. Groves and Sons to enlist 
in the Army in January 2002. He immediately excelled. His comrades 
remembered him as a capable soldier, someone they could always count 
on.
  Kevin's brother-in-law Jim Pack recalled that Kevin loved the 
military. He said that he had found his calling in life. Kevin was 
assigned to Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, 
based out of Fort Sill, OK. While in Iraq, Kevin was in charge of 
guarding an ammunitions depot. He wrote home often, and his parents 
could tell their son was proud of his service. They saved Kevin's 
postcards and looked forward to any contact they had with him. They 
recognized that their son loved Army life and knew that he believed in 
what he was doing.
  Though the news of Kevin's death was, of course, devastating to the 
Ott family, Charles said his son was at peace with his faith and was 
not afraid to die. His faith saw him through and took him to his final 
resting place.
  When we lost Kevin Ott, our Nation mourned. Charles and Alma lost 
their loving son. Pam, Julie, Joyce, Diane, and Doug lost their loyal 
brother. They miss his joking nature, his love of sports and 
motorcycles. They miss him coaching his nephew's Little League team. 
But most of all they just miss spending time with him.
  So, as President Kennedy said, over 40 years ago: ``This country does 
not forget . . . the soldier.'' This country will not forget Kevin Ott.

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