[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8756-8757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


             tribute to staff sergeant george s. rentschler

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I pay tribute today to the patriotism and 
the courage of SSG George Rentschler of Louisville, KY. SSG Rentschler 
was killed a month ago on April 7, 2004.
  While his family, friends and his country mourn the loss of this man, 
I offer a few words to praise the inestimable value of his sacrifice. 
In this time of war, my colleagues, we can all expect to hear reports 
of the tragic loss of life. It would be unrealistic to expect that we 
can fight a war and not lose lives. SSG Rentschler knew this. And 
knowing this he went forth into battle for the love of his country.
  To serve your country when you know that it might be the cause of 
your death, involves sacrifice. It means that you are brave, honorable, 
patriotic, virtuous. It also means that you

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are willing to make the final sacrifice should the necessity arise. The 
men and women serving our country, as SSG George Rentschler did, are 
heroes who are protecting America to preserve our freedoms in these 
times of continuing terrorist threat across the world.
  The death of SSG Rentschler reveals to the world that this man was a 
true hero who sacrificed for our country. We have lost a man of courage 
and generosity. He was role model for all of us and will be missed.

                          ____________________