[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11347-11348]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             FALLEN HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of 
Torrey Stoffel-Gray, who was recently killed in action in Iraq.
  Lance Cpl. Torrey Stoffel-Gray was a 19-year-old Marine from Patoka, 
Illinois. Patoka is a rural town in my district with a population 
around 630. At 16 he left Patoka to enter Lincoln Challenge, a 
military-style alternative school at Rantoul, Ill. Many friends and 
family say that Lincoln Challenge changed his life and helped him find 
his way. This young man was recently killed in action in Iraq when his

[[Page 11348]]

convoy was struck by rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire in the Al 
Anbar Province. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
  Lance Cpl. Stoffel-Gray is survived by his mother, Mary Stoffel, his 
stepfather Jerry Stoffel and his three brothers, Brandon, Russell, and 
Blake. Lance Cpl. Stoffel-Gray was awarded the Purple Heart, which was 
presented to his mother at the time of his burial. Not enough can be 
said about Lance Cpl. Stoffel-Gray and the rest of our brave men and 
women serving in Iraq. These soldiers are risking their lives every day 
to ensure our freedom here at home and for others throughout the world. 
I salute him and my best wishes go out to his family and all the troops 
fighting to ensure freedom and democracy.

                          ____________________