[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16186-16188]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    Private First Class Devin Grella

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor this afternoon 
to pay tribute to a brave soldier and fellow Ohioan. PFC Devin Grella 
from Medina lost his life on September 6, 2004, when an improvised 
explosive device struck his vehicle near Qarrayah, Iraq. Devin was 21 
years old.
  When I think about the dedication of our men and women in uniform, I 
am reminded of something President Ronald Reagan once said about the 
devotion to freedom. This is what he said:

       Freedom is a fragile thing, and it is never more than one 
     generation away from extinction. It is not ours by 
     inheritance. It must be fought for and defended constantly by 
     each generation, for it comes only once to a people.

  Devin embodied the spirit of freedom President Reagan so eloquently 
described. He sacrificed his life so we can continue to be free and so 
the people of Iraq can have the chance to know the freedoms we hold so 
dear. His dedication to and love for his country knew no bounds.
  Growing up in Medina, Devin loved music and he loved to play the 
violin, the piano, and the guitar. As one of four boys, Devin was also 
known for his outgoing personality. Devin's brother Darrin remembers 
his brother as always having a good time.
  Devin attended Medina High School his freshman, sophomore, and senior 
years, and Archbishop Hoban High School for his junior year. He was a 
very actively involved student who sang in the choir, ran cross 
country, and played on the lacrosse team with his younger brother Drew. 
Lacrosse coach Pat O'Brien described Devin as ``a good athlete and a 
strong kid whom the other players looked up to. You could tell he was 
having the time of his life when he was on the field.''
  Off the field, Devin was known for his playful personality. Brother 
Darrin described the time when Devin introduced himself to Cleveland 
Cavaliers star Lebron James as ``Debron James,'' since James was his 
middle name. Known to family and friends as ``Deuce''--a reference to 
his favorite number--Devin was a great guy to have around.
  After graduation in 2002, Devin worked at Donato's Pizza, a local 
restaurant. Adam Stout, a manager at the restaurant, described Devin as 
a hard worker and a great morale booster who would like to laugh, tell 
jokes, and make other people laugh.
  Indeed, wherever he went, Devin made people smile. He wanted to earn 
money for college, and out of a sense of

[[Page 16187]]

patriotism and with a dream of becoming an officer, Devin joined the 
Army Reserve in December 2003. He was assigned to the 706th 
Transportation Company out of Mansfield, OH. After completing basic 
training, Devin was deployed to Iraq in June 2004.
  While serving overseas, Devin made a lasting impression on his 
superiors. Platoon leader 2LT Timothy Searcy noted that Devin was 
``very motivated and dedicated to his job. He set an example.''
  Army MAJ Willie Harris described Devin as a dedicated soldier ``who 
was always willing to take on a challenge . . . and who believed in 
what he was doing.''
  Devin was doing extremely dangerous work. In Iraq, Devin and his unit 
were tasked with delivering fuels and supplies to U.S. troops, 
including during heavy combat with U.S. troops and insurgents at Najaf. 
He regularly sent e-mails to his family, many of which describe the 
constant threat of roadside bombings and firefights.
  Tragically, a roadside bomb took the life of this brave young man. An 
IED exploded near Devin's convoy when his unit was resupplying other 
troops. On that tragic day, our Nation lost a great soldier. More 
importantly, Donna and Dennis Grella lost a great son; Dustin, Darrin, 
and Drew lost a great brother; and so many others lost a great friend.
  In an e-mail message posted on an Internet tribute to Devin, friend 
Adam Feeks, from Medina, wrote the following to Devin:

       I remember meeting you for the first time in 3rd grade on 
     the basketball court. We became the best of friends shortly 
     thereafter, and our days of watching the Bulls and Cavs games 
     together are days I will never forget. Our unhealthy, but fun 
     obsessions with Mark Price and Michael Jordan will last a 
     lifetime. The memories we shared will never be forgotten. . . 
     . I remember the last thing I said to you. I told you how 
     proud I was of you, and how much I loved you, and that you 
     could tell me all about it when you get back. That day will 
     not come anytime soon. Just know I think about you all the 
     time. Anytime I pick up a ball or step on the football field, 
     it is for you. In my heart is where I keep you friend.

  Devin's father, a former Marine, said this about Devin: ``He loved 
his church. He loved his family. He loved his country.'' Dennis also 
said that ``the key thing that must be learned from his son's death is 
how brave and valiant [Devin] was to give, so that we--you and I and 
all of us--can have freedom.''
  Devin's mother remembers her son's enthusiasm and love for life. She 
remarked that her family's faith helps them find peace. She knows that 
Devin's death ``is just a separation.'' She said, ``We will be together 
again. It helps you go on. You know you will see him again.''
  At the service held in Devin's honor at the Medina chapel of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devin's older brother, 
Darrin, decided to address the crowd because he wanted people to know 
about his brave and heroic brother. Darrin reflected on a conversation 
with Devin about his plans to join the Army Reserve and emphasized how 
proud he was of his brother. He told those gathered that it was an 
honor to have been [Devin's] brother.
  It was indeed an honor for all those who knew Devin. He touched 
countless lives. Though words will never be enough to express our 
gratitude for Devin's sacrifice, a simple phrase on his gravestone is 
able to describe his life and this is what it says: Devin James Grella 
. . . Loves his Mom/Loves our God/Called to serve.


                      army specialist jesse buryj

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor a fellow Ohioan, a young man 
from Canton, whose courage and selflessness knew no bounds. On May 5, 
2004, Army SPC Jesse Buryj gave his life to protect his fellow 
soldiers, to protect the American people, and to protect Iraqis whom he 
barely knew. He was 21 years old.
  Jesse Buryj enlisted in the Army as a way to help him pursue a dream, 
and that was the dream of someday becoming a police officer. The creed 
of any police officer is to serve and protect. Jesse didn't just pledge 
that motto, he lived by it.
  Jesse grew up playing kickball and baseball in the street with the 
other kids of his tight-knit community. Like many active young boys, 
Jesse experienced his share of broken bones and knocked out teeth. His 
mother, Peggy, recalls that the nurses in the emergency room at Mercy 
Medical Center knew him well.
  Jesse stood apart, though, from many of the boys his age. He was a 
particularly well-mannered, well-rounded young man. Angela, Jesse's 
sister, remembered that her little brother wouldn't wait to be found 
out if he did something wrong. He used to go ahead and tell on himself.
  Jesse attended Canton McKinley High School and was a Bulldog to his 
core. He played the baritone in the school band, where, on several 
memorable occasions, he left his indelible mark. Jesse was the first 
baritone to dot the ``I'' in the school's Script Ohio formation and was 
a sight to see at the Massillon-McKinley football game when he draped 
himself in Christmas lights.
  Though dedicated to the band, Jesse didn't spend all his time during 
practices concentrating on the music. A certain piccolo player, named 
Amber Tichenor caught his eye. It didn't take long before the two 
became high school sweethearts. Those around them noticed that they 
seemed meant for each other right from the start of their days together 
in the band, so much so that their band director, Ed Arrington, married 
them in October 2003.
  Jesse looked forward to his life together with Amber, still holding 
onto the dream he had cultivated since the third grade of becoming a 
police officer in the same department where he served as a cadet 
throughout high school. Jesse knew that he would not be old enough upon 
high school graduation to attend the police academy. Not deterred by 
this, he decided to enlist in the Army to gain experience as a military 
police officer first. Jesse enlisted in the Army and became an MP.
  Family and friends recalled how committed Jesse was to training the 
summer before his enlistment. He wanted to enter the service as ready 
as he could be. In September 2002, he was placed with the Army's 66th 
Military Police Company stationed in Fort Lewis, WA. Before his 
deployment to Iraq, Jesse worked as a guard at the Pentagon and trained 
as a paratrooper. While in Iraq, Jesse guarded military checkpoints.
  During his all too brief life, Jesse made a huge impact on his 
friends at home and on his fellow service members. That was very clear 
to me upon reading several of the e-mail messages that people posted on 
an Internet tribute to Jesse following his death in Iraq. I would like 
to read from two of the many e-mails.
  SGT Michael D'Saachs from the Military Police Company in Fort Lewis 
wrote the following:

       It's been a year since you were taken from our brotherhood. 
     I will never forget you, my friend. I hope that you will 
     watch over all of us and keep us safe. I never got to thank 
     you for all the tips you gave me before I went to school. We 
     all miss you.

  A friend named Matt had this to say:

       Jesse--you were the best friend anyone could ask for. I 
     still cannot believe you are gone. Thank you for listening to 
     me when I had problems. Nobody will ever replace you as my 
     battle buddy or best friend. I love you and cannot wait to 
     see you again.

  During the military ceremony held in his honor, Jesse's commanders 
repeatedly spoke of his bravery and sense of responsibility. GEN Dennis 
Moran said that ``as a military police officer, his first job was to 
serve and protect. He trusted his life to those soldiers as they 
trusted theirs to him.''
  Lieutenant Colonel Tatum also spoke fondly of Jesse saying that he 
gave no ground and showed no fear.
  Matthew Beadoin, the best man at Jesse's wedding, described his 
closest friend as the ``bravest person, friend, and soldier [I've] ever 
known.'' Others recalled his immense compassion and how much fun he was 
to just be around.
  In memory of this true American hero, the flag was lowered to half-
staff at Canton McKinley High School and a memorial to Jesse was placed 
in the band room. During the funeral procession, members of the 
community lined the street to show their support for Jesse's family.
  I conclude my remarks by reading from an e-mail message that Allen 
Vandayburg of Mansfield, OH, left on

[[Page 16188]]

that Internet tribute for Jesse. I have met Allen Vandayburg. I met him 
and his wife when I attended the calling hours for their 20-year-old 
son, Army SPC A.J. Vandayburg, who was killed in Iraq a short time 
before Jesse.
  He wrote the following:

       We are so sorry for your loss. . . . We also know [your] 
     pain. We lost our son in Iraq. There are no words and the 
     pain is forever, but just know you are not alone in your 
     grief, as we well found out. Not only did we lose a child, 
     but America lost a hero. I am a police officer, and it sounds 
     like Jesse would have made a fine Officer, as we already know 
     he was a great soldier. Remember--you are not alone.

  My wife, Fran, and I continue to keep Jesse's wife, Amber; his 
parents, Steve and Peggy; and his sister, Angela, in our thoughts and 
in our prayers.


                     staff sergeant omer t. hawkins

  Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to a fellow 
Ohioan and a true American hero. On October 14, 2004, SSG Omer ``O.T.'' 
Hawkins, from Cherry Fork in Adams County, gave his life in service to 
our Nation. He was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated 
near his vehicle outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq. O.T. was 31 years old.
  When we think about the sacrifices of our service men and women, we 
should remember what President Ronald Reagan said in his first 
inaugural address. He said that ``no arsenal or no weapon in the 
arsenals of the world is as formidable as the will and moral courage of 
free men and women.''
  SSG O.T. Hawkins lived these words. He loved this country more than 
anything else and was proud to serve in protection of it. He knew the 
potential costs and dangers of military service, but he never shied 
away. Family and friends will forever remember O.T.'s dedication to the 
cause of freedom and his commitment to bringing that freedom to people 
around the world.
  O.T. knew from a young age that he wanted to join the Army. When he 
was just 10 years old, he composed a three sentence letter to the Army 
written in cursive. In it, he wrote: ``Do you take 10 year-old boys? If 
you do, I will come and sign up. Please, can I join?'' O.T. asked his 
mother, Lisa, to mail his letter. Instead, she safely tucked it away 
into her Bible.
  O.T.'s mother still has that letter today, 22 years later.
  When O.T. was a kid, even the games he played were geared toward 
joining the military. His friend, Russell Todd, knew O.T. since their 
days in elementary school together. He remembers that all O.T. ever 
talked about was joining the Army. The two young boys used to play war 
games on a hill outside Cherry Fork.
  At North Adams High School, O.T. was known as a quiet kid, but one 
who enjoyed the occasional prank and practical joke. Russell Todd also 
remembers the time the two decided to ride the carousel horses at K-
Mart, at 4 in the morning. Though he loved to have fun, O.T. also had a 
serious side, being voted as ``most likely to succeed'' by the rest of 
his senior class.
  O.T.'s teachers describe him as that rare student who could combine 
humor with intellect and determination. History teacher, Tom Breeze, 
remembers O.T. as a scholar and voracious reader, who would skim 
through an almanac or encyclopedia ``looking for bits of information 
because he just liked to learn.'' O.T. played baseball and was on the 
debate team. And, though he could have pursued just about any career he 
wanted after high school, the military remained his number one love and 
lifelong goal.
  Just 2 days after his high school graduation and 8 years after he 
wrote that priceless letter to the Army expressing his desire to join, 
O.T. enlisted in the Army. Not only was he following his dream, O.T. 
was following in the footsteps of his father, William, who had been an 
engineer with the Marines until he passed away from a brain aneurysm in 
1977.
  Once in the Army, O.T. was recognized by his superiors as a 
passionate and capable soldier. Having served on tours of duty in 
Afghanistan, Bosnia, Egypt, Kosovo, and Somalia, O.T. was a deeply 
respected and beloved superior. As a member of the 44th Engineer 
Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, stationed in Camp Howze in Korea, 
O.T. saw it as his mission to keep his men safe. After all, O.T. 
considered his comrades to be family. His fellow soldiers felt the 
same.
  Army Specialist Justin Malzac wrote the following in an e-mail 
message posted on an Internet tribute to O.T. after his death:

       I had the honor to serve in the same company and platoon as 
     Staff Sergeant Hawkins. His aura always gave great hope to 
     his soldiers. He was a stunning leader and a great man, I am 
     just thankful to have known him. He has left a permanent 
     impact on me. Rest in peace, ``Mother Hen.''

  O.T. Hawkins' life was tragically cut short less than 2 weeks into 
his deployment as platoon leader. When he died, our Nation lost a great 
soldier. But, more importantly, O.T.'s family lost a great son, 
brother, and uncle.
  I had the privilege of meeting O.T.'s family and friends at the 
memorial service held in his honor. I want to thank them for sharing 
their memories with me. After speaking with them, it is clear that this 
extraordinary young man believed in his service and lost his life doing 
what he truly loved. I know that O.T. lives in their memories.
  His mother, Lisa, fondly recalls that when O.T.'s nephew was born, 
O.T. tucked a tiny American flag into the baby's curled fist.
  His brother--Missouri National Guardsman, James ``Buck'' Hawkins--
will cherish the letters O.T. sent in support of his duty and service 
to our Nation.
  His sister, Cherry, will remember the brother she treated more like a 
son.
  They all find solace in knowing that O.T. now peacefully rests 
alongside another great man and dedicated serviceman--O.T.'s dad, 
William.
  We will never forget SSG Omer T. Hawkins.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Martinez). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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