[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19671]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF ARMY SPECIALIST TOCCARA GREEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an American 
hero. Army Specialist Toccara Green, a native of Rosedale, Maryland, 
served with the 10th Mountain Division based in Fort Drum, New York. 
While on mission in Al Asad, Iraq, with her transportation company, she 
was unfortunately killed by the detonation of a roadside bomb.
  Specialist Green was the first woman from Maryland killed in combat 
in Iraq. What we know with certainty is that she made the ultimate 
sacrifice in service of her country. The lasting lesson about this 
tragedy arises in part from the fact that Specialist Green was only 23 
years old. Her wonderful and promising life was cut too short by far.
  Mr. Speaker, for as long as humanity has walked this earth, we have 
been forced to deal with the terrible devastation of war.

                              {time}  1830

  This age-old truth brings little comfort, however, when the loss 
becomes so personal. Knowing this, I offer my deepest condolences to 
her family during this very difficult time, and I join the entire 
Maryland Federal delegation in mourning their loss.
  Our prayers go out to a very strong and close family, which includes 
her mother and father, Yvonne Green and Detective Garry Green of the 
Baltimore City Police Department; her brother, who she loved dearly, 
her ``big brother,'' she called him, Marine Staff Sergeant Garry M. 
Green, Jr.; her sister-in-law, Kim; her nephew, Jayline; and all the 
family and friends who have been touched by Toccara's life.
  This remarkable young woman was one of Maryland's finest citizens. 
Public service was in her blood. The Armed Forces seemed like a natural 
progression for Specialist Green. She spent 4 years in ROTC while 
attending Forest Park High School in my district in Baltimore. Her dad, 
a Baltimore City police detective, risks his life for us on the streets 
of Baltimore every day. Her brother, whose life was an inspiration to 
Specialist Green, serves in the Marines.
  Her mother and father instilled in their children the importance of 
serving others. Yet, knowing the perils of war, they were apprehensive 
when their only daughter shared with them her dream of joining the 
Army. As loving parents, her safety and security was their priority. 
But Toccara Green's determination was steadfast.
  Along with her intense desire to serve, she also shared her father's 
love of cars, and she transferred that love to her duty in the Army as 
a motor and transport operator. She was serving her second tour, her 
second tour of duty in Iraq when she was killed.
  Toccara Green loved her country. She wanted to do all that she could 
to help people and give back to the Nation that had given so much to 
her.
  Yet, as I noted, Mr. Speaker, her death is an all too painful 
reminder of how deeply the sorrows of war cut into our hearts and 
burden our souls. Now we will never know what her future would have 
become. Her family and her friends will never celebrate the milestones 
and triumphs that each passing year would have brought to her life. 
They have been deprived of her laughter, her affection and of her love.
  Nevertheless, Specialist Green has left with them, and all of us, a 
legacy that can inspire. I am sure she saw more horror while serving in 
Iraq than most of us can ever imagine. Yet, even in the face of death 
and destruction, she had the ability to provide strength and a positive 
outlook to her weary fellow soldiers. She was an eternal optimist who 
could find the good in the worst of situations. They called her the 
unofficial morale officer of her unit.
  Toccara Green was following a higher calling, a calling to serve. She 
rose above the adversity that surrounded her, lifting herself and 
others by her courage and her unyielding determination to do her part 
in attempting to make the world a better place.
  Toccara Green gave our Nation her very best. She willingly did her 
job because she was a woman of honor and a courageous soldier. She 
touched the hearts and lives of all of those who knew her. As 
Americans, we owe her a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. We 
can only do our best to give meaning to her sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the family of Specialist Green for sharing her 
with the Nation and the world. She is now at rest; and as a Christian 
who was active in her church, I am sure she is looking down from above 
saying, It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.

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