[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 25645-25646]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE 100TH TEXAN: MARINE STAFF SERGEANT RUSSELL SLAY

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of 
the gentleman from Indiana.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that ``never in the history of 
the world has any soldier sacrificed more for the freedom and liberty 
of total strangers than the American soldier,'' said by Zell Miller 
about the American fighting men.
  I rise today to honor a young American marine from my southeast Texas 
district, Marine Staff Sergeant Russell Slay, who valiantly served the 
Nation in Iraq and who died doing so. He was a member of the 2nd 
Assault Amphibian Battalion of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, 
North Carolina.
  Russell Slay grew up in my hometown of Humble, Texas. As a student at 
Humble High School, he played football and was in the band. After he 
graduated from Humble High School, he started working, but quickly 
realized that he needed something more in his life. His high school 
friend Jason Tucker had joined the Marine Corps, and he had made the 
decision to join him and fight for his country. His father, Roy, a 
retired Houston police officer and a long-time friend of mine, said of 
his son, ``Russell wanted to be somewhere that would teach and inspire 
him.''
  During his 10-year military career, he was trained to drive armored 
vehicles that carried combat troops from ships to beachheads during 
amphibious attacks. During his first tour of Iraq in 2002, Slay took 
part in overtaking Baghdad. He had been in charge of a section of four 
armored all-terrain vehicles. He left for his second mission on 
September 11, 2004.
  Upon receiving his orders to report for a second tour in Iraq, Staff 
Sergeant Slay told his family and friends that he did not think he 
would make it back. A year ago today, Russell Slay's perceptive 
premonition became a reality. He was the 100th Texas member of the 
Armed Forces to be killed in Iraq. And, by the way, Mr. Speaker, one 
out of every 10 Americans wearing the uniform today is from the State 
Texas. Russell Slay was 28 years old. He died in combat with seven 
others in Fallujah when his armored vehicle was attacked by terrorists.
  His funeral was a moving memorial to him as a devoted father, son, 
and friend. More than 450 people paid their respects to a man that was 
remembered for his engaging spirit and his love of life. Family and 
friends expressed that Slay was nothing short of spectacular. His sense 
of humor was contagious. He was a loving, loyal, and dedicated father.
  He left behind a 9-year-old daughter, Kinlee, and a 5-year-old son, 
Walker. At the funeral, Marine Captain Mike Evans read letters that 
Slay had prepared for his children in anticipation of his death. He 
told his daughter, Kinlee: ``I love you and never knew what life was 
before you were born. You will always be Daddy's little girl.'' He 
encouraged her to have the best life possible and to be sure that she 
went to college. He said: ``Daddy will always be with you and watching 
out for you. Hugs and kisses. I'll miss you.''
  He also wrote to his son, Walker, and told him that watching him grow 
up was ``like reliving his own youth. He said: ``You're the best little 
man there ever was. Be a studious son and stay in school. Always be a 
man. If you make mistakes, stand up and say so.'' Russell Slay 
encouraged his son to have children of his own so he too could feel the 
joy and happiness that had been brought to him.
  He insisted in his letter that his family know how much he loved 
them, and he wrote: ``I promise you my family was my last thought. 
Don't mourn for me, but celebrate my life.''
  Nine-year-old daughter Kinlee spoke at her father's funeral, and 
through tears she talked about playing cars with her dad and brother 
and shopping at Wal-Mart. She spoke fondly about the weekend family 
ritual of washing the car.
  Charlie Flannigan, who officiated the funeral service, told of Slay's 
skills in the band that he and his buddies had created in Iraq. They 
called it the Texas Trio. He said Russell was not the best athlete, but 
he sure knew how to play a guitar.
  Staff Sergeant Russell Slay in 28 short years had already exhibited a 
lifetime of bravery and boldness. Mr. Speaker, Thomas Jefferson once 
said: ``From time to time the tree of liberty must be watered with the 
blood of tyrants and patriots.'' Russell Slay was a true American 
patriot. Russell Slay

[[Page 25646]]

died for Americans. He died for Iraqis. He died for freedom.
  Staff Sergeant Russell Slay, we will never forget the price you paid 
for America, and we thank you for devoting your life to your country. 
You are a true American hero. You make us proud.
  So Semper Fi, Staff Sergeant Slay, Semper Fi.

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