[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Pages 27068-27070]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                 Private First Class Tyler R. Mackenzie

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments of this 
body's time to remember a true fallen hero, a Coloradan that has been 
lost to us in defense of our freedoms.
  Last week, on Veterans' Day, the family of PFC Tyler R. Mackenzie 
buried him back home in Weld County. A native of Evans, CO, Private 
First Class Mackenzie was killed in early November near Baghdad when an 
improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. He was only 20 
years old, taken from his family and friends just a few days shy of his 
21st birthday.
  Tyler was a tower of a young man, a six-foot-seven-inch high school 
football player at Greeley West High School. Tyler's coaches remember 
him for having held himself to the highest standards and being his own 
toughest critic. He enjoyed the horticulture classes at Greeley West. 
He expected excellence from himself and refused to accept anything 
less.
  After graduating Greeley West in 2003, Tyler went to work at his 
family's business, manufacturing kitchen cabinets. He also worked for 
the Greeley-Evans School District 6.
  Tyler was a man of faith, active in his church. Tyler also had a 
sense of humor, and his older sister used to call him ``Monkey'' for 
his ability to climb across the rafters of the family's basement.
  But seeking something else, perhaps a larger opportunity to give back 
to this Nation, Tyler joined the Army in January of this year. He 
became a member of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd 
Brigade Combat Team of the storied 101st Airborne Division that bravely 
halted the march of tyranny across Europe during World War II. Private 
First Class Mackenzie was following a long tradition of military 
service in his family: his two grandfathers had served in the Navy 
during World War II, and his father had served as a military police 
officer with the Army.
  Private First Class Mackenzie completed basic training in May of this 
year and was deployed to Iraq on September 28. He had been in Iraq only 
6 weeks before his tragic death.
  Tyler is exactly the kind of young man we as a Nation are so 
fortunate to have serving in our Armed Forces. He was a young man of 
intellect, self-discipline, courage and concern. He joined the Army 
because he wanted to help, to

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serve his country as his father and grandfathers and so many others had 
before him. He wanted to ensure that Iraqis knew the full blessings of 
their new freedom and could share the same opportunities he had here.
  Tyler's sacrifice on behalf of this Nation is a reminder to all of us 
of the precious gift we have to live in such a country. To his parents, 
David and Julie, his sister Nicole and the entire Mackenzie family, 
this Nation humbly thanks you for Tyler. We are forever grateful for 
your sacrifice and his.


               marine lance corporal jeremy p. tamburello

  Mr. President, I wish to speak for a moment about a brave son of 
Westminster, CO, lost to us in the fighting in Iraq: Marine LCpl Jeremy 
P. Tamburello.
  Lance Cpl. Tamburello was killed earlier this month when his military 
vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device near Rutbah, Iraq. 
He was a member of the 1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and was only 19 years 
old.
  Jeremy was a straight-A high school student at Ranum High School in 
Adams County. Jeremy had a gift for science and dreams of serving his 
Nation in the United States Marine Corps before going on to pursue a 
degree in computer science.
  When Jeremy announced his intention to join the Marine Corps, his 
father, Kevin tried at first to talk him out of it, warning him of the 
terrible risks of serving during this time of conflict in Iraq. Kevin 
suggested to his son that he pursue a computer science degree at a 
technical college.
  Jeremy's response to his father was respectful, but firm: ``This is 
what I want to do, Dad. Sign the papers.''
  And so in the summer of 2004, Jeremy Tamburello joined the Marine 
Corps and began his brave journey of service to America. This past 
August, he was deployed to Iraq. It was a challenge in which he was a 
firm believer. He cared about the future of the people of Iraq and 
about the sacrifices made by the over 3,000 Americans in the September 
11th attacks. He wanted to serve his Nation and protect those freedoms 
that all too often so many of us take for granted and help bring them 
to the fledgling democracy of Iraq.
  This Nation is blessed to have a young man like Lance Cpl. 
Tamburello. He served his country with honor and distinction, with a 
courage and conviction that makes us all so very proud. Lance Cpl. 
Tamburello did not seek glory or parade honors, but instead chose to 
humbly serve to help shine the blessings of freedom and liberty to 
those who had for too long languished behind a curtain of oppression.
  To Jeremy's family, I can only offer the quiet and humble thanks of a 
grateful Nation. Jeremy exemplified the nobility and honor, courage and 
self sacrifice, that has made every American proud of his example. We 
shall not forget your sacrifice, nor his.


                Tribute to Staff Sergeant Kyle B. Wehrly

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a true American 
hero, SSG Kyle B. Wehrly. On November 3, 2005, Staff Sergeant Wehrly 
was tragically killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom by an 
improvised explosive device outside of Ashraf, Iraq. He served with B 
Battery of the 2nd battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment in the 
Army National Guard.
  I request that all Americans join me today in honoring Staff Sergeant 
Wehrly. We should all remember his bravery, his compassion, and his 
final sacrifice to the cause of freedom. Throughout our history, great 
men and women have stood up and given their lives for their country, 
and it is with great sadness that we pay tribute to another brave 
American whose time with us was all too short.
  Staff Sergeant Wehrly patriotically joined the National Guard when he 
was only a junior in high school and was sent to the Middle East in 
October 2004. Upon his arrival in Iraq, his father, Rev. Peter Wehrly 
of Springfield, IL, recalls that his son only wanted to be sent things 
he could give away to the Iraqi children. ``All he wanted was stuff for 
kids. Candy, flip-flops. . . . We had five boxes of stuff. He didn't 
want anything for himself,'' Reverend Wehrly said.
  All those who knew Staff Sergeant Wehrly will greatly miss him. My 
prayers go out to his family and friends in their time of grief, his 
father Peter, his mother Nita, and his wife Janet. We should especially 
remember Staff Sergeant Wehrly's 6-year-old daughter, Kylee, who will 
unfortunately grow up with too few memories of her courageous and 
compassionate father. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and with 
the entire family. It is important to remind them and to remind all 
Americans that Staff Sergeant Wehrly did not die in vain but, rather, 
died protecting his country and protecting the freedom of countless 
individuals around the world. May he always be remembered as the true 
American hero that he was.


                     LANCE CORPORAL SCOTT ZUBOWSKI

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep 
sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man who grew up 
in North Manchester. Scott Zubowski, 20 years old, died on November 12 
near Fallujah, Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded under the military 
vehicle in which he was riding. With his entire life before him, Scott 
risked everything to fight for the values Americans hold close to our 
hearts, in a land halfway around the world.
  Remembered for his intelligence and honorable service, Scott was 
killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq. A 2003 graduate of 
Manchester High School, Scott enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly 
after graduation, inspired by his older brother's Marine service. 
Recently married to another Manchester graduate, Scott was set to 
return home before his 21st birthday in March. One of his classmates 
told the Muncie Star Press that ``Not only was he the smartest guy I've 
ever known, he was unique in a way for which words aren't good enough 
to actually describe who he was. But to those of us who knew him and 
were his friends, his presence made a profound impact in our lives that 
still continues to shape us today.''
  Scott was killed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He was a member of the 2nd Batallion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. This brave young soldier 
leaves behind his wife, Klancey; his mother, Barbara Weitzel; his 
father, Richard Zubowski; and his brothers, David and Brian.
  Today, I join Scott's family and friends in mourning his death. While 
we struggle to bear our sorrow over this loss, we can also take pride 
in the example he set, bravely fighting to make the world a safer 
place. It is his courage and strength of character that people will 
remember when they think of Scott, a memory that will burn brightly 
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Scott was known for his dedication to his family and his love of 
country. Today and always, Scott will be remembered by family members, 
friends and fellow Hoosiers as a true American hero and we honor the 
sacrifice he made while dutifully serving his country.
  As I search for words to do justice in honoring Scott's sacrifice, I 
am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed the families 
of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We cannot dedicate, we cannot 
consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and 
dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power 
to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we 
say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' This statement 
is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years ago, as I am certain 
that the impact of Scott's actions will live on far longer that any 
record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Scott Zubowski in the official 
record of the United States Senate for his service to this country and 
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace. When I 
think about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the 
unfortunate pain that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that 
families like Scott's can find comfort in the words of the prophet

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Isaiah who said, ``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord 
God will wipe away tears from off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be 
with all of you, as I know He is with Scott.

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