[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Pages 27968-27969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                       Corporal Jonathan F. Blair

  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 from Fort 
Wayne. Jonathan Blair, 21 years old, died on November 19 in Bayji, Iraq 
when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle during a combat 
operation. With his entire life before him, Jonathan risked everything 
to fight for the values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land 
halfway around the world.
  Remembered for his thoughtfulness and patriotism, Jonathan joined the 
Army shortly after graduating from Elmhurst High School in 2002. The 
attacks of September 11 inspired him to consider military service, but 
Jonathan also saw the military as a gateway to further knowledge and a 
potential ticket to a higher education. One of his high school teachers 
fondly recounted to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette that Jonathan was a 
patriotic and ``cerebral'' student who would contemplate fully any 
answer in class. Another teacher remembered, ``Jonathan challenged you 
as a teacher to make him better as a student; he was just a really 
interesting kid.''
  Jonathan was killed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 
3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort 
Campbell, KY.
  Today, I join Jonathan'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 Jonathan, a memory that will burn brightly 
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Jonathan was known for his dedication to his family and his love of 
country. Today and always, Jonathan 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 Jonathan'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 Jonathan's actions will live on far longer 
that any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Jonathan Blair in the official 
record of the U.S. 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 
Jonathan's can find comfort in the words of the prophet 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 Jonathan.


        Remembering Army Sergeant First Class Michael C. Parrott

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to reflect for a moment on the 
service and life of SFC Michael Parrott of Tinmath, CO. Sergeant First 
Class Parrott was tragically killed last month while serving this 
Nation in Balad, Iraq. Today would have been Sergeant First Class 
Parrott's 50th birthday.
  Mike Parrott was a native of Canton, NC, where he graduated from 
Pisgah High School in 1974 and went on to earn a degree from the 
University of North Carolina at Asheville. His 6-foot-tall frame made 
him hard to miss in a crowd, but it was his easy smile and brown eyes 
that first drew the attention of his wife, Meg, when she was a student 
at UNC-Asheville almost two decades ago. Mike Parrott was honest, 
opinionated, and unafraid to speak his mind. His wife, Meg, knew how 
unique Mike was when she discovered that he kept Voltaire in his 
bathroom. They celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary last month.
  Mike Parrott was an avid fan of the outdoors and could often be found 
biking, camping and hiking, activities he and Meg often enjoyed 
together. Mike rode his bike to and from work, and made it a point to 
run every day. In fact, this past year, on the day of the Leadville 
Marathon, Sergeant First Class Parrott laced up his running shoes and 
ran 26.2 miles in the blazing Iraqi heat.
  Sergeant First Class Parrott was a true American patriot. Sergeant 
First Class Parrott served in this Nation's armed forces for more than 
15 years in active and reserve duties. Three years ago, he signed up 
for the National Guard, looking to reach his 20 years of service. He 
was a member of the 115th Field Artillery Brigade in Cheyenne and was 
on loan to the 28th Infantry of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard at 
the time of his death. He had already completed a year's tour in Kuwait 
with his Wyoming unit but signed up as a loaner to return to Iraq.
  Sergeant First Class Parrott was an inspiring leader for the men who 
served under him, some less than half his age.

[[Page 27969]]

They looked up to his leadership and calm, affectionately calling him 
``The Old Man.'' Sergeant First Class Parrott believed that he had a 
mission to help younger soldiers. He looked forward to being a mentor.
  Sergeant First Class Parrott and his wife both disagreed with U.S. 
policy in Iraq, but he did not shrink from his duties. Instead, he rose 
honorably to serve his Nation in the time it called for his aid.
  Mr. President, what becomes clear upon reflection is that SFC Mike 
Parrot loved this Nation. He loved its spirit of dissent and 
discussion. He loved its wide open spaces and natural wonders. He loved 
it for providing him the opportunity to be with his wife and family, 
his friends of so many years that gave him so much. He was the 
embodiment of Voltaire's remark: ``I may disagree with what you have to 
say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.''
  To the family of SFC Mike Parrott, including his wife Meg Corwin and 
his mother Suzanne Parrott, know that the thoughts and prayers of an 
entire Nation are with you today. We are grateful for Mike's courageous 
service to the people of America and Iraq. The values he lived by will 
remain far beyond our time on this Earth, a humble legacy that will 
live on in every life he touched.


               a fallen hero: army sergeant luis r. reyes

  Mr. President, I also wish to reflect on a life of promise taken too 
soon from us--Army Sergeant Luis Reyes of my home State of Colorado.
  Sergeant Luis Reyes was 26 years old, a member of the 947th Engineer 
Company of the Colorado National Guard based out of Durango. He was 
killed in Kuwait while on his way to Iraq.
  A native of Denver, Luis was a husband of 6 years to his wife, 
Christina, and a father of two: Sienna and Nikko. Luis was devoted to 
his family and community, a man known for helping his friends and 
neighbors with repair jobs and who loved to work on his truck.
  After graduating Montbello High School in Denver in 1997, Luis 
enlisted with the Army and married Christina after finishing basic 
training. He had just re-enlisted for another 3-year term with the Army 
and in one of his last phone calls home marveled to his wife about his 
service in the Middle East, telling her it was a ``whole other world.''
  When Sergeant Reyes was killed, his unit was on its way to help Iraq 
with the complicated task of rebuilding its infrastructure and roads. 
It was an important mission, which will allow the far-flung villages of 
Iraq to connect once more with each other and foster the blessings of 
liberty.
  A friend of Sergeant Reyes remembered him as a man who would go 
``above and beyond'' the call of duty. With his service to this Nation, 
Luis Reyes did just that. He could have stayed with his young family in 
the safe confines of Aurora. But he had a passion for serving this 
Nation and accepted great risk on behalf of all of us.
  Isaiah 25:8 teaches us, ``The Lord will swallow up death in victory; 
and the Lord will wipe away tears from off all faces.'' To Sergeant 
Reyes's wife, Christina, and his two young children, his mother Tomasa 
and his brother Roger, the thoughts and prayers of an entire Nation go 
with you during this difficult time. Luis served this Nation with honor 
and distinction and has left all of us forever in his debt. For that, 
we all offer our humble thanks.


                 tribute to specialist gregory l. tull

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor one of our 
country's bravest, SPC Gregory L. Tull of Pocohontas, IA. Specialist 
Tull sadly died November 25, 2005, after an improvised explosive device 
detonated near his Humvee in Al Anbar province in Iraq. Specialist Tull 
served with the Iowa Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 194th Field 
Artillery based in Storm Lake, IA. He was only 20 years old.
  I ask that all Americans join me in remembering and honoring 
Specialist Tull. He was an upstanding and courageous soldier who fell 
far before his time. Our country has survived these many years due to 
the brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, and it 
greatly saddens me to announce that another young man has made the 
ultimate sacrifice for our country and for the freedom of Iraq.
  LTC Gregory Hapgood of the Iowa Army National Guard remembered that 
Specialist Tull was ``a good guy that didn't shrink from 
responsibility,'' and was someone who ``wanted in on the action.'' 
During this crucial time in America's history, we should all remember 
Greg Tull's courage and dedication to his country.
  We should also stand with Specialist Tull's parents, Eileen and Gary, 
and his brother, Bryan, and all his family in their time of grief. Our 
thoughts and prayers also go out to Gregory's friends, classmates, and 
all others who were lucky enough to know him. Greg Tull did not die in 
vain, but rather gave his life defending America and promoting freedom 
around the world. He will be sorely missed but also fondly remembered.

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