[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 28775-28776]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING SSGT DANIEL CLAY, USMC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this week I attended the funeral 
of SSgt Daniel Clay. Sergeant Clay was from my district and one of ten 
Marines killed by an IED in Fallujah, Iraq on December 1, 2005.
  Dan's father, Bud Clay, shared with me a letter his son wrote to his 
loved ones before he was killed. Accompanying his son's letter was a 
letter Bud had written to President Bush. Mr. Clay asked me to take 
this to Congress and share with you so that we could all see Dan's 
final thoughts and wishes.
  May God Bless SSgt Daniel Clay, his family, our veterans, our troops, 
and the United States of America.

       Mom, Dad, Kristie, Jodie, Kimberly, Robert, Katy, Richard, 
     and my Lisa: Boy do I love each and every one of you. This 
     letter being read means that I have been deemed worthy of 
     being with Christ. With MaMa Jo, MaMa Clay, Jennifer . . . 
     all those we have been without for our time during the race. 
     This is not a bad thing. It is what we hope for. The secret 
     it out. He lives and His promises are real! It is not faith 
     that supports this . . . But fact and I now am a part of the 
     promise. Here is notice! Wake up! All that we hope for is 
     Real. Not a hope. But Real.
       But here is something tangible. What we have done in Iraq 
     is worth any sacrifice. Why? Because it was our duty. That 
     sounds simple. But all of us have a duty. Duty is defined as 
     a God given task. Without duty life is worthless. It holds no 
     type of fulfillment. The simple fact that our bodies are 
     built for work has to lead us to the conclusion that God (who 
     made us) put us together to do His work. His work is 
     different for each of us. Mom, yours was to be the glue of 
     our family, to be a pillar for those women (all women around 
     you), Dad, yours was to train and build us (like a Platoon 
     Sgt) to better serve Him. Kristie, Kim, Katy you are the five 
     team leaders who support your Squad ldrs, Jodie, Robert and 
     Richard. Lisa you too. You are my XO and you did a hell of a 
     job. You all have your duties. Be thankful that God in His 
     wisdom gives us work. Mine was to ensure that you did not 
     have to experience what it takes to protect what we have as a 
     family. This I am so thankful for. I know what honor is. It 
     is not a word to be thrown around. It has been an Honor to 
     protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure 
     knowledge that you would not have to. This is as close to 
     Christ-like I can be. That emulation is where all honor lies. 
     I thank you for making it worthwhile.
       As a Marine this is not the last Chapter. I have the 
     privilege of being one who has finished the race. I have been 
     in the company of heroes. I now am counted among them. Never 
     falter! Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who 
     have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting.

[[Page 28776]]

       Now here are my final wishes. Do not cry! To do so is to 
     not realize what we have placed all our hope and faith in. We 
     should not fear. We should not be sad. Be thankful. Be so 
     thankful. All we hoped for is true. Celebrate! My race is 
     over, my time in war zone is over. My trials are done. A 
     short time separates all of us from His reality. So laugh. 
     Enjoy the moments and your duty. God is wonderful.
       I love each and every one of you.
           Spread the word . . . Christ lives and He is Real.
                                                   Semper Fidelis,
                                 ______
                                 


                                                Pensacola, FL,

                                                 December 7, 2005.
     President George Bush,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear President Bush: My name is Bud Clay. My son, SSgt 
     Daniel Clay--USMC was killed last week, 12/01/05, in Iraq. He 
     was one of the ten Marines killed by the IED in Fallujah.
       Dan was a Christian--he knew Jesus as Lord and Savior--so 
     we know where he is. In his final letter (one left with me 
     for the family--to be read in case of his death) he says ``if 
     you are reading this, it means my race is over.'' He's home 
     now--his and our real home.
       I am writing to you--to tell you how proud and thankful we 
     (his parents and family) are of you and what you are trying 
     to do to protect us all. This was Dan's second tour in Iraq--
     he knew and said that his being there was to protect us.
       I want to encourage you. I hear in your speeches about 
     ``staying the course''. I also know that many are against you 
     in this ``war on Terror'' and that you must get weary in the 
     fight to do what is right. We and many others are praying for 
     you to see this through--as Lincoln said, ``that these might 
     not have died in vain''.
       You have a heavy load--we are praying for you.
           God bless you,
     Bud Clay.

                          ____________________