[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3424-3425]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                     staff sergeant eric steffeney

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a soldier who has 
fallen in service to his country in Iraq. SSG Eric Steffeney of the 
18th Ordnance Company died on the 23rd of February near Tuz, Iraq, when 
an undetected explosive detonated while he cleared the road of 
landmines. He was 28 years old and is survived by his mother, Annette, 
his father, Gary, his wife, Theresa, and their three children, 
Benjamin, Caitlin, and Dennis.
  Staff Sergeant Steffeney grew up in Waterloo, IA, where he attended 
West High School. He graduated from high school early and enlisted in 
the Army when he was 17 years old. Initially serving as a paratrooper, 
Staff Sergeant Steffeney eventually joined the Army's bomb squad 
because he thought it would be more challenging. He was finishing his 
second tour of duty when he was killed.
  Staff Sergeant Steffeney was described as a quiet, loyal, and 
responsible man who was a good soldier and an all-American boy. Indeed, 
it is the dedicated and courageous people such as SSG Eric Steffeney 
who embody the ideals of this great country best and, through the way 
they lived and gave their lives, keep her people standing proud and 
strong. I ask all of my colleagues to remember with pride and 
appreciation this soldier. I give my condolences to the family and 
friends of Staff Sergeant Steffeney who have felt this loss most 
deeply. I offer my most sincere gratitude and respect to SSG Eric 
Steffeney. This country is forever indebted to him and his colleagues 
for the sacrifices they have made to uphold the ideals which we 
treasure most as Americans.


                   staff sergeant william t. robbins

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, Today, I rise to honor the life of SSG 
William Robbins. At home in Arkansas, he was, above all else, a loving 
family man who devoted himself entirely to his wife and his children. 
On the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was a dedicated 
soldier who bravely fought to bring security and stability to a nation 
torn apart by war.
  Staff Sergeant Robbins was born and raised in the small, southern 
Missouri town of Poplar Bluff. He spent his childhood, as many children 
do, playing with his friends with whom he shared a love for the 
outdoors. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be a soldier, and 
regardless of where he was or what he did, that thought was never far 
from his mind.
  In 1990, he moved to Arkansas and settled in the North Little Rock 
area. It was there he met the love of his life, his future wife 
Kimberly, and together they would raise two beautiful daughters, 5-
year-old Tristan Ellis, and Abigail, who was less than a year old. It 
was clear to those who knew him best that his family was his pride and 
joy and he cherished every minute he spent with them. This fun-loving 
soul had a special affinity for children and at family gatherings was 
often found with the youngest of the group, playing games

[[Page 3425]]

and bringing smiles to everyone's faces.
  In the Arkansas National Guard, SSG Robbins worked full-time as 
administrative sergeant at the Guard's armory in Beebe. Last year, he 
was one of only about a dozen soldiers from the armory mobilized for 
duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It would prove to be a bittersweet 
time for the Robbins family; just as the family welcomed home William's 
mother Janice, a major in the Army Reserves returning from a deployment 
in Germany, they bid him farewell with prayers of a safe return.
  Staff Sergeant Robbins' deployment was the first in his 11-year 
service in the Arkansas National Guard. While in Iraq, he was attached 
to the 206th Field Artillery Battalion of the 39th Infantry Brigade, 
and was selected to work in a military advisory capacity with the Iraqi 
National Guard. As American forces sought to transition more of their 
security and stabilization responsibilities to the Iraqi people, SSG 
Robbins advised and trained these civilian volunteers on infantry 
tactics as well as the fundamental aspects of being a soldier.
  Last fall, SSG Robbins took his military leave and was able to return 
home for a short time. It was a much-needed reprieve from the dangers 
of Iraq and offered him the opportunity to return to the place he 
called home and spend time with the people he cared for most. It also 
offered him the opportunity to explain to Tristan, who was simply too 
young to fully understand, why her father had been away and when he 
would be back for good. As best he could, he explained to her the 
circumstances of his absence and even the possibility that he may not 
return. He was once a young man with a parent in the military and could 
relate to the lack of comprehension children often have in these 
situations. Relying on this perspective, as well as the natural gift he 
had always shown in relating to children, Tristan's father was able to 
provide her with some much needed comfort and understanding.
  Along with many of the soldiers from the 39th, SSG Robbins' mission 
was soon coming to an end and he was to scheduled to return to Arkansas 
in late March or April. Upon his return, he was looking forward to a 
new job with the Arkansas National Guard at Camp Robinson's Regional 
Training Institute in North Little Rock. Even more so, he was looking 
forward to being reunited with his family. When he spoke with Kimberly, 
he reminded her how very much he loved her and couldn't wait to come 
home. When he spoke with Tristan, he told her how much he looked 
forward to seeing her again so he could take her in his arms and swing 
her like an airplane.
  Tragically, he passed away on February 10 from a gunshot wound at his 
home base at Camp Taji. While the loss for Kimberly and her family will 
be felt deeply, they have found some solace knowing that his last days 
were spent doing what he wanted to do, helping people. In the days 
following his death, it was clear to his family the impact he had on 
each of their lives. It was also quickly apparent that although he was 
no longer with them, his presence would always be felt; whether it was 
the devotion and thoughtfulness evident in the basket of chocolates and 
Valentine's Day card he sent Kimberly just before his death, the spirit 
embodied in the eyes of Abigail who turned 1 year old on February 23, 
or the courage that Tristan, thanks to her father, has shown in trying 
to understand what has happened. They are lasting examples of not only 
the remarkable way he led his life, but more importantly, are a 
testament to the kind of man he was.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of William 
Robbins, and to all those who knew and loved him. His 31 years with us 
were far too short, but his legacy of love and service to his Nation 
will remain with us forever.

                          ____________________