[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1026]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                           Dustin L. Kendall

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a young man from 
Arkansas who recently lost his life while heroically serving our Nation 
in uniform. SPC Dustin Kendall will be remembered by those who knew him 
as a charming and charismatic young man, who was beloved by his friends 
and family and had a special gift for bringing smiles to the faces of 
everyone he met.
  Growing up with a brother and four sisters, Specialist Kendall spent 
his childhood as many children do: playing sports, causing mischief, 
and enjoying the company of his family and friends. As the son of 
missionaries, he spent his childhood in a variety of places and 
wherever he ended up, his outgoing and friendly nature was sure to 
follow. These qualities allowed him to make friends quickly and adapt 
to new surroundings, and that was certainly the case when his family 
moved to Bryant, an Arkansas town just south of Little Rock, in 2002. 
In Bryant, Specialist Kendall worked at a local restaurant, where he 
became a favorite of the regular customers, while he finished his 
schooling. Later, when his parents moved to Europe to continue their 
missionary work, he stayed in Arkansas to continue classes at the 
University of Central Arkansas in nearby Conway. At UCA, he studied 
business but was considering following one of his passions and pursuing 
a career in golf, possibly in golf-course design.
  As a student, Specialist Kendall joined the U.S. Army Reserve for 
primarily financial reasons but, over time, came to enjoy his military 
life and was ultimately considering a career in the Army. Upon signing 
up for active duty last summer, he was stationed at Fort Carson, CO, 
before being deployed with his unit to Iraq in November of 2005. In 
Iraq, Specialist Kendall served with the 68th Armor Regiment of the 3rd 
Heavy Brigade Combat Team, where he served with distinction, most 
recently as a bodyguard for an Army colonel. Tragically, he was killed 
on January 15 in Baqouba, Iraq, when his military humvee was 
accidentally struck by an American Abrams tank. He was 21 years old.
  A memorial service was held for Specialist Kendall on January 21, in 
Summerville, SC. Many of his friends and his family gathered to 
remember the charming young man with the infectious smile and to honor 
the brave soldier who had given his life in the fight for freedom. 
Although words cannot convey the sorrow felt by his loved ones, I hope 
they may find some solace remembering the way he lived his life and 
knowing that he touched the lives of so many others. My thoughts and 
prayers go out to his parents, Brandi Lee and Penelope Jean, his 
brother and his sisters, and to all those who knew and loved him. His 
time with us was far too short but his spirit will live on in us 
forever.

                          ____________________