[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1085]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING STAFF SERGEANT MICHAEL DURBIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, he was buried yesterday in the National 
Cemetery in Houston, Texas. Monday I met with his parents, Jerry and 
Teresa, in their home in Humble, Texas, and I am talking about Army 
Staff Sergeant Michael Durbin. He was born on July 6, 1979, in Houston, 
Texas. He grew up in Spring, Texas, and attended Nimitz High School 
where he earned the nickname ``Iceman.'' He excelled in sports and was 
the quarterback on the football team. He also ran track and played on 
the baseball team. He was the oldest of five kids, and his father said, 
``When he entered a room, he drew everyone's attention.''
  He attended Kingwood College before deciding to enlist in the Army in 
2001 at the age of 21. His goal in life was to someday work for the 
CIA, and he enlisted in the hopes that the military would be a quick 
route toward that goal.
  He met his wife Janelle while working together at a Houston computer 
store. They were married in 2001 and had a son Austin and a daughter 
Alyssa together. By the age of 26, Michael had already become staff 
sergeant in an air assault unit, and had bold aspirations of becoming a 
member of the elite and daring Delta Force.
  Staff Sergeant Durbin had already served two tours of duty in the 
Middle East and was deployed for his third tour of duty in September 
2005. Family members said he lived to serve his country, and 2 weeks 
ago during combat operations in Baghdad, Michael became the 194th Texan 
killed since the start of the war. He was killed when a homemade bomb 
exploded while he was on patrol. Michael was assigned to the 2nd 
Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 
101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. By the way, Mr. 
Speaker, 1 out of every 10 Americans wearing the uniform tonight is 
from the State of Texas.
  I have a photograph of Staff Sergeant Michael Durbin taken shortly 
before he received another stripe on his left sleeve. Several days 
before he was killed in Iraq, he sent his wife Janelle a bouquet of 
flowers, and she talked with him the morning he died. He called her to 
tell her that he was leaving for a mission, and he loved her and would 
be back in a few days. He loved playing with his kids and being in love 
with his wife. They would have celebrated their fifth wedding 
anniversary next month.
  Michael will be remembered by his family and friends for his passion 
for computers. He was a gifted artist with a special talent for 
original cartoon characters and superheroes. He actually designed his 
platoon's boot camp T-shirt when he entered the Army.
  With his entire life before him, and his aspirations to serve 
Americans, Michael risked everything to fight for the values and 
freedoms we as Americans enjoy this day and every day. He was fighting 
so the Iraqis can enjoy these freedoms as well.
  With the death of Michael Durbin, this Nation lost a freedom fighter, 
a loving father, and, as his dad said, a perfect son.
  I would like to extend my prayers and condolences to his parents, 
Jerry and Teresa; to his family, relatives and friends in Spring, 
Texas, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky; his wife Janelle; and his children 
Alyssa, Austin and Hayley. Michael touched the lives of many people in 
his 26 years, and our hearts are filled with gratitude for brave 
soldiers like Staff Sergeant Michael Durbin.
  In the words of country singer Randy Travis in his song ``America 
Will Always Stand,'' he sings the following lyrics about the American 
soldier: ``Walking through the fires of danger, there are those who 
gave their lives. They're the world's greatest heroes, and we won't 
forget their sacrifice. So raise the banner called Old Glory. Let us 
join our fellow man. History will tell this story, America will always 
stand.''
  Mr. Speaker, history will tell the story of all the brave soldiers 
like Staff Sergeant Michael Durbin who walked through the fires of 
danger for freedom for Americans.
  That's just the way it is.

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