[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 114-115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                        Sergeant Tobias Meister

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an heroic American 
who has fallen while serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom 
in Afghanistan. First Sergeant Tobias Meister died December 28, 2005, 
when a bomb was detonated near his humvee just south of Asadabad, 
Afghanistan. First Sergeant Meister was part of the Sand Springs based 
486th Civil Affairs Battalion and was assigned to the Army Reserve's 
321st Civil Affairs Brigade based in San Antonio, TX. My deepest 
sympathies go out to his wife Alicia, his 1 year old son Will, his 
parents David and Judy, his brother and many more family and friends.
  First Sergeant Meister was born in Kingsley, IA and graduated from 
Remsen-Union High School in 1994. He was employed by Horizon Natural 
Resources, an oil and gas firm, after he had successfully completed a 
business administration degree with a concentration in international 
business from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
  Tobias Meister joined the Iowa National Guard in 1992 and served as 
an infantryman before transferring to the U.S. Army Reserve in 1998. He 
was named Drill Sergeant of the Year in 2002, the award for the 
Nation's top Army Reserve drill sergeant. He will be remembered for his 
patriotism, his love for his country and his fellow soldiers. As 
written by comrades on his website,

[[Page 115]]

he had ``so much passion for what he was doing, so much patriotism it 
was a privilege and an honor to work with him.'' I urge all of my 
colleagues here and all Americans to extend their prayers to the family 
of a truly heroic American, First Sergeant Tobias Meister.


                         ROLAND CARROLL BARVELS

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Roland 
Carroll Barvels who died in Iraq on January 18, 2006. Roland was 
employed with DynCorp International and was assigned to the Civilian 
Police Advisory Training Team in Iraq. He was helping to train and 
equip a 350,000-member Iraqi security force. Sadly, he was killed when 
a roadside bomb struck his convoy near Basra.
  Prior to joining DynCorp in November 2005, Barvels answered his 
Nation's call to duty to protect and defend this great country. After 
serving for 12 years in the military, he became a police officer. 
Beginning his career in Minnesota, Barvels eventually served in law 
enforcement for nearly 20 years including his most recent position with 
the Aberdeen Police Department.
  Friends and former co-workers at the Aberdeen Police Department 
remember Roland with deep admiration. One colleague remarked, ``During 
his time at the police department, he diligently patrolled the streets 
of our city providing safety and security to the citizens in our 
community. Roland possessed an incredible ability to talk to people and 
[to] make anyone he talked to feel at ease.''
  Roland Barvels bravely served our country in so many ways. His wife 
and children are in the thoughts and prayers of my family during this 
difficult time. It is my sincere hope that they will take comfort 
knowing Ronald's long and distinguished career of protecting those most 
in need is truly admirable, and his dedication to helping others is an 
inspiration to us all.
  I join with all South Dakotans in expressing my deepest sympathy to 
the family and friends of Roland Barvels. He will be missed, but his 
service to our Nation will never be forgotten.


                      Specialist Matthew C. Frantz

  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 
Lafayette. Matthew Frantz, 23 years old, died on January 20 when an 
improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during a patrol 
near Al Huwijah in Iraq. With his entire life before him, Matthew 
risked everything to fight for the values Americans hold close to our 
hearts, in a land halfway around the world.
  Following in the family tradition of service, Matthew had been 
committed to joining the military since he was in the second grade. A 
2001 graduate of Lafayette Jefferson High School, his teachers recalled 
how eager he was to join the service, as well as what a decent and 
friendly student he was. One of his teachers told a local news outlet, 
``Matt was very excited about being part of the military. It was what 
he wanted to do. He was just a young man that wanted to serve his 
country.'' Matthew had been in the military for nearly 2 years, but 
this was his first deployment to Iraq. He arrived there only 4 months 
ago as a counterintelligence specialist.
  Matthew was killed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He was a member of the 1st Special Troops Battalion in the 
101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, KT. This brave young 
soldier leaves behind his father and mother, James and Marilyn Frantz; 
his brothers, Chris and Eric, who also serve in the military; and his 
fiance, Amalia Cerbin.
  Today, I join Matthew'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 Matthew, a memory that will burn brightly 
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Matthew was known for his dedication to his family and his love of 
country. Today and always, Matthew 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 Matthew'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 Matthew's actions will live on far longer 
that any record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Matthew C. Frantz 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 
Matthew'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 Matthew.


                        Sergeant Clifton Yazzie

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I humbly rise today to pay tribute to 
SGT Clifton Yazzie. Sadly, this outstanding and brave young man was 
killed in Hawijah, Iraq, on January 20, 2006.
  As a cross-country runner and basketball player in high school, SGT 
Yazzie was not known for his innate athletic ability. Instead, his 
coaches and teammates remember him as a consummate team player who 
worked to improve his skills in every practice and every game. He 
enlisted after the terrible attacks of September 11, 2001, fully 
knowing that his country would soon be going to war abroad. His quiet 
demeanor and steadfast service is at the core of what the American 
military service is about: honor, duty, humility, and loyalty.
  His wife Michelle, children Chaynitta and Cayden, and parents 
Clifford and Jeanette will be in all of our thoughts. He and Michelle, 
who met at a high school dance, had been planning to renew their vows 
this spring.
  He was on his second tour of duty as an infantryman in the 1st 
Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. We can never fully 
express our gratitude for our veterans' service; I ask that we stop now 
to honor Sergeant Yazzie and acknowledge his sacrifice, and that of his 
family and friends, for our Nation.

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