[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 12876]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                         Specialist Bobby West

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today in honor one of our 
Nation's fallen, Army SPC Bobby West. He died defending this Nation so 
that others might have the same freedoms we cherish as Americans. For 
those who knew Specialist West, he will be remembered for the laughter 
he brought to the lives of those around him. He will also be remembered 
for acting on his conviction of defending and fighting for the values 
and liberties we hold so dear as Americans.
  At 17, after graduating from Beebe High school, Bobby enlisted with 
the Arkansas National Guard. Like so many of us, he was deeply affected 
by the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. 
However, he felt that the burden to defend our country rested squarely 
on his shoulders and shortly thereafter he enlisted in the Army with 
his older brother Patrick. Specialist West served our country in 
Egypt's Sinai Peninsula before being sent to Iraq. Tragically, he was 
serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and was killed when a roadside 
bomb detonated while he was on foot patrol with his unit in Baghdad on 
May 30. His unit was scheduled to leave Iraq in the fall.
  I am honored to stand here today and pay tribute to a great soldier 
and more importantly a loving son, brother and friend. His loved ones 
remember how much laughter he brought to their lives with his quick wit 
and sense of humor. His fellow soldiers will remember him not only for 
the burden he carried with him to defend this Nation and bring freedom 
to others, but also for the competitiveness he brought to everything he 
did in life. His fellow soldiers tell the story of the fierce 
competitiveness he brought to a pickup basketball game while stationed 
in Egypt. Regardless of the fact that they were playing in a tin 
building in 125-135 degree heat, Bobby wouldn't let his opponents leave 
until they could beat him. It is this sense of commitment and 
dedication that he brought to his military service. He also believed in 
what he was doing and loved being a soldier. It is people like Bobby 
West who make our military the strongest in the world.
  I am grateful for the service of Bobby West. I am also reminded of 
the tragic human cost of war and am saddened at the death of another 
Arkansas soldier. In the words of his brother, Bobby ``was born to 
defend the greatest Nation on Earth.'' He gave his life defending the 
greatest Nation on Earth and we owe him and all others who have made 
that sacrifice an enormous debt of gratitude. Our prayers are with his 
father Ricky West, his mother Linda Wiggins West, and his older brother 
Patrick West, and we all pray for the safe return of Patrick who is 
serving in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division.

                          ____________________