[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO CORPORAL MATTHEW WALLACE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2006

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the tragic death of a young soldier from St. 
Mary's County, Maryland, who gave the ultimate measure of sacrifice in 
the global war on terror, saddens all of us. As we continue to fight 
this war, the loss of each and every service member is a tragedy.
  St. Mary's County, the State of Maryland, and our Nation lost a great 
hero when Army Corporal Matthew Wallace of Lexington Park died from his 
injuries after being hit by a roadside bomb on July 16th.
  Matthew Wallace is the 50th Marylander killed in the war in Iraq.
  Matthew told his family that he dreamed of becoming a soldier. Today, 
a grateful Nation thanks him for sacrificing his life in the pursuit of 
enduring freedom.
  He served in the Army's 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat 
Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Often working at the 
front of his larger unit, he earned distinctions as a marksman and 
earned the Army Achievement Medal.
  In correspondence with his family, Wallace expressed his hope that he 
was helping the Iraqi people. Unquestionably, his efforts gave 
generations of Iraqis the dream of democracy.
  Wallace attended Great Mills High School, earned his GED, and worked 
at several local businesses in his hometown of Lexington Park, 
including Linda's Cafe and a local convenience store where his co-
workers praised his maturity and sense of commitment. He enlisted in 
the Army in early 2004.
  When he deployed to Iraq in December, he was well aware of the danger 
he would be facing. ``He chose to do this,'' his mother said proudly. 
His sister Jessica recalled flying home from Basic Training with 
Matthew, who was still in full uniform, and a man came up to him and 
thanked him for his service. His older sister said she then realized, 
``he was now America's son, America's brother.''
  Matthew's service to our Nation was source of great pride to his 
parents, Keith and Mary, as well as his sisters, Jessica, Abigail and 
Micah. Matthew was a Top Gunner for a Bradley Vehicle for his unit in 
Iraq who once told his mother ``he was going to fight the war on terror 
so his sisters' children never had to.'' He felt compelled by the 
events of September 11 to do something more for his Nation.
  Indeed, Matthew Wallace gave his life for all of us. As his 
Representative in Congress, I am grateful for his patriotism and his 
sacrifice. The Fifth District of Maryland and all Americans join the 
Wallace family in mourning the loss of this fine young man a real hero.

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