[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17903-17904]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS EDWARD AUSTIN 
                                  KOTH

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2006

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, sorrowfully I rise before you today 
to honor the second sailor from Maryland who died serving his country 
in the War on Terror. I would like to take this opportunity to 
celebrate the life and memory of an altruistic serviceman from Towson, 
Maryland, Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward Austin Koth.
  Unfortunately, over 2,500 United States servicemen and women have 
died in the War in Iraq. Each time a servicemember dies, we are 
reminded of our gratitude for the Armed Services; these people have 
built a career around protecting American citizens. The drive and 
conviction Petty Officer Koth and his peers show each day is 
commendable.
  Petty Officer Koth died as a result of an explosive weapon at Camp 
Victoria, Iraq detonating. He was assigned to the Explosive Ordnance 
Disposal Mobile Unit 8, serving with Multinational Corps Iraq in 
Baghdad at the time of his death. He was on his second tour of lraq 
with only 3 weeks remaining.
  Petty Officer Koth is remembered as a devoted sailor who found 
extreme pride in saving the lives of innocent people. He protected his 
fellow servicemen and women, and Iraqi civilians by removing bombs from 
heavily populated marketplaces. He frequently called or wrote home 
saying he had neutralized a number of bombs while he was a part of the 
Army Rangers Unit that drove through Baghdad in Humvees and Bradley 
fighting vehicles in search of such explosives.

[[Page 17904]]

  Serving the United States of America was in Petty Officer Koth's 
blood. Both of his grandfathers and four of his uncles served in the 
United States Navy. This magnanimous serviceman was ambitious and 
confident from the time he was young. As the youngest of four children, 
he was well-known for his courage. This notable trait propelled him 
toward his future in the Armed Services.
  While enrolled in Loyola College, Koth joined the diving team where 
he excelled greatly. Upon obtaining his degree in information systems, 
Petty Officer Koth went on to train with dolphins at the Naval School 
of Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Florida. There his notability as a 
fearless diver taught him how to take apart underwater mines, a task 
that prepared him for his naval career of dismantling explosives.
  His passion for life made him a champion in the eyes of fellow 
service men and the women and Iraqi people. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to 
join with me today to celebrate the life of Petty Officer 2nd Class 
Edward Austin Koth. His selfless acts of compassion make him truly 
worthy of great recognition. He will forever be remembered as a 
Maryland hero.

                          ____________________