[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20367-20368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE BATTERY

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I rise to thank Charlie Battery, 1st 
Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, and congratulate and welcome them 
home

[[Page 20368]]

after a year spent proudly serving their country in Iraq. Charlie 
Battery, based in Yankton, SD, has certainly earned this homecoming and 
the gratitude of our Nation.
  These brave soldiers have been away from their loved ones for over a 
year, and they have accomplished an enormous amount in that time. 
Charlie Battery served commendably in some of the most dangerous areas 
of Iraq. They performed transition team missions with Iraqi police and 
conducted joint patrols that included route security, reconnaissance, 
rescue and recovery, and personal security detachment missions all over 
Baghdad.
  The soldiers of Charlie Battery were not immune to the violence that 
has plagued Iraq. On this day of celebration and reunion, let us 
remember those who were wounded and those who made the ultimate 
sacrifice protecting and serving our Nation, as well as the family 
members and friends they left behind. Those who gave their lives in 
Iraq include SSG Greg Wagner, SFC Richard Schild, SSG Daniel Cuka and 
SGT. Allen Kokesh, Jr.
  But let us also remember that these sacrifices were not in vain. 
Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, trained more 
than 1,000 Iraqi police and created stability in the southern and 
eastern districts of Baghdad. Charlie Battery's efforts enabled a 
district in the center of Baghdad to become the first to transition 
responsibility of security to Iraqi police. While the mission is not 
over, Charlie Battery has done the Iraqi and the American people a 
great service by their accomplishments, and they have made their 
country proud. I thank them, I applaud their courage, and I welcome 
them home.

                          ____________________