[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Senate] [Pages 22057-22059] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from North Dakota for enabling me to make some remarks about the war and where things are as we see them. It has been more than a month since we were last together in the Senate. While we were out of session, the war in Iraq continued to rage. We in the Congress had the pleasure of going home to our families, our friends, familiar circumstances and surroundings. Our troops in Iraq, however, didn't have that opportunity while we were off, so to speak, for almost 6 weeks. Everyone knows that we did work at home, but we were in familiar, safe territory. The troops were in harm's way, trying to bring order to a country in absolute chaos. Tragically, many of our people there did not survive since the Senate was last in session. During the recess, America lost 157 brave men and women in combat, 146 in Iraq and 11 in Afghanistan, and 649 were seriously wounded. Most of us have been to Walter Reed and the naval hospital in Bethesda and had opportunities to talk to some of those people who are so seriously wounded, some limbless, some sightless. Their pain goes way beyond that which is directly part of their wound; their pain goes on for the rest of their lives. Now here we are, almost at Thanksgiving. Americans are looking forward to sharing a holiday with family and friends. But in this season of giving and cheer, we have to find a serious way to give some cheer, some recognition for the sacrifices of our soldiers. Outside my office, I have found a way to express thanks to them. We have established a photographic display of those who have lost their lives. It is called the ``Faces of the Fallen.'' It is visited daily by tourists and others who search the gallery for people they may have known from a hometown or region. Today I offer another way to honor our courageous men and women. I am going to place the names and hometowns of the 157 troops that we lost since the Senate was last in session in the Congressional Record. Too often when we talk about our fallen troops, they become faceless, if it is not your family, statistics, but we don't want that anymore. We want to recognize, and the American people want to recognize, what is really happening to the fathers, mothers, sisters, and children. They are our children, and many have children of their own. Among those who perished are PFC Donald S. Brown, 19 years of age, from Succasunna, NJ. I attended his wake 2 weeks ago, met with his family, and LCpl Christopher B. Cosgrove III of Cedar Knolls, NJ. There are many more New Jerseyans who have perished there. The number is almost 80 now. We look around, and they are from States across the country. Almost every State has seen the loss of a former resident, someone with roots in that State: SGT Bryan Burgess of Garden City, MI; SGT Courtland A. Kennard of Starkville, MS; CWO Miles P. Henderson of Amarillo, TX; CPL Kyle W. Powell of Colorado Springs, CO; SPC James L. Bridges of Buhl, ID; LTC Paul J. Finken of Mason City, IA; LCpl James Brown of Owensville, IN; SSG Jason D. Whitehouse of Phoenix, AZ; PFC Jason Franco of Corona, CA; SGT Luke J. Zimmerman of Luxemburg, WI; SGT Thomas M. Gilbert of Downers Grove, IL; SPC Nicholas K. Rogers of Deltona, FL; MAJ David G. Taylor of Apex, NC; LCpl Eric W. Herzberg of Severna Park, MD; CPL Joshua C. Watkins of Jacksonville, FL; SSG Patrick O. Barlow of Greensboro, NC; CPL David M. Unger of Leavenworth, KS; SGT Norman R. Taylor of Blythe, CA; SSG Garth D. Sizemore of Mount Sterling, KY; 2LT Joshua L. Booth of Fiskdale, MA; PFC Keith J. Moore of San Francisco, CA; and 1SG Charles M. King of Mobile, AL. There are too many more to read them all now. I ask unanimous consent that a full list of the 157 persons be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Fallen Heroes During the Senate Recess Sergeant Bryan Burgess, of Garden City, Michigan Sergeant First Class Rudy A. Salcido, of Ontario, California Sergeant Courtland A. Kennard, of Starkville, Mississippi Staff Sergeant Gregory W.G. McCoy, of Webberville, Michigan Staff Sergeant Richwell A. Doria, of San Diego, California Lance Corporal Ryan T. McCaughn, of Manchester, New Hampshire Sergeant Lucas T. White, of Moses Lake, Washington [[Page 22058]] Chief Warrant Officer John R. Priestner, of Pennsylvania Chief Warrant Officer Miles P. Henderson, of Amarillo, Texas Specialist Douglas C. Desjardins, of Mesa, Arizona Corporal Jose A. Galvan, of San Antonio, Texas Corporal Kyle W. Powell, of Colorado Springs, Colorado Second Lieutenant Mark C. Gelina, of Moberly, Missouri Specialist James L. Bridges, of Buhl, Idaho Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. Finken, of Mason City, Iowa Lieutenant Colonel Eric J. Kruger, of Garland, Texas Staff Sergeant Joseph A. Gage, of Modesto, California Lance Corporal James Brown, of Owensville, Indiana Staff Sergeant Jason D. Whitehouse, of Phoenix, Arizona Corporal Michael H. Lasky, of Sterling, Arkansas Lance Corporal Luke B. Holler, of Bulverde, Texas Private Michael P. Bridges, of Placentia, California Lance Corporal Minhee Kim, of Ann Arbor, Michigan Corporal Gary A. Koehler, of Ypsilanti, Michigan Private First Class Kevin J. Ellenburg, of Middleburg, Florida Private First Class Jason Franco, of Corona, California Sergeant Michael R. Weidemann, of Newport, Rhode Island Sergeant Kraig D. Foyteck, of Skokie, Illinois Sergeant Michael T. Seeley, of Fredericton, Canada Sergeant Kenneth E. Bostic, of Hawthorne, Nevada Lance Corporal Troy D. Nealey, Eaton Rapids, Michigan Sergeant Luke J. Zimmerman, Luxemburg, Wisconsin First Sergeant Ricky L. McGinnis, Hamilton, Ohio Private First Class Donald S. Brown, of Succasunna, New Jersey Sergeant Thomas M. Gilbert, of Downers Grove, Illinois Private First Class Daniel B. Chaires, of Tallahassee, Florida Lance Corporal Jonathan B. Thornsberry, of McDowell, Kentucky Petty Officer Second Class Charles V. Komppa, of Belgrade, Montana First Lieutenant Amos C.R. Bock, of New Madrid, Missouri Hospital Corpsman Charles O. Sare, of Hemet, California Lance Corporal Richard A. Buerstetta, of Franklin, Tennessee Lance Corporal Tyler R. Overstreet, of Gallatin, Tennessee Specialist Carl A. Eason, of Lovelady, Texas Specialist Nicholas K. Rogers, of Deltona, Florida Sergeant Willsun M. Mock, of Harper, Kansas Specialist Matthew W. Creed, of Covina, California Specialist Nathaniel A. Aguirre, of Carrollton, Texas Major David G. Taylor, of Apex, North Carolina Lance Corporal Eric W. Herzberg, of Severna Park, Maryland Sergeant First Class Tony L. Knier, of Sabinsville, Pennsylvania Corporal Joshua C. Watkins, of Jacksonville, Florida Lance Corporal Nicholas J. Manoukian, of Lathrup Village, Michigan Lance Corporal Nathan R. Elrod, of Salisbury, North Carolina Lance Corporal Clifford R. Collinsworth, of Chelsea, Michigan Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte, of Beardsley, Minnesota Lance Corporal Edwardo Lopez, Jr., of Aurora, Illinois Staff Sergeant Patrick O. Barlow, of Greensboro, North Carolina Sergeant First Class Daniel A. Brozovich, of Greenville, Pennsylvania Specialist Jose R. Perez, of Ontario, California Specialist Daniel W. Winegeart, of Kountze, Texas Staff Sergeant Ronald L. Paulsen, of Vancouver, Washington Staff Sergeant Jesus M. Montalvo, of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico Specialist Joseph C. Dumas, Jr., of New Orleans, Louisiana Corporal David M. Unger, of Leavenworth, Kansas Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, of Amity, Pennsylvania Second Lieutenant Christopher E. Loudon, of Brockport, Pennsylvania Staff Sergeant Ryan E. Haupt, of Phoenix, Arizona Sergeant Norman R. Taylor III, of Blythe, California Petty Officer First Class Nathan J. Frigo, of Kokomo, Indiana Staff Sergeant Garth D. Sizemore, of Mount Sterling, Kentucky Second Lieutenant Joshua L. Booth, of Fiskdale, Massachusetts Sergeant Lester Domenico Baroncini, Jr., of Bakersfield, California Private First Class Stephen Bicknell, of Prattville, Alabama First Lieutenant Joshua Deese, of Robeson County, North Carolina Sergeant Jonathan E. Lootens, of Lyons, New York Captain Mark C. Paine, of Rancho Cucamonga, California Sergeant Brock A. Babb, of Evansville, Indiana Lance Corporal Joshua M. Hines, of Olney, Illinois Private First Class Keith J. Moore, of San Francisco, California First Sergeant Charles M. King, of Mobile, Alabama Staff Sergeant Joseph M. Kane, of Darby, Pennsylvania Specialist Timothy J. Lauer, of Saegertown, Pennsylvania Sergeant Jonathan J. Simpson, of Rockport, Texas Airman First Class Leebenard E. Chavis, of Hampton, Virginia Lieutenant Johnny K. Craver, of McKinney, Texas Private First Class Kenny F. Stanton, Jr., of Hemet, California Private First Class Thomas J. Hewett, of Tempe, Texas Sergeant Gene A. Hawkins, of Orlando, Florida Sergeant Justin T. Walsh, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Captain Shane T. Adcock, of Mechanicsville, Virginia Sergeant Nicholas R. Sowinski, of Tempe, Arizona Lance Corporal Shelby J. Feniello, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania Lance Corporal Derek W. Jones, of Salem, Oregon Lance Corporal Jon Eric Bowman, of Dubach, Louisiana Private First Class Phillip B. Williams, of Gardnerville, Nevada Captain Robert M. Secher, of Germantown, Tennessee Private First Class Shane R. Austin, of Edgerton, Kansas Lance Corporal Stephen F. Johnson, of Marietta, Georgia Sergeant Julian M. Arechaga, of Oceanside, New York Lance Corporal Jeremy Scott Sandvick Monroe, of Chinook, Montana Specialist Timothy Fulkerson, of Utica, Kentucky Specialist John Edward Wood, of Humboldt, Kansas Staff Sergeant Lawrence Parrish, of Lebanon, Missouri Corporal Carl W. Johnson II, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sergeant Brandon S. Asbury, of Tazewell, Virginia Lance Corporal John Edward Hale, of Shreveport, Louisiana Corporal Bradford H. Payne, of Montgomery, Alabama Corporal Nicholas A. Arvanitis, of Salem, New Hampshire Corporal Benjamin S. Rosales, of Honston, Texas Lance Corporal Edward M. Garvin, of Malden, Massachusetts Staff Sergeant Christopher O. Moudry, of Baltimore, Maryland Specialist George R. Obourn Jr., of Creve Coeur, Illinois Specialist Timothy Burke, of Hollywood, Florida Private First Class Dean Bright, of Roseburg, Oregon Staff Sergeant Jonathan Rojas, of Hammond, Indiana Staff Sergeant Daniel Isshak, of Alta Loma, California Sergeant Joseph W. Perry, of Alpine, California Corporal Michael K. Oremus, of Highland, New York Specialist Justin R. Jarrett, of Jonesboro, Georgia Staff Sergeant James D. Ellis, of Valdosta, Georgia Specialist Raymond S. Armijo, of Phoenix, Arizona Specialist Kristofer C. Walker, of Creve Coeur, Illinois Private First Class Satieon V. Greenlee, of Pendleton, South Carolina Staff Sergeant Joe A. Narvaez, of San Antonio, Texas Sergeant Denise A. Lannaman, of Bayside, New York Sergeant Mario Nelson, of Brooklyn, New York Sergeant Chase A. Haag, of Portland, Oregon Captain Justin D. Peterson, of Davisburg, Michigan Lance Corporal Christopher B. Cosgrove III, of Cedar Knolls, New Jersey Corporal Aaron L. Seal, of Elkhart, Indiana Corporal Luis E. Tejeda, of Huntington Park, California Sergeant Kampha B. Sourivong, of Iowa City, Iowa Sergeant First Class Scott E. Nisely, of Marshalltown, Iowa Corporal Robert Weber, of Cincinnati, Ohio Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, of Garden Grove, California [[Page 22059]] Private First Class Christopher T. Blaney, of Winter Park, Florida Sergeant Charles J. McClain, of Fort Riley, Kansas Private First Class Alex Oceguera, of San Bernardino, California Major Douglas E. Sloan, of Charlevoix, Michigan Specialist Isaiah Calloway, of Jacksonville, Florida Staff Sergeant Kyu H. Chay, of Fayetteville, North Carolina Private Michael V. Bailey, of Waldorf, Maryland Specialist Jason A. Lucas, of Columbus, Ohio Chief Warrant Officer Scott W. Dyer, of Cocoa Beach, Florida Specialist Fernando D. Robinson, of Hawthorne, California Angelo J. Vaccaro, of Deltooa Florida Mr. LAUTENBERG. I want their families to know that they can find their names in the permanent Record. Around many dinner tables across the Nation this Thanksgiving, the conversation will no doubt turn to the Iraq war. By this Thanksgiving, we will have been at war in Iraq as long as we were in World War II. I served in that war for almost 3 years. By reading these names today, my hope is that the dinner table conversations will discuss our foreign policy and the reasons that we are there, the reasons that they think put us there. I would ask them to contact their Senators, Representatives in Washington with views and questions that are on their minds. Think about it. There are proposals now from outstanding leaders in this body suggesting that we need more troops than we have there, when it is the desire of most of us to get out of there. We can argue about timetables and should we have timetables, but we know this: we want our people home. It is shocking to hear suggestions that maybe we ought to be--not maybe, that we ought to be sending more troops. Where were those suggestions when General Shinseki, a very high ranking chief of the Army, said to the Pentagon, to the President, to the American people that we ought to have at least 300,000 people on the ground there? Why, then, if this war was planned properly, didn't we respect the opinions of so many senior officers in the military who said we needed more and were denied? When we hear pleas that say put more troops there, I, for one--I am sure colleagues of mine feel the same way--don't know where they are going to get them. We are stretched thin now. So I think it is a fairly arbitrary suggestion, unless there is a plan accompanying it that says whatever we do, this is what we intend to do. I don't want to get into that argument about timetables, and cut and run. No, stay and die. Is that the alternative that we are talking about? No. I don't want us to leave in a fashion that negates some of the sacrifices that have been made, but we are now being left alone as other countries pull out the few people who were there as part of a coalition which never really materialized. We want a plan. We want some idea as to what the President, the administration thinks about when we can start to look ahead, think more about it from this side, from the American side, and not have some false hopes, dismal hopes that we are going to be able to stay there and correct this situation without telling the American people, without telling the Congress that some program has to be presented that says we will not stay there forever. The price is far too costly. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota. ____________________