[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      Specialist Allen Kokesh, Jr.

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to Specialist Allen 
Kokesh, Jr. who died on February 7, 2006, from injuries sustained while 
serving in Iraq. He was a member of Charlie Battery, First Battalion 
147th Field Artillery Brigade of Yankton.
  Specialist Kokesh was one of five South Dakota National Guard members 
involved in a roadside bomb attack on December 4, 2005, en route to 
Baghdad. Two soldiers were killed in the immediate aftermath, Sergeant 
First Class Richard Schild and Staff Sergeant Daniel Cuka. Specialist 
Kokesh suffered severe wounds, and after being medically evacuated out 
of Iraq, he was transferred to the Brook Army Medical Center at Fort 
Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.
  Sadly, Specialist Kokesh didn't recover from his wounds and died 
after developing severe complications. He was a graduate of Yankton 
High School and is remembered as a scholar athlete. In fact, he was a 
member of the Yankton High School championship football team that won 
the 2002 Class 11AA State title. The leadership skills Specialist 
Kokesh demonstrated during high school were clearly evident when he 
joined the South Dakota National Guard that same year. He even 
successfully convinced a fellow classmate, and member of his football 
team, to join the National Guard the following year.
  While I am deeply saddened by the loss of any military member serving 
in defense of our great Nation, the loss of the brave soldiers in the 
147th hits close to home. My oldest son, Brooks, served in that unit 
prior to joining the Army as an enlisted soldier with the 101st 
Airborne Division. On behalf of my entire family, I extend our 
heartfelt condolences to Specialist Kokesh's family and friends.
  Specialist Kokesh's commitment to his fellow members of the South 
Dakota National Guard, as well as all those who served in uniform with 
him, is a testament to the strength of his character and the family 
that instilled in him these values. His dedicated service to our 
grateful Nation will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________