[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2072-2073]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                  Staff Sergeant William A. Allers III

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to reflect on 
the tremendous dedication and sacrifice that our country's soldiers 
exhibit every day. In particular, I want to call to my colleagues' 
attention a personal portrait of a young man who laid down his life 
defending freedom--a freedom this country has known for centuries, and 
that the people of Iraq have recently embraced.
  While words cannot soothe the anguish of those who knew and loved 
him, they can help explain the heroism of his sacrifice, and so we 
pause today to remember and celebrate the life of SSG William A. Allers 
III.
  Sergeant Allers was accustomed to combat situations, as the battle-
hardened veteran of more than 150 combat patrols and 50 security 
escorts while serving in Iraq. In fact, Sergeant Allers served 
valiantly in more than 25 combat engagements in his time there.
  On Tuesday, September 20, 2005, a Kentucky National Guard armored 
Humvee ran over an improvised explosive device on a dusty road near Al 
Khalis, Iraq--a dangerous city located within the Sunni Triangle, known 
as the hideout of killers and criminals who kidnap innocents for 
ransom. The Guard unit was patrolling the streets of this city, located 
about 40 miles north of Baghdad, when they were attacked. Three 
soldiers from the distinguished 617th Military Police Company were in 
the Humvee. Of the three, two were injured, and Sergeant Allers was 
killed. He was 28 years old.
  For his service to a grateful Nation, Sergeant Allers was awarded the 
Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge. He had also 
received the Army Commendation Medal and the Kentucky Distinguished 
Service Medal. His commanding officer, Captain Todd Lindner, made clear 
to all that the 617th Military Police Company had lost an outstanding 
soldier. ``Bill worked hard to keep high morale in his team,'' Capt. 
Lindner said, ``and was a catalyst for the morale in our entire 
company.''
  To fully appreciate the impact Bill Allers had on those around him, 
however, it helps to know something about how he grew up. Billy, as he 
was known as a kid, was an adventurer. His father, William Allers II, 
has said that if there was a puddle of water, you would find Billy 
playing in it. A neighborhood friend of Bill's added, ``if you [went] 
to look for Billy, you found him up in a tree.''
  Through this sense of adventure, Billy earned his childhood nickname. 
One day when Billy was about 4 or 5, his dad brought home a truckload 
of mushroom soil for the vegetable garden. Out of pure luck, this pile 
was deposited at the end of the long driveway of the Allers' home--and 
to Billy and his best friend, it had all the makings of a great jump 
ramp.
  Before Mr. Allers had time to finish a glass of ice water inside the 
house, the

[[Page 2073]]

two boys lined up their Big Wheels, sped down the blacktop and launched 
themselves nearly six feet into the air. Ever since that intrepid 
stunt, whenever they were seen together, the two were called the 
``Dukes of Hazzard'' Boys. Billy's father jokes that this experience 
taught him that his son was a true ``country boy.''
  Growing up, Bill Allers impressed people not only with his daredevil 
Big Wheel jumps, but also with his big heart and ability to lead 
others. During Bill's 4 years on the Fallston High School track team, 
in Fallston, MD, where he grew up, his strength of character began to 
shine through. His high school track coach put it this way: ``As we 
went through the 4 years, he molded into a leader, and he wanted to be 
part of the team, and he wanted the team to do as well as possible, and 
[he] would always encourage the younger participants when he became one 
of the seniors.''
  Coach Greg Thompson went on to say, ``He was selfless. He just was 
for everyone else and he wanted to see everybody else excel. And he 
wasn't worried about himself.''
  A truly gifted athlete, Bill mastered the high jump. He was also the 
``anchor'' of the two-twenty and four-forty relay teams, meaning he was 
the one to carry the baton for the final stretch toward the finish 
line. If the relay team was behind, they trusted Bill to make up the 
ground and win the race.
  Bill took pride in his team and his role on it, and he worked very 
hard to become the best competitor he could be. Evidently, he mastered 
that too, because Bill's relay team won medals at the Maryland High 
School State Championships in 1994.
  When he was not running track, Bill worked part-time for a local 
landscaping and nursery company in Fallston. Part-time might not be a 
fair description, however, since it was all his parents could do to 
keep him from working 40 hours a week. Bill loved digging his hands 
into the soil and working to improve the environment that surrounded 
him.
  In Iraq, that urge to build and create gave Bill his greatest joy--
the gratitude the Iraqis had for the work he and his squad were doing 
to restore their country. A few months before Sergeant Allers reached 
his final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery, on a peaceful 
slope in a section reserved for those honored soldiers who have fallen 
in Iraq, he told his family about the work he was doing to restore that 
desert nation.
  Bill's father said that Bill took great comfort from the gratitude 
the children of Baghdad showed to the American soldiers. His younger 
brother, Dave Allers, added, ``He told us the kids over there really 
adored seeing soldiers out there. The soldiers handed out stationery, 
candy and gum. It opened up a whole new world to them. [Bill] was 
ecstatic that he was doing something good.''
  Sergeant Allers's love of the great outdoors also explains his 
affinity for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Bill may have grown up in 
Maryland, but he was first exposed to the Bluegrass State when he was 
assigned to Fort Knox, KY, to learn the tradecraft of the cavalry 
scout.
  After serving a tour of duty that took him around the world and back, 
Bill decided to leave active-duty Army life and make Leitchfield, KY, 
his home. He was captivated by our rolling hills, champion horses, and 
friendly people. Wanting to continue his service to our country, he 
also decided to join the Kentucky National Guard, where he served with 
distinction until his final sacrifice.
  Mr. President, in just these few short words I think I've made clear 
that this was a young man who gave so much of himself to better the 
lives of those around him. Now he is gone. We wish we could ease the 
grief of his family: his father, William, his brother, Dave, and his 
grandmother, Virginia, who have joined us today in the gallery, and his 
9-year-old son, Gregory.
  I hope their heartache is tempered by the knowledge that America will 
forever celebrate Sergeant Allers's heroism, and his sacrifice. As will 
the Iraqi children he safeguarded. And his courage, his bonds of love 
and friendship, and his spirit will not be forgotten.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________