[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 5893-5894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                     Staff Sergeant Kevin P. Jessen

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to SSG Kevin 
P. Jessen of Paragould, AR. To those who knew him best, he was a loving 
husband and proud father whose life was filled with love and laughter. 
To his fellow soldiers serving on the battlefields of Iraq, he was a 
hero who, in the course of saving countless American and Iraqi lives, 
sacrificed his own.
  His lifelong interest in military history and explosives led him to a 
career as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. It came as no 
surprise to friends and family that the young Arkansan, who spent 
countless hours as a child playing with G.I. Joe toys and bottle 
rockets, would become a soldier. He joined the ROTC while in high 
school and upon graduation enlisted in the National Guard before 
ultimately joining the U.S. Army.
  Staff Sergeant Jessen's first of three tours in Iraq occurred shortly 
after Operation Desert Storm when he helped dispose of explosives left 
over from the war. In 2004, he returned through service in Operation 
Iraqi Freedom, only to return for a third tour 6 months after his 
second was completed. While serving in a foreign land seemingly worlds 
away from home, his heart and thoughts were undoubtedly never far from 
his wife Carrie and his 2-year-old son, Cameron. Between tours of duty, 
this battle-hardened soldier was often found changing diapers or 
handling bottle feedings in the middle of the night. It was the proud 
duty of a man who loved his family so very much, and it was symbolic of 
his devotion to them.
  Throughout his time in Iraq, Staff Sergeant Jessen's role as an 
explosives ordnance disposal technician ensured that he was often 
called upon to disarm roadside bombs. Although it continually placed 
him in the line of danger, he selflessly saw it as his duty to help 
protect the lives of his fellow soldiers as well as the lives of Iraqi 
civilians. Tragically, while serving on a postblast investigation on 
March 4, 2006, he was killed by a secondary explosion in Rawah, Iraq.
  At Staff Sergeant Jessen's memorial service, he was laid to rest with 
full military honors. Hundreds of family, friends, and those wishing to 
pay their respects joined together to remember this young Arkansan and 
to honor the life he led. Along his funeral procession, members of a 
grateful community endured the cold weather to honor this fallen hero, 
many with hands held over the hearts and waving American flags. At the 
cemetery, the American flag that had draped Staff Sergeant Jessen's 
casket was folded and presented to Carrie and Cameron as a token of 
remembrance of the man they loved and the sacrifice he made on behalf 
of us all.
  Although the 28 years that Kevin Jessen spent with us were far too 
short, I am hopeful that his friends, family, and loved ones find some 
solace knowing that he touched the lives so many. He set examples of 
devotion to family and country that we should all follow, and he led an 
honorable life of love and selflessness that will continue to serve as 
an inspiration to us all.
  My thoughts and prayers are with Carrie, Cameron, and all those who 
knew and loved this fallen hero.


                       Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep 
sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man from Warsaw, 
IN. SSG Brock Beery, 30 years old, died on March 23 when his armored 
vehicle struck a land mine 80 miles west of Baghdad. With his entire 
life before him, Brock risked everything to fight for the values we 
Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway around the world.
  Brock decided to pursue a career in the Army in 1994, immediately 
following his graduation from Tippecanoe Valley High School. Remembered 
as a good student and a good husband, Brock took great pride in his 
work. He remained close to his family throughout his time in Iraq and 
planned to attend his younger sister's high school graduation in June. 
His father recounted to a local newspaper, ``[Brock] liked his job. He 
liked challenges; he put his best foot forward every time. He gave his 
best to his family, too.''
  Brock was killed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He was a member of the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 
123rd Armored Division, based in Bowling Green, KY. This brave young 
soldier leaves behind his mother and father, Pamela and Roger Beery; 
his wife and 7-year-old daughter, Sara and Elissa; his sister, Hope; 
and his brothers, Joel and Tobey. He was serving his third overseas 
tour of duty.
  Today, I join Brock's family and friends in mourning his death. While 
we struggle to bear our sorrow over this loss, we can also take pride 
in the example he set, bravely fighting to make the world a safer 
place. It is his courage and strength of character that people will 
remember when they think of Brock, a memory that will burn brightly 
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.
  Brock was known for his dedication to his family and his love of 
country. Today and always, Brock will be remembered by family members, 
friends and fellow Hoosiers as a true American hero and we honor the 
sacrifice he made while dutifully serving his country.
  As I search for words to do justice in honoring Brock's sacrifice, I 
am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed the families 
of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: ``We cannot dedicate, we cannot 
consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and 
dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power 
to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we 
say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' This statement 
is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years ago, as I am certain 
that the impact of Brock's actions will live on far longer that any 
record of these words.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of Brock A. Beery in the official 
record of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and for his 
profound commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace. When I think 
about this just cause in which we are engaged and the unfortunate pain 
that comes with the loss of our heroes, I hope that families like 
Brock's can find comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah who said, 
``He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away 
tears from off all faces.''
  May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God be 
with all of you, as I know He is with Brock.

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