[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO STAFF SERGEANT DALE JAMES KELLY, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2006

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sorrow that I rise to 
recognize the loss of a brave soldier in Iraq, Staff Sergeant Dale 
James Kelly, Jr., a member of the Maine Army National Guard and former 
Rhode Island resident who served his country with dignity and honor. I 
join his family and the people of Rhode Island and Maine in mourning 
this great loss.
  Staff Sergeant Kelly grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island, and graduated 
from Cranston East High School in 1976. After school, he signed up with 
the Rhode Island Air National Guard, where he met his future wife, 
Nancy Cabral. He later sought work at Bath Iron Works in Maine, where 
he and Nancy raised their three children, Jennifer, Julie, and 
Christopher. In addition to being deeply committed to his family, he 
was remembered as an avid outdoorsman and a model of selflessness, 
always ready to assist those in need.
  Staff Sergeant Kelly was serving in Iraq with B Company, 3rd 
Battalion of the 172nd Infantry Regiment, based in Brewer, Maine. A 
trained medic, he was in the lead vehicle of a convoy when a bomb 
detonated in Ad Diwaniyah, killing him and another soldier. However, 
prior to the incident, Staff Sergeant Kelly had taught his fellow 
soldiers how to administer their own intravenous medication in the 
event that he were harmed or unavailable. That instruction may have 
saved the life of Private Chris Fraser, who was seriously injured in 
the blast and administered his own IV. As was the case so many times in 
his life, Staff Sergeant Kelly's actions helped others in harm's way.
  This loss causes us to reflect on the bravery demonstrated by our men 
and women in uniform as they carry out their obligations in the face of 
danger. When Staff Sergeant Kelly's nation called him to duty to 
preserve freedom, liberty, and security, he answered without 
hesitation. We will remember him as a patriot who made the ultimate 
sacrifice for his country.
  Staff Sergeant Kelly is survived by his wife, three children, and 
three grandchildren; his mother, Barbara Kelly of Cranston; three 
sisters, Kathleen Kelly Sullivan, of Narragansett, Rhode Island, 
Barbara Wheaton of Yarmouth, Maine, and Kristin Kelly Ciamborne of 
Ashland, Massachusetts; two brothers, David Kelly of Warwick, Rhode 
Island, and Joseph Kelly of St. Petersburg, Florida; and many beloved 
nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives.
  May we keep his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers as they endure 
this difficult period. We will also continue to hope for the safe and 
speedy return of all of our troops serving throughout the world.

                          ____________________