[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17294]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          THE FACE OF COURAGE

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I appreciate this opportunity to honor the 
distinguished service of my fellow Hoosier, SFC Jeffrey E. Mittman.
  Throughout his remarkable career in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Mittman 
has exemplified the professionalism and dedication that is a hallmark 
of our Nation's Armed Forces, including during deployments in support 
of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi 
Freedom. On July 7, 2005, while assisting an Iraqi Public Order Brigade 
in Central Baghdad as a member of the Special Police Transition Team, 
SFC Jeffrey E. Mittman was wounded by an improvised explosive device. 
Since that day Sergeant Mittman has worked to recover from the injuries 
he sustained.
  I also appreciate this opportunity to share my best wishes with 
Sergeant Mittman's wife Christy and children Jamie and Payton. As 
Sergeant Mittman works to recover from the grievous injuries he 
suffered while serving his nation in Iraq, I know that his children 
will benefit from the example of service and dedication that he and 
Christy have set.
  I ask unanimous consent that a poem by Albert Caswell honoring SFC 
Jeffrey Mittman be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record as follows:

                          The Face of Courage

     A Beautiful Man,
     Who with The Heart of A Hero now here so stands!
     Who within this his short lifetime, has so made a difference 
           . . . so very grand!

     Who with but half a face,
     Who now so in history holds such a place . . .
     One of such honor, one of such sacrifice . . . one of such 
           most magnificent splendid grace!

     As this warrior battles both night and day,
     To rebuild his life, from which from him has so been taken 
           away!
     In this his valiant quest, courage's best, a hero no less . . 
           . as to our world he'll bless, in so many ways!

     Beauty,
     Beauty, is but skin deep!
     For all of those whom have so made a difference, up in Heaven 
           in his arms our Lord shall keep!

     For we will all grow old some day,
     As so surely all of our beauty shall so slip away!
     So what then do our lives portray? So how can we so find 
           heaven's way? As in a mirror we gaze!

     For all that is good, of which God creates . . .
     For all that is beautiful, so surely comes from within hearts 
           as made!
     As from where all true beauty so radiates, as from where so 
           very deep down inside so emanates!

     The Heart,
     Is from where we so gait, from where all of our new steps are 
           made . . . to play our part!
     To rebuild from where none is left, through such pain, 
           heartache and death . . . as God's work of art!

     As before me I so see the face of God this day!
     In this fine hero, with but half a face . . . who's beauty 
           within so surely shows me the way!
     All hearts melt this day, upon gazing at courage's face . . . 
           no more beautiful man our world has so graced!

     And we so watch you take each new step . . .
     As we stand in awe at what you have met, with what your most 
           magnificent heart accepts!
     As you so battle through all of your pain and heartache, as 
           our world you so bless . . . until none is left!

     As now we so understand,
     In courage's face! For what the true meaning the word beauty 
           stands!
     Brought to us through a young patriot's heart, one of our 
           Lord's greatest of works of art . . . this Man!

     So bless you our most gallant of all ones . . .
     If ever I have a child, a boy . . . I hope but pray, he could 
           be like you most splendid one!
     As to where the true meaning of beauty runs, a reflection of 
           our Lord in all you've done!
     In The Face of Courage!

                          ____________________