[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


               Private First Class Christopher F. Pfeifer

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor PFC 
Christopher F. Pfeifer of Spalding, Nebraska.
  Private First Class Pfeifer grew up in Spalding and, during high 
school, played football, as well as the drums in the school band. He 
enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, and especially music and playing his 
drums. His music teacher said he was one of the better drum players she 
had ever seen. After joining the Job Corps, he earned his high school 
diploma, and met his future wife, Karen. They married on March 22, 
2006, and 1 month later, he joined the U.S. Army, partly influenced by 
his brother's service as a Green Beret. His father said he loved the 
Army and, after completing his military commitment, wanted to use the 
G.I. bill to go to college.
  Private First Class Pfeifer was serving in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom, assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, in Schweinfurt, Germany. On August 
17, 2007, his unit came under enemy fire near Kamu, Afghanistan. 
Private First Class Pfeifer sustained wounds while bravely trying to 
pull fellow soldiers to safety. He passed away on September 25, 2007, 
at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. 
Private First Class Pfeifer was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
  Private First Class Pfeifer is survived by his wife Karen and their 
newborn daughter Peyton; his parents Michael and Darlina Pfeifer of 
Spalding, NE; his brother, Aaron of Fort Bragg, NC; and his sister 
Nichole, of Hauppauge, NY. I offer my most sincere condolences to the 
family and friends of Private First Class Pfeifer. He made the ultimate 
and most courageous sacrifice for our Nation, and his daughter will 
grow up knowing her father is a hero. I join all Americans in grieving 
the loss of this remarkable young man and know that Private First Class 
Pfeifer's passion for serving, his leadership, and his selflessness 
will remain a source of inspiration for us all.

                          ____________________