[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15732-15733]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM RYAN FRITSCHE

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2008

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor 
the life of a soldier who died honorably serving his country in 
Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant 
William Ryan Fritsche made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and 
we honor him for his service.
   Staff Sergeant Fritsche joined the U.S. Army under the delayed entry 
program at the age of 17, two weeks after the September 11, 2001 
attacks. He was first stationed with the Old Guard, the 3rd United 
States Infantry Regiment, the Army's official ceremonial unit and 
Escort to the President, which is based in Arlington, Virginia. In 
January 2007, Staff Sergeant Fritsche left the Old Guard and joined the 
1st Brigade, 91st Calvary regiment, 173rd Airborne unit based out of 
Vinceca, Italy. With this new unit, he left in March for a 15 month 
deployment to Afghanistan.
   In July of 2007 at the age of 23, Staff Sergeant Fritsche was killed 
in action while leading a dismounted patrol in Kamu, Afghanistan in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the Bronze Star, 
the Purple Heart, a NATO citation, an Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon and 
the Combat Infantry Badge.
   I commend Staff Sergeant Fritsche for his commitment to our country 
and his courage to

[[Page 15733]]

fight for freedom in an unsettled world. Without doubt, his bravery 
gives his mother, Mrs. Volitta Fritsche of Martinsville, Indiana, and 
his widow, Mrs. Brandi Nicole Fritsche of Maryland's 2nd Congressional 
District, great pride. In honor of Staff Sergeant Fritsche's commitment 
to preserving the freedom of our nation, friends and relatives have 
established an ongoing scholarship in his name, the SSG W. Ryan 
Fritsche Memorial Scholarship Fund.
   Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the 
patriotism and dedication of Staff Sergeant William Ryan Fritsche. His 
love of country and willingness to serve will forever reverberate in 
our memories. It gives me great pride to honor one of our nation's 
fallen heroes.

                          ____________________