[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23572]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                        Captain Benjamin Sklaver

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to honor the memory of U.S. Army Reserve CAPT Benjamin Sklaver, who was 
killed on October 2, when his patrol came under attack in Muscheh, 
Afghanistan. He was 32 years old.
  Captain Sklaver personified the values and qualities of a U.S. Army 
officer, and dedicated himself to improving his country and helping 
those most in need, both in uniform and as a private citizen. As a U.S. 
Army captain, Benjamin Sklaver distinguished himself as a capable and 
talented leader; and as an employee of the CDC and FEMA Captain Sklaver 
used his skills to help Americans prepare for and recover from 
disaster.
  Perhaps the most inspiring chapter of his life came after a 2007 
deployment to the Horn of Africa, where Captain Sklaver saw how hard it 
was for rural Ugandan villagers to obtain clean drinking water. Upon 
his return to the United States, Sklaver helped found the ClearWater 
Initiative to help bring access to clean water to war torn regions. In 
just 2 short years, Captain Sklaver's Initiative provided access to 
clean, potable water to over 6,500 people in Africa, where his charity 
work earned him the nickname ``Moses Ben.''
  Guided by a deep sense of patriotism and the Jewish principle of 
Tikkun Olam, or fixing the world, Captain Sklaver touched the lives of 
thousands, and his contributions to his country and to those he helped 
around the world will not soon be forgotten.
  All of us owe a deep debt of gratitude to Captain Sklaver and his 
family. I extend my deepest condolences to Captain Sklaver's parents 
Gary and Laura, his brother Samuel, his sister Anna, his fiance Beth 
Segaloff, and to all those who knew and loved him.


                       Specialist Justin Pellerin

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I wish to express my sympathy over the 
loss of U.S. Army SPC Justin Pellerin, a 21-year-old resident of 
Concord, NH. Specialist Pellerin was killed while conducting combat 
operations in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, on August 20, 2009.
  Specialist Pellerin was a 2006 graduate of Concord High School. It 
was there that he met Chelsea, his high school sweetheart, whom he 
would later marry. The two had just celebrated their 1-year anniversary 
and were looking forward to Justin returning home in December. His 
family and friends remember him for his sharp sense of humor, his 
selflessness, and his love of American muscle cars.
  Justin joined the Army because he wanted to make a difference in the 
world. For his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Bronze 
Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense 
Service Medal. He, and the thousands of brave men and women of the U.S. 
Armed Forces, represent the best in America's long tradition of duty, 
sacrifice, and service.
  In addition to his wife Chelsea, Specialist Pellerin is survived by 
his mother Melissa; stepfather Dale Farmer; and two younger sisters 
Molly and Hannah. He will be missed dearly by all those who knew him.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring the life 
of SPC Justin Pellerin.


                        SERGEANT MICHAEL C. ROY

  Mr. President, I wish to express my sympathy over the loss of U.S. 
Marine SGT Michael C. Roy, a 25-year-old native of Manchester, NH. 
Sergeant Roy was killed while conducting combat operations in Nimroz 
province, Afghanistan on July 8, 2009.
  Sergeant Roy was born in Manchester and grew up in nearby Candia 
before moving with his family to Florida. He served two tours of duty 
in Iraq prior to his deployment to Afghanistan as a member of the 3rd 
Marine Special Operations Battalion based out of Camp Lejeune, NC.
  According to his family, Sergeant Roy loved being a marine. He joined 
the service at the age of 18 and often shared his stories of the Corps 
with his siblings. He was also a devoted husband and the loving father 
of three young children.
  No words can diminish the loss of this devoted husband and father, 
but I hope Sergeant Roy's family will take solace in the deep gratitude 
and appreciation all Americans share in honoring his service to our 
country. He, and the thousands of brave men and women of the U.S. Armed 
Forces serving today, deserve America's highest honor and recognition.
  In addition to his wife Amy and their children Olivia, Michael, and 
Landon, Sergeant Roy is survived by his father Michael and his mother 
Lisa Hickey. He will be missed dearly by all those who knew him.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring the life 
of SGT Michael C. Roy.

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