[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 22]
[Senate]
[Page 29673]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    Lieutenant Colonel James Gentry

  Mr. BAYH. Madam President, I rise today to honor the life of LTC 
James Gentry, commander of the 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry of the 
Indiana National Guard.
  Jim was only 52 years old when he tragically lost his long and heroic 
battle with cancer on November 25, 2009, the day before Thanksgiving.
  A native of Mitchell, IN, he served two tours of duty in Iraq. It was 
in Iraq in 2003 where Lieutenant Colonel Gentry and the more than 600 
soldiers he bravely led were exposed to the lethal chemical sodium 
dichromate while guarding the Qarmat Ali water treatment facility in 
Basrah.
  In 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Gentry was diagnosed with terminal cancer 
and given 2 months to live. He not only valiantly fought this 
debilitating illness--and survived much longer than doctors expected--
but he also fought to bring crucial details about the tragedy at Qarmat 
Ali to the Nation's attention.
  With his quiet courage, he advocated for justice for the soldiers 
under his command until his final days. Due in large part to his 
efforts, the Department of Defense is now investigating why so many 
service men and women were exposed to this deadly chemical.
  As Americans, we take pride in the example Lieutenant Colonel Gentry 
set as a soldier, a leader, and a patriot. I had the privilege of 
speaking with him on the phone a little more than a month ago. Even in 
what turned out to be his final days, he remained steadfast in his 
dedication to his troops and in his efforts to ensure they received 
proper care.
  Jim is survived by his devoted wife LouAnn Grube Gentry, five 
children Sarah Clark, Jason Newman, Emily Gentry, Jennafer Newman, and 
Ellen Gentry, his parents George and Brenda Sue Gentry, brother Sanford 
Gentry, and sister Carolyn Hodges.
  Lieutenant Colonel Gentry was a brave man who put his soldiers before 
himself, both on and off the field of battle. Today and always, he will 
be remembered by family and friends, fellow soldiers and all Hoosiers 
as a true American hero. We cherish the legacy of his service and his 
life.
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of LTC James Gentry in the Record 
of the U.S. Senate for his service to this country and for his profound 
commitment to freedom, democracy, and peace.

                          ____________________