[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 5765]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING STAFF SERGEANT JUSTIN BAUER AND HIS WIFE, KARI BAUER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Kissell) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer a tribute to Staff 
Sergeant Justin Bauer and his wife, Kari.
  Staff Sergeant Bauer and his wife, Kari, were both from the State of 
Colorado. Staff Sergeant Bauer joined the Army and was assigned to the 
82nd Airborne and stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sergeant 
Bauer and his wife lived in my district, the Eighth District of North 
Carolina.
  By the words of the sergeant's co-soldiers, he was a leader 
extraordinaire. He was a noncommissioned officer that exemplified what 
was meant to be in the leadership role of being a noncommissioned 
officer. His soldiers looked to him as a friend and a leader and, by 
all accounts, was an outstanding soldier in our Army.
  I bring Sergeant Bauer's attention to the floor, Mr. Speaker, because 
Sergeant Bauer died in service to his country on January 10 in Iraq. He 
was a person that accepted the risk of his profession. His wife, Kari, 
accepted the risk of being a military spouse. And I simply want to 
honor his memory but not dramatize his memory because that would not be 
fitting to the soldiers that represent our great Nation.
  And by honoring the sergeant and his wife, Kari, I also want to 
extend that honor to all of our military personnel that serve this 
Nation knowing the sacrifices that they make and that they may be asked 
to make the ultimate sacrifice and are willing to do that, for this is 
part of their job. They accept that.
  Today I have a letter that I want to present as part of the 
Congressional Record that we will be sending to Kari. But in this 
honoring of Justin Bauer and his wife, I also want to honor all of the 
military that serve this Nation and their families that make up the 
heart and soul of our Nation's spirit.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, February 25, 2009.
     Mrs. Kari Bauer,
     Moss Court,
     Fayetteville, NC.
       Dear Mrs. Bauer: I wish to once again convey my deepest 
     condolences for the loss of your husband, Staff Sergeant 
     Justin Bauer. My entire congressional staff also joins me at 
     this time in sending our deepest sympathies and understanding 
     during this period of bereavement.
       Staff Sergeant Bauer served his country and the American 
     people in the most honorable of ways. Staff Sergeant Bauer's 
     absolute selfless service, professionalism and loyalty to 
     country will continue to serve as the pinnacle for which we 
     will continue to honor his service to our great nation. His 
     leadership and ``high regard'' as viewed by his fellow 
     Soldiers were so strongly conveyed to me in the words spoken 
     at the memorial service.
       I hope that time and memories will help lessen the burden 
     of your sorrow, and that you may draw some measure of comfort 
     knowing that others care and share in your loss. Please know 
     that we have shared in your pain and sorrow and pay our final 
     respects to undoubtedly one of our nation's best. If I can be 
     of any assistance please contact my Washington, D.C. Office 
     at (202) 225-3715 or in Fayetteville (910)-920-2070.
       I also wanted you to know that I went on the floor of the 
     U.S. House of Representatives today to offer my appreciation 
     for the sacrifice that your husband made, the loss you 
     endured. And that the two of you represent why our military 
     and our military families are the heart and soul of our 
     country. Thanks again to you and Justin.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Larry Kissell,
     Member of Congress.

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