[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 16003-16004]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                        Corporal John C. Bishop

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of Corporal 
John C. Bishop of the U.S. Marine Corps and Versailles, IN.
  Corporal Bishop was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine 
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He lost his life on September 8, 2010, 
while serving bravely in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 
Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was serving his third tour of duty 
and was 25 years old.
  John graduated from Southwestern Shelby High School in 2003 and 
immediately joined the Marines. John aspired to become a marine from a 
young age, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his older brother 
Tyson. Tyson joined the Marines in 1993, and each time he returned 
home, John would climb into his older brother's Marine uniform.
  Today, I join John's family and friends in mourning his tragic death. 
He is survived by his wife Cristle Bishop, who is expecting their first 
daughter in October; his son K'Sean Bishop; his mother Sarah Thomas; 
his brothers William Bishop, Mike Bishop, Anthony Thomas, Eric Thomas, 
Jamey Bishop, and Tyson Bishop; and his sisters Nancy Braley and Amy 
Parker.
  As we struggle to express our sorrow over this loss, we take pride in 
the example of this American hero. We cherish the legacy of his service 
and his life.
  As I search for words to honor this fallen soldier, I recall 
President Lincoln's words to the families of the fallen at Gettysburg: 
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this 
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have 
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world 
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never 
forget what they did here.''
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of CPL John C. Bishop in the 
official Record of the U.S. Senate for his service to our country and 
for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.


                  Staff Sergeant Phillip Chad Jenkins

  Mr. President, I also rise today to honor the life of SSG Phillip 
Chad Jenkins of the U.S. Army and Decatur, IN.
  Staff Sergeant Jenkins was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 27th 
Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was only 26 years old 
when he lost his life on September 7, 2010, while bravely serving 
during his second tour of duty in support of Operation New Dawn in 
Balad, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Jenkins' first tour was in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
  A Decatur native, Staff Sergeant Jenkins graduated from Bellmont High 
School in 2002 and joined the army soon after. While in high school, 
Staff Sergeant Jenkins enjoyed playing the saxophone in the school band 
and worked at Scott's Food & Pharmacy.
  Staff Sergeant Jenkins was a dedicated soldier who always went above 
and beyond the call of duty. One of his fellow soldiers, Fritz 
Bultemeyer, described Staff Sergeant Jenkins as ``a great American 
fallen hero.''
  Today, I join Staff Sergeant Jenkins' family and friends in mourning 
his death. He is survived by his wife Melissa; his two daughters Piper 
and Lindly; his mother and father Rose and David Jenkins; and his 
sister Cassie Jenkins.
  We take pride in the example of this dedicated soldier and great 
American hero, even as we struggle to express our grief over this loss. 
We cherish the legacy of his service and his life.
  As I search for words to honor this fallen soldier, I recall 
President Lincoln's words to the families of the fallen at Gettysburg: 
``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this 
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have 
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world 
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never 
forget what they did here.''
  It is my sad duty to enter the name of SSG Phillip Chad Jenkins in 
the official Record of the U.S. Senate for his

[[Page 16004]]

service to our country and for his profound commitment to freedom, 
democracy and peace.


                      Staff Sergeant Michael Bock

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor SSG 
Michael Bock of Springfield, NE.
  Sergeant Bock grew up in Springfield, attending Elkhorn Mount Michael 
High School for 2 years before moving with his family to Leesburg, FL. 
About a month after graduating from Leesburg High School in 2002, 
Sergeant Bock joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
  Marrying his high school sweetheart, Tiffany, in 2003, Sergeant Bock 
was very much a family man. According to Tiffany, no matter what he was 
doing or how long he was working, he would still call his family. He 
even got up in the middle of the night recently while in Afghanistan to 
get online and watch Zander, his 3-year-old son, blow out his birthday 
candles.
  Sergeant Bock was also very dedicated to his career in the Marine 
Corps. He served two tours in Iraq and also served in Australia and 
Indonesia, where he received a Marine Corps humanitarian ribbon for his 
help during the tsunami recovery in 2004.
  Sergeant Bock's goals of starting a college fund for his son and 
purchasing a house for his family were interrupted on August 13, 2010. 
He was on his second deployment in Afghanistan serving with the 3rd 
Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary 
Force when he was killed while supporting combat operations in the 
Helmand province.
  SSG Michael Bock knew the dangers he faced and the risks he took. He 
also knew the importance of the work he did in the Marine Corps on 
behalf of his fellow Americans. He risked--and ultimately sacrificed--
his own life so people a world away could have the chance to enjoy the 
freedoms he had found in America. I join all Nebraskans in mourning the 
loss of Sergeant Bock and in offering my deepest condolences to this 
young hero's family.

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