[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5357-5358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING STAFF SERGEANT JOSHUA S. GIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE AUSTRIA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2011

  Mr. AUSTRIA. Mr. Speaker, while we can never fully express the depth 
of our appreciation for those who give their lives to protect us, I 
rise today on behalf of the constituents of Ohio's seventh 
congressional district to recognize and honor the life of Army Staff 
Sergeant Joshua S. Gire.
  Gire, 28, lived a purposeful life. He served the United States with 
honor. Regrettably, it was Staff Sergeant Gire's duty as a soldier 
defending the interests of this great country of ours that lead to his 
death. He was killed in combat in Afghanistan on March 22, 2011. Staff 
Sgt. Gire showed exceptional courage and bravery while defending the 
United States.
  Joshua S. Gire graduated from Huntington High School in 2000 and 
enlisted in the Army in 2001, just prior to the terrorist attacks of 
September 11th. This was Gire's second deployment to Afghanistan. He 
also served time in Iraq and Kosovo. Staff Sergeant Gire comes from a 
family dedicated to military service. He followed his grandfather, a 
World War II veteran, and father, a Vietnam veteran, into the Army.
  He had recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant. Gire was based in 
Germany before his deployment to Afghanistan, where he lived with his 
immediate family. Staff Sergeant Gire is survived by his wife Jackie, 
as well as their

[[Page 5358]]

5-year-old son Nicolas and their daughter Riley, who just turned 3.
  Those who know Staff Sergeant Gire speak highly of him, saying he is 
a role model to young children, and that he did his job and he did it 
right. My heart goes out to his widow and their children. Joshua S.Gire 
is a true hero who will never be forgotten.
  Thus, today I ask my colleagues to join me and the constituents of 
the Ohio's seventh congressional district in honoring the life and 
memory of Staff Sergeant Joshua S. Gire.

                          ____________________