[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8211-8212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the brave 
men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in 
defense of our Nation. This Memorial Day, I join all Americans in 
honoring those brave souls.
  Over the past decade since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United 
States, men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces have been deployed to 
fight on our behalf in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. Thousands of those courageous servicemen and women have lost 
their lives as part of these ongoing missions. More than 70 of these 
warriors called Mississippi home, including 7 brave fighters who have 
been killed in Afghanistan since we last observed this national 
holiday. These are the sacrifices that we should keep in mind as we 
commemorate Memorial Day 2011.
  I am deeply grateful to the young Mississippians we have lost over 
the past 12 months, and my heart goes out to the families and friends 
they leave behind.
  For the record, I now cite the names of these fallen heroes from 
Mississippi:
  1SG Robert N. Barton of Roxie, 35, who died June 7, 2010;
  PFC Joshua S. Ose of Hernando, 19, who died September 20, 2010;
  PFC William B. Dawson of Tunica, 20, who died September 24, 2010;
  SGT Eric C. Newman of Waynesboro, 30, who died October 14, 2010;
  1LT William J. Donnelly IV of Picayune, 27, who died November 25, 
2010;
  SSG Jason A. Rogers of Brandon, 28, who died April 7, 2011; and
  SSG David D. Self of Pearl, 29, who died May 16, 2011.
  While their sacrifices will leave a deep void in many lives, I hope 
their families can find comfort in the fact that they served proudly 
and will be counted among the multitude of Mississippians who, over the 
long history of our great Nation, have bravely served and courageously 
given their lives for their country.
  Mississippians traditionally identify themselves with a strong 
support of our national defense and a willingness to serve in our Armed 
Forces. We also hold fast to the memory of those lost in battle.
  In fact, Columbus, MS, proudly claims to be the birthplace of 
Memorial Day, which was originally designated as Decoration Day to 
decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. This tradition evolved into 
Memorial Day, which was recognized as a Federal holiday in 1971.
  As we again gather to commemorate Memorial Day, people across 
Mississippi will stop to reflect on all those who have perished 
protecting our Nation, whether in battles long ago or in the ongoing 
conflicts. We will also affirm our belief that Congress should ensure 
that those who join our Armed Forces will be the best equipped and best 
trained in the world.
  As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I am thankful for the bravery and 
dedication of those who have fought and died for our country in our 
defense. They are true heroes, and we owe them our solemn gratitude for 
their service and sacrifice.


                         Sergeant Ken Hermogino

  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, today I rise to remember the life and 
heroic service of SGT Ken Hermogino, who died on May 10, 2011, in Herat 
Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his military vehicle 
overturned. Fort Carson cannot replace a leader like Sergeant 
Hermogino. His passing represents a tragic loss for his hometown of 
Henderson, NV, and for our country.
  Sergeant Hermogino's story is uniquely American. Within 2 months of 
the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, that took the 
lives of nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children, Sergeant 
Hermogino began a military career that would span 10 years and two 
branches of the armed services. His exceptional character shone in the 
face of our shared adversity; he chose to serve when his country needed 
him most.
  In 1998, he graduated from Basic High School in Henderson, NV, where 
he participated in the Marine Corps Junior ROTC program. This 
experience allowed him to build up the skills and discipline that would 
become the foundation of his success in the services. Outside of 
school, Sergeant Hermogino relaxed by skateboarding, BMX racing, and 
displaying his talent for fixing just about anything.
  Sergeant Hermogino enlisted in the Air Force in 2001, and he served 
for 8 years as a medical administrator based in the U.S. and Manas, 
Kyrgyzstan. While he assisted fellow servicemembers suffering from 
life-threatening wounds, Sergeant Hermogino always felt compelled to 
expand his contribution. His brother, Marvin Jeff, has said, ``He 
wanted to be more involved.''
  In 2009, Sergeant Hermogino joined the Army and served in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of the 7th Squadron, 10th 
Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Carson, CO. Sergeant Hermogino's 
bravery and exemplary service did not escape the notice of his 
commanders. He earned, among other decorations, the Air Force and Army 
Commendation Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, and the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
  Mark Twain once said, ``The fear of death follows from the fear of 
life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.'' Sergeant 
Hermogino's service was in keeping with this sentiment by selflessly 
putting country first, he lived life to the fullest. He lived with a 
sense of the highest honorable purpose.
  Today's tribute to the memory of Sergeant Hermogino must also honor 
his profound love for family. In this spirit, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in extending our deepest respects and condolences to Norma, his 
mother, Renato, his father, and to his entire family. Please know that 
Colorado and Americans across the country are profoundly grateful for 
Ken's sacrifice. For his bravery in Afghanistan and across the world, 
he will forever be remembered as one of our country's bravest.

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