[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10961]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING SERGEANT JAMES T. HACKEMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 2011

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant James T. 
Hackemer, a veteran of the Iraq War who tragically died in an accident 
on July 8, 2011 at the age of twenty-nine.
  A native of the Village of Gowanda, Sergeant Hackemer joined the 
military after graduating from Gowanda High School. He had hopes of 
becoming a state trooper after serving his country. Sergeant Hackemer's 
selfless ambitions made him a model of heroism for his generation.
  In March of 2008, Sergeant Hackemer was in southern Baghdad when a 
bomb exploded under his vehicle. The disaster robbed him of both his 
legs and his left hip. After spending the next three years in physical 
therapy, Sergeant Hackemer defied his doctors' expectations by 
regaining his ability to walk again with the help of prosthetic legs.
  After leaving the hospital, Sergeant Hackemer returned to his life in 
Western New York. Even while struggling with his loss, Sergeant 
Hackemer made an effort to enjoy life through spending time with his 
friends and family and learning how to bike again. His story is a 
lesson of hope for everybody in his community.
  Sergeant Hackemer is survived by his wife, Alycia, and his two young 
daughters, Kaelynn and Addison.
  It is my honor to pay tribute to Sergeant James T. Hackemer's life, 
and I offer my deepest condolences to the Hackemer family for their 
loss. His resolute spirit and valor will be remembered by those in his 
community.

                          ____________________