[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                         Petty Officer Tumilson

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, as an Iowan, it is with great sadness 
but also a sense of pride that I rise to pay tribute to Navy SEAL Jon 
T. Tumilson who gave his life for his country along with 29 other 
American heroes as the result of a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on 
August 6. He worked hard to get where he did and was extremely proud to 
have become a Navy SEAL. The people of the State of Iowa, and 
particularly his hometown of Rockford, are extremely proud to call him 
a native son.
  Petty Officer Tumilson is described as someone who committed fully to 
everything he did and he applied that intense dedication to serving his 
country. We as a nation must be grateful that we have brave and 
selfless Americans like Jon Tumilson who are willing to undertake the 
incredible training necessary to become a Navy SEAL so that they can 
then put their lives on the line repeatedly in some of the most 
dangerous missions imaginable. Our country has lost a powerful force 
for good, and his fellow sailors have lost a brother in arms. Of 
course, his loss will be felt particularly deeply by his family, 
friends, and neighbors. My prayers go out to Jon's parents, George and 
Kathy, and all those who are grieving. Nothing can compensate for his 
loss, but I hope they can take comfort in knowing that he died a true 
American hero. Jon Tumilson's memory will now join the honored ranks of 
those patriots who, since the Revolutionary War, have fought to defend 
American liberty.


                   Chief Petty Officer Robert Reeves

  Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a true American 
hero. On August 5, 2011, our State and Nation lost a great patriot when 
Navy SEAL CPO Robert Reeves, aged 32, died in Afghanistan during combat 
operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Chief Reeves was raised in Louisiana by his loving parents Jo and 
James Reeves, and he graduated from Caddo Magnet High School in 
Shreveport, LA, where he played both soccer and lacrosse.
  After 1 year at LSU, Chief Reeves enlisted in the U.S. Navy and 
joined the SEALs in 1999. Since that time, he has been assigned to 
various SEAL teams where he made several combat deployments in support 
of the global war on terror, distinguishing himself in combat 
operations during 13 years of service in the U.S. Navy.
  A decorated soldier, he served as a member of the Naval Special 
Warfare Development Group, or SEAL Team Six as it is more commonly 
known, and was the recipient of four Bronze Stars--earned for his 
bravery and meritorious service. He carried out his duties with pride 
and without reservation and each of us owes him our gratitude for his 
selfless sacrifice.
  There is no doubt that this tragic loss will not only be felt within 
the Reeves family but also the Navy and the entire Nation. My deepest 
thoughts and prayers are with his family during this extraordinarily 
difficult time. Our Nation is safer and stronger because of brave 
heroes like Chief Reeves. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me as we 
honor the life of Navy SEAL CPO Robert Reeves and his legacy, as well 
as all the other brave men and women in our Armed Forces who have given 
the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great Nation.

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