[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13323]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      SPECIALIST DENNIS G. JENSEN

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute SPC Dennis G. Jensen and his heroic service to our country. A 
member of the South Dakota National Guard, Spc. Jensen was serving in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On August 16, 2011, he died of 
injuries sustained as a result of a bridge construction accident in 
Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
  A 2009 graduate of Vermillion High School, SPC Jensen enlisted in the 
National Guard's 211th Engineer Company in May 2008. In May 2011, SPC 
Jensen volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan with the National Guard's 
200th Engineer Company. It is a special person who is willing to deploy 
outside of his unit; SPC Jensen's courage and personal sacrifice is 
commendable. SPC Jensen's service commendations include the National 
Defense Service Medal, Global ar on Terrorism Service Medal, 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, 
Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon.
  SPC Jensen will be remembered for his selfless service to our country 
and his willingness to put the needs of others before his own. He will 
be deeply missed by those who survive him: his father Glenn Jensen, 
mother Christine Bestgen, and sister Melissa Jensen.
  SPC Jensen made the ultimate sacrifice for his soldiers and his 
country. Our Nation owes him a debt of gratitude, and the best way to 
honor his life is to emulate his commitment to our country. Mr. 
President, I join with all South Dakotans in expressing my deepest 
sympathy to the family and friends of SPC Dennis Jensen. He will be 
missed, but his service to our Nation will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________