[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 379]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MASTER SERGEANT TRAVIS RIDDICK

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a fallen 
son of Iowa, MSgt. Travis Riddick. Master Sergeant Riddick joined the 
Marine Corps after graduating from high school in Centerville, IA. In 
doing so, he was following in a laudable family tradition of patriotic 
service. His father and grandfather were marines, as well as his uncle 
and cousins. His twin brother recently retired after 21 years in the 
Navy. Travis Riddick certainly did his family, his State, and his 
country proud. He was awarded six Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps 
Commendation Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, 
seven Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service 
Medals, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign 
Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the 
Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO 
Medal, the NATO ISAF Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
  My prayers are with his mother, Barbara, his father, John, and his 
wife, Jennifer, as well as his children and all his family and friends. 
His father reports that Travis loved his job and his mother said that 
he was the best marine ever. Our Nation is tremendously fortunate to 
have individuals like Travis Riddick who have the drive to step forward 
and serve their country with enthusiasm and honor. To selfless heroes 
like Travis Riddick, we owe nothing short of our liberty. Unlike at the 
birth of our country, when every person who aligned with the cause of 
freedom was putting themselves at great risk, those who enjoy our way 
of life today rely on a select group of patriotic Americans to preserve 
everything we hold so dear. We can never repay the debt we owe, but we 
are obliged to honor and remember them for their sacrifice in the name 
of liberty.

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