[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES SERGEANT FIRST CLASS BENJAMIN WISE


                   SERGEANT FIRST CLASS BENJAMIN WISE

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, we are constantly reminded of the 
sacrifices of American troops and their families. These brave Americans 
fight for our freedoms and our values while putting their own lives at 
risk. We must always remember their service and thank them for their 
patriotism, dedication, and commitment, and honor those who have paid 
the ultimate price.
  Today I am here to pay my respects to Arkansas soldier SFC Benjamin 
Wise, who sacrificed his life for the love of his country while in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Sergeant 1st Class Wise graduated from West Side Christian School in 
El Dorado, AR, in 1995, and enlisted in the military in 2000, joining 
the Army as an infantryman assigned to the 520th Infantry Regiment, 2nd 
Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
  He discussed his military service with the Hope Star in 2004, saying 
that he was proud to be a soldier and that he wanted to serve his 
country.
  In 2005, he volunteered for the special forces--something his sister 
Heather told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette was something he talked 
about growing up. His new position in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special 
Forces Group suited him well. Sergeant 1st Class Wise's comrades said 
he was a friend to all of the members of his unit, cracking jokes and 
offering an ear to listen to all of their concerns.
  He was well aware of the dangers he faced, having served four 
deployments--twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. His family says 
that Ben was proud of the career he built in the Army. He was all too 
familiar with the sacrifices associated with work in war-torn 
Afghanistan after his brother, Jeremy Wise, a former Navy SEAL working 
as a security contractor, was killed in the country in December of 
2009.
  On Monday, January 9, 2012, Sergeant 1st Class Wise was injured 
during an attack by insurgents during a small-arms fight. He passed 
away on January 15, 2012.
  SFC Benjamin Wise is a true American hero. I ask my colleagues to 
keep his family--his wife Traci, sons Luke and Ryan, and daughter 
Kailen--and his friends in their thoughts and prayers during these very 
difficult times. I humbly offer my appreciation and gratitude--and I 
know I speak for the Senate and Congress as a whole--to this patriot 
and his family for his selfless sacrifice.
  I yield the floor.

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