[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15003]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR UNITED STATES ARMY STAFF SERGEANT ORION 
                             NELSON SPARKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON BARBER

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2012

  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army 
Staff Sergeant Orion Nelson Sparks, who was killed in action with a 
fellow soldier on September 26, 2012 when an insurgent wearing a 
suicide vest detonated the device near their patrol in Pul-e-Alam, 
Afghanistan. He leaves behind his mother, father, two brothers and 
numerous friends.
  Born in Tacoma, Washington, Staff Sergeant Sparks spent most of his 
childhood in Gig Harbor, Washington. He attended Peninsula High School 
before joining the Army in 2003. Staff Sergeant Sparks was assigned to 
the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat 
Team based in Germany.
  Staff Sergeant Sparks was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, but 
he had already completed two previous deployments to Iraq, the first a 
14-month deployment from May 2003 to July 2004 and the other a year-
long deployment from November 2005 to 2006.
  Since entering the Army, Staff Sergeant Sparks was considered a great 
soldier. Over his career he earned more than a dozen honors including 
two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, three Army 
Good Conduct Medals, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service 
Star and four Iraq Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Stars. For his 
bravery in action, Staff Sergeant Sparks was awarded a Purple Heart and 
a Bronze Star posthumously.
  We remember Staff Sergeant Sparks and offer our deepest condolences 
and sincerest prayers to his family. I am heartsick for their loss and 
my words cannot offer adequate consolation.
  Everyone in our great country owes Staff Sergeant Sparks and his 
family a debt of gratitude for his selfless sacrifice and courage. It 
is vital that we keep our men and women in uniform who are in harm's 
way in our thoughts and prayers. I call on my fellow colleagues and all 
Americans to remember Staff Sergeant Sparks and his fellow fallen 
comrades--those who have paid the ultimate price.

                          ____________________