[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15052]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF UNITED STATES ARMY SERGEANT FIRST 
                           CLASS RYAN SAVARD

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. RON BARBER

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 26, 2012

  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army 
Sergeant First Class Ryan J. Savard, who was killed in action on 
October 13, 2012, while on patrol in Khanabad District, Afghanistan. He 
leaves behind his wife, mother, father and numerous friends.
  Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sgt. 1st Class Savard moved to Arizona 
where he attended Buena High School in Sierra Vista before joining the 
Army in 2001 to work on helicopters. Over the course of his career, 
Sgt. 1st Class Savard worked with the Special Forces and was assigned 
to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations 
Command based at Fort Bragg, NC. He was on his fifth Special Forces 
deployment to Afghanistan, not including a previous deployment to Iraq 
in 2003.
  We will remember Sgt. 1st Class Savard as an exceptional soldier. 
Over his career he earned more than a dozen honors including two Bronze 
Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, three Army Commendation Medals, a Joint 
Service Achievement Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, four Army 
Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, an Afghanistan 
Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, a Kosovo Campaign Medal with 
Bronze Service Star, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and 
a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. For his bravery in action, he 
was awarded a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Purple Heart and a 
Bronze Star posthumously.
  I ask the House of Representatives to join with me in extending our 
deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. 1st Class Savard. 
All who live in this great nation owe Sgt. 1st Class Savard and his 
family a debt of gratitude for he has paid the ultimate price for our 
safety and security. His sacrifice reminds us of all of our men and 
women in uniform who are in harm's way each day whom we must keep in 
our thoughts and prayers. We will always remember Sgt. 1st Class Savard 
for his courage and selfless sacrifice.

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