[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 12039-12040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    First Sergeant Tracy L. Stapley

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a recently fallen 
soldier, 1SG Tracy L. Stapley, one of Utah's finest. He left this earth 
on July 3, 2013, while serving our country at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar.
  First Sergeant Stapley was an Army man, and his family is an Army 
family. His love for our country showed through his actions. He served 
in the U.S. Army Reserve for 26 years, and was assigned to the 308th 
Medical Logistics Company. He also worked full-time for the Army 
Reserve as a civilian, and his presence among co-workers will be sorely 
missed. The 308th recently posted a tribute to First Sergeant Stapley 
online, part of which I would like to read:

       First Sergeant was an amazing leader, mentor, and friend. 
     He always placed his soldiers first and had their backs from 
     day one. To many, he was more than just a first sergeant, he 
     was a friend and a confidant. First Sergeant Stapley was the 
     glue that held the unit together. He excelled in all aspects 
     of his life; from the unit's first sergeant, to his civilian 
     employment, to being a husband and father.

  Tracy and his dear wife Antionette are the parents of two beautiful 
children, Trase and Kennedy. Known as the ``dance dad,'' Tracy was an 
ardent supporter of Kennedy's dancing. He also loved to attend Trase's 
sporting events. The unmatched pride of a father was frequently seen at 
many recitals, and on many sidelines. I trust that all Utahns share the 
pride that I feel, knowing that this fellow Utahn served not only his 
country, but also his family with honor and love.
  It is comforting to me to know that First Sergeant Stapley's love for 
our country and dedication to excellence lives on through his family. 
His son Trase is currently a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West 
Point, and I am confident that he is representing Utah and the Stapley 
family well.
  First Sergeant Stapley was always helping others, even when help was 
unsolicited. His son Trase wrote that Tracy was ``a man worth praising 
and a friend worth having; . . . a fun-loving jokester.'' Trase added:


[[Page 12040]]

       He loved the family and loved being around us making sure 
     we had everything we ever needed and more. He was the best. 
     We love you Dude, Rest in Peace. Come see us sometime.

  It warms my soul to witness the sustaining power of faith, and the 
love that a son has for his father.
  I imagine that First Sergeant Stapley, like many of our service men 
and women, would deny the claim that he is a hero. To Tracy, and all of 
our soldiers, I would say that you are among the few heroes left in our 
modern world. As Americans, we all feel a profound sense of pride and 
honor when we see a uniformed soldier, and we would be wise to remember 
our heroes in all that we do, especially in this body. It is true that 
we honor those who have gone before by living our lives with excellence 
today.
  I thank 1SG Tracy L. Stapley for his honorable service in defense of 
the Constitution and our freedom, and I thank all of our men and women 
who have also given the ultimate sacrifice. I would like to convey my 
condolences and profound gratitude to his wife Antionette, his daughter 
Kennedy, his son Trase, and his father John. Our thoughts and prayers 
are with you, and with your entire family. It is my solemn hope that 
we, as Senators, will always remember the tremendous sacrifice, laid 
upon the altar of freedom by our brave soldiers and their families.

                          ____________________