[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12844]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIVES OF THIRTY-TWO AMERICAN HEROES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Rigell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RIGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this, the people's House, to 
pay tribute to, to honor, and to remember the lives of 32 American 
heroes.
  Next Tuesday is August 6, and it is the most sobering anniversary in 
the district I have the privilege to represent. It was on that day in 
2011 that enemy fighters in Afghanistan shot down a Chinook helicopter, 
killing 5 soldiers, 3 airmen, and 24 Navy SEALs. This tragedy marks the 
heaviest loss of life for our elite Navy SEAL community.
  The warriors we lost that day were loving husbands, devoted fathers, 
brave sons, selfless patriots. While their families struggle with the 
loss of their own personal hero, our Nation stands with them, and the 
good folks in Virginia's Second Congressional District stand with them, 
as well.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. Speaker, men and women have sacrificed for this country at a high 
cost. I have wrestled with this question, and I do not know why 
providence calls upon some to give so much, including in cases like 
this, for young men or young women to give the full measure of 
sacrifice in defense of our freedom. But I do know this, Mr. Speaker: I 
know the duty we have to the fallen, and that's to honor and to 
remember them and to care for their families and to meet our obligation 
today in this place and across this great land and press on for the 
freedom and liberty that they indeed gave their life for.
  So it is with reverence and respect, Mr. Speaker, and sincere 
appreciation from one American to the families of the fallen that I 
will now read the names of these Americans whose lives were taken that 
day in defense of our country.
  These are Navy servicemen killed August 6, 2011:
  Jonas B. Kelsall
  Louis J. Langlais
  Thomas A. Ratzlaff
  Craig M. Vickers
  Brian R. Bill
  John W. Faas
  Kevin A. Houston
  Matthew D. Mason
  Stephen M. Mills
  Nicholas H. Null
  Robert J. Reeves
  Heath M. Robinson
  Darrik C. Benson
  Christopher G. Campbell
  Jared W. Day
  John Douangdara
  Michael J. Strange
  Jon T. Tumilson
  Aaron C. Vaughn
  Jason R. Workman
  Jesse D. Pittman
  Nicholas P. Spehar
  The five soldiers killed that day:
  David R. Carter
  Bryan J. Nichols
  Patrick D. Hamburger
  Alexander J. Bennett
  Spencer C. Duncan
  And the three airmen killed that day:
  John W. Brown
  Andrew W. Harvell
  Daniel L. Zerbe
  Mr. Speaker, as these families continue to struggle with their loss, 
we continue to pray for them, asking that God will give them a special 
measure of grace and peace on this day and the days ahead.

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