[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12978-12979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      Staff Sergeant Kirk A. Owen

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I pay tribute today to a true American 
hero, Army SSG Kirk A. Owen of Sapulpa, OK, who died on August 2nd, 
2011, serving our Nation in Paktya Province, Afghanistan. Staff 
Sergeant Owen was assigned as a scout to Headquarters and Headquarters 
Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade 
Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard.
  Staff Sergeant Owen died of injuries sustained when the vehicle in 
which he was riding was attacked with an improvised explosive device in 
the Lajah District, Paktya Province while conducting combat operations. 
He was 37 years old.
  Kirk enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at the age of 31 as a 
Chaplain's Assistant after seeing a recruiting commercial on television 
and deployed in support of disaster relief operations following 
Hurricane Katrina. Kirk then deployed again to Iraq in 2007 as an 
infantryman and rose through the ranks to Staff Sergeant. He served as 
a full-time Army National Guard Soldier. He strived to be the best in 
everything he did and was repeatedly recognized for his excellence as 
the Hero of the Battlefield and the outstanding soldier in the 45th 
Infantry Brigade Combat Team for his performance at the Joint Readiness 
Training Center, and presented the Unsung Hero Award when he attended 
the Ranger Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course for his scout 
training. He

[[Page 12979]]

also was Soldier of the Cycle for basic training and given 
Distinguished Honors at Advanced Individual Training.
  A true warrior and leader, Kirk died while escorting an Explosive 
Ordnance Disposal team to disarm dangerous explosive devices in Paktya 
Province. Kirk was a loving husband, endearing father, and faithful 
friend. His loving presence, strong faith, incredible sense of duty and 
honor, and his wonderful sense of humor left a lasting impression on 
every heart he touched.
  First Baptist Church Pastor Doyle Pryor said, ``Kirk is one of those 
guys who had a natural sense of duty and honor. He really believed his 
military service was a calling from God.''
  Major General Myles Deering, the Oklahoma National Guard Adjutant 
General, said, ``He was an outstanding non-commissioned officer, 
dedicated to loyally serving his country and fellow Soldiers. His loss 
is being felt across the state and he will be greatly missed.''
  His daughter Kylie wrote:

       My dad was a fantastic leader. All of his guys looked up to 
     him. My nickname for him was Ironman. There was nothing to me 
     that he couldn't do. He loved Jesus with all his heart and 
     that's where my peace is coming from. I can just see him up 
     in heaven following Jesus around wanting to know everything. 
     A few weeks before he left we were at the grocery store and 
     my dad and little sister were walking down the marshmallow 
     aisle and he turned to her and said `Kayci, I think heaven 
     will smell like marshmallows.' I hope it does. The memory of 
     my dad will live on forever and his good looks will too.

  In July 2012, the town of Sapulpa dedicated a neighborhood park where 
the Owen family still lives as a tribute to Kirk and his service to our 
Nation. There is a lasting monument in his honor.
  Kirk lived a life of love for God, his wife and daughters, family, 
friends, and country. He leaves behind a wonderful and loving family: 
his wife, Tiffany and daughters, Kylie and Kayci. He will be remembered 
for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our nation. I am 
honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who volunteered to go 
into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice for our protection and 
freedom. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers, always.

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