[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14241-14243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                      Specialist William E. Allmon

 Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to pay tribute to 
the life and sacrifice of Army SPC William E. Allmon, of Ardmore, OK 
who died on April 12, 2008, of wounds suffered when his vehicle 
encountered an improvised explosive device while serving his Nation in 
Baghdad, Iraq.
  William was a combat engineer who joined the Army in June 2000 and 
was on his second deployment to Iraq. He previously deployed as part of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2005 to January 2006. He was 
assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat 
Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.
  ``If you didn't know him, you missed out on a lot,'' wrote SGT 
Richard White in a letter read tearfully by his wife during a funeral 
service. ``You are not only my best friend, you are my brother.''
  A funeral service was held on April 22, 2008 at Pleasant Valley South 
Baptist Church in Silver Creek, GA.
  William is survived by his wife Jennifer, their son Damien and 
stepson Jason ``Luke'' Johnson, his mother Donna Fortune, and his 
father William Allmon.
  He loved his family and his children. ``We're going to miss his smile 
and his antics--he was a kid at heart. When we went to Chuck E. Cheese, 
he'd get as much out of it as the kids,'' said the soldier's father, 
William Allmon.
  Today we remember Army SPC William E. Allmon, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                     Staff Sergeant Kevin R. Brown

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life 
and sacrifice of Army SSG Kevin R. Brown, of Harrah, OK who died on 
September 25, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while 
serving his Nation in Muqdadiyah, Iraq.
  A cavalry scout, Brown joined the military in September 1988, a year 
after graduating from Harrah High School. He was inspired to join the 
military by his father Richard Haynes Brown, a senior master sergeant 
who retired at Tinker Air Force Base, OK after 22 years of service.
  In April 2006 he was assigned 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, TX and 
deployed for his second tour to Iraq in October 2006.
  A funeral service was held at the Brown family plot in Rineyville, 
KY, near Fort Knox, TN.
  Kevin is survived by his parents Glenda and Richard Haynes Brown, his 
wife Lena of Killeen, TX, the couple's daughters Maria, 13, and 
Charlene, 14, a sister Brandy Ross of Moore, OK, and two stepchildren 
Jeremy and Pamela.
  I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Kevin's family. He 
lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. 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

[[Page 14242]]

hero who twice volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate 
sacrifice of his life for our freedom.


                   Private First Class Cody M. Carver

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I also wish to remember Army PFC Cody M. 
Carver who died on October 30, 2007 of wounds sustained when enemy 
forces engaged his unit with small-arms fire and an improvised 
explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.
  Born June 23, 1988, Cody joined the Army in November 2006. Upon 
completing basic training he returned to Oklahoma to serve as a 
hometown recruiter. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 15th 
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort 
Benning, GA where he was deployed to Iraq on September 28, 2007.
  Cody's father, Darrell Lee Carver, was wounded during the Vietnam 
war. That, along with the September 11, 2001 attacks was his motivation 
for joining the Army, his mother said. ``He had talked about joining 
the Army since the ninth grade. I guess it was about the same time 9/11 
happened. That bothered him so bad, he just wanted to go and make it 
right,'' she said.
  A memorial service was held on November 10, 2007 at Coweta High 
School, with burial at the Vernon Cemetery in Coweta, OK.
  His mother remembers him as very much a single man with a huge sense 
of humor. ``I asked him at Valentine's Day if there was anyone he 
wanted me to send flowers to,'' said his mother. ``He said, `Mom, that 
would be too many flowers. You couldn't afford it.'''
  Cody is survived by his parents Darrel and Pam Carver of Haskell, OK, 
brothers Lee and Jake Carver of Haskell, OK, and his grandparents 
Charles Orsburn and Barbara Phillippe of Wagoner, OK, and Ronald and 
Edna Carver of Coweta, OK.
  Today we remember Army PFC Cody M. Carver, a young man who loved his 
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                  Sergeant First Class David R. Hurst

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life 
and sacrifice of Army SFC David R. Hurst, of Fort Sill, OK who died on 
June 8, 2008, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his 
Nation in Baghdad, Iraq.
  Born October 21, 1976, David was a 1994 graduate of Ridgewood Prep 
School in Metairie, LA. He enlisted in the Army in March 1995 and 
completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, GA 
before being honorably discharged in June 1998.
  Returning to active duty in August 1999, he served as a basic 
training drill sergeant at Fort Sill, OK, from November 2005 to October 
2007 and was then reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort 
Polk, LA.
  A funeral service was held on June 17, 2008 at Schoen Funeral home 
with internment at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in New 
Orleans, LA.
  David is preceded in death by his mother Harryette Kock and survived 
by his father Max Wayne Hurst, his stepmother Lillian T. Hurst, his 
brothers Chris and Mark Hurst, and numerous nieces, nephews, other 
relatives, and friends.
  I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to David's family. He 
lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. 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 
twice volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice 
of his life for our freedom.


                 Sergeant First Class Jeffry D. Kettle

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life 
and sacrifice of Army SFC Jeffry D. Kettle who died on August 12, 2007 
of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in 
Nangarhar province near Kuzkalakhel, Afghanistan.
  Born August 26, 1975 and listing Madill, OK as his home of record, 
Jeff was a product of Texas City, TX. Military service ran in his 
family with his grandfather, uncles, brother, and father also 
completing service time. ``Jeff was the ultimate warrior,'' said Ronald 
Kettle, noting his son joined the Army in 1993 right after graduating 
from high school. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces 
Group based at Fort Bragg, NC and was on his fourth deployment.
  A memorial service was held August 31, 2007, at Calvary Baptist 
Church in Texas City, TX. Jeff was buried with military honors at 
Arlington National Cemetery on August 22, 2007. His flag-draped coffin 
was carried to the grave site by a six-man casket team of soldiers from 
the 3rd Infantry Regiment. In the brief ceremony, relatives including 
his parents and his wife recited the Lord's Prayer. His father said his 
son, 31, wished to be at Arlington because ``he wanted to be buried 
among heroes.''
  Jeff is survived by his parents Ron and Cindy Kettle, his wife Brandi 
Kettle, two sons Jeffrey and Logan, grandmother Anne Moore, and two 
brothers Ryan and Clay Kettle.
  I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Jeff's family. He 
lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. 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 of his 
life for our freedom.


                        Captain Torre R. Mallard

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to remember another remarkable 
young man, Army CPT Torre R. Mallard. Assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd 
Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, TX., Torre died March 10, 2008 of 
wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device while serving his 
Nation in Balad Ruz, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  The son of a retired army master sergeant, Torre was born August 20, 
1980 in Anniston, AL, and lived throughout the United States and 
Europe, eventually graduating from Salmen High School in Slidell, LA, 
in 1998.
  While attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Torre was 
actively involved in the boxing and football programs. During the 
spring semester of his sophomore year at the academy he served a 4-
month term as a company commander, one of the highest positions in the 
Cadet Chain of Command at the academy. In June 2002 he earned a 
commission in the Army and graduated with a degree in computer science.
  A memorial service was held on March 12, 2008 in Anniston, with 
burial in the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, NY.
  Torre is survived by his wife Bonita, two young sons Torre Jr. and 
Joshua, and his parents Mose and Robin Mallard.
  Today we remember Army CPT Torre R. Mallard, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                     Specialist Michael E. Phillips

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also pay tribute to 
the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Michael E. Phillips who died on 
February 24, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.
  Michael left for basic training on June 24, 2006. Upon finishing 
advanced infantry training, he was assigned to Bravo Company 1 of the 
502nd Strike Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.
  On October 13, 2007, he and his teammates deployed to Iraq in support 
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just 4 months into his deployment an 
improvised explosive device tore through the door of the vehicle he was 
driving. Despite the severity of his injuries he continued to smile and 
reassure those taking care of him. Even in the most grim and serious 
times, Michael still fought and lifted up those around him.
  He is survived by his parents Steven and Angelia Phillips, his 
brothers David and Anthony, and his sister Barbara--all of Ardmore, OK.
  Michael excelled at drawing and had been offered admission to the San 
Francisco Art Institute, his mother said. But serving his country meant 
more than going to college, she said.
  ``He came home one day and said he wanted to join the Army, and we 
got in the car and went down to the recruiting station,'' Angelia 
Phillips said. ``He said terrorism was like a virus. It had to be 
stopped. It had to be contained.''

[[Page 14243]]

Her son was reenlisting to join for 2 more years because ``he didn't 
want to leave his squad, his guys,'' she said.
  Today we remember Army SPC Michael E. Phillips, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                      Corporal Bryan J. Scripsick

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I also wish to remember Marine Corps Cpl 
Bryan J. Scripsick who, along with three other Marines, succumbed to 
injuries sustained after a suicide bomber attacked their position in 
Anbar province north of Baghdad, Iraq on September 6, 2007.
  Bryan was born August 21, 1985. Although the family home is in Wayne, 
OK, he graduated in 2004 from Pauls Valley High School, where he played 
safety and wide receiver on the football team.
  Rather than pursuing his dream of playing college football, Bryan 
chose to join the Marine Corps right after his 19th birthday in August 
2004. He was assigned to 3rd Assault amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA and was on 
his second tour to Iraq.
  More than 100 people filled the First United Methodist Church for a 
memorial service held on September 13, 2007. Burial took place at the 
Mount Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley, OK. At the cemetery, members of 
the Marine honor guard carried the casket to the gravesite where the 
flag was folded above the casket and presented to Bryan's parents and 
his brother. He was then honored with three volleys from a rifle party 
and the playing of Taps.
  Bryan is survived by his parents Jon and Jan Scripsick, and his 
brother Brett Scripsick of Pauls Valley, OK.
  Today we remember Marine Corps Cpl Bryan J. Scripsick, a young man 
who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.

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