[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 16061-16062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                   Private First Class Joshua A. Gray

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise this morning to celebrate the 
life and mourn the loss of a soldier from Kentucky who died while 
serving in uniform. PFC Joshua Gray of Van Lear, KY, lost his life on 
February 10, 2014, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from a noncombat-
related incident.
  Private First Class Gray was 21 years old. For his service in 
uniform, Private First Class Gray received several medals, awards, and 
decorations, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good 
Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global 
War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the 
Expert Marksmanship Badge.
  Josh's life may have been tragically cut short, but it was full of 
promise. He excelled as a student. He scored a 34 out of 36 on the ACT 
standardized test in high school, putting his score in the 99th 
percentile. Friends and teachers from Johnson Central High School, 
where Josh graduated in 2011, remember how very bright he was.
  ``Josh was a very high-end student. He was an amazing kid,'' says 
John Robinson, one of Josh's teachers. ``He was very super-smart. He 
was always looking something up. He always had this thirst for 
knowledge--computers, math, science and technology. He was always more 
than willing to do work. He often came to me with questions--or 
answers.''
  Josh's fascination with computers led him to salvage an old, massive 
IBM server that he brought to school to tinker with. John Robinson 
remembers the unit was so heavy it should have required two people to 
carry it. John said:

       He was carrying it around like it was nothing. He left it 
     here. I still have it.

  Josh was known around school for carrying something else around--Mr. 
Waddles, his stuffed penguin and constant companion. Though Josh 
carried the stuffed penguin at first for laughs, it soon became his 
trademark. As Tim Adams, district director of operations for Johnson 
County Schools, said:

       He took Mr. Waddles everywhere with him. It started out as 
     a joke, but then it just caught on. Mr. Waddles became part 
     of the class.

  Joshua participated on the Johnson Central High School academic team 
and the SkillsUSA team. Popular with his classmates, he was also named 
prom king and voted ``Most Unforgettable'' by his senior class.
  Lindsey Patrick, a classmate of Joshua's, stated:

       He could have done anything with his life, he was one of 
     the most brilliant people I've ever met, and [service] is 
     what he chose to do and give his life. That is why he is so 
     unforgettable.

  Josh was also musically gifted as well. Angie Carriere, his former 
music teacher, remembers Josh's musical talent:

       He was in my violin/fiddle class. He never wanted to learn 
     to read music, instead he insisted on playing music `by ear.' 
     Actually, he never really needed the [sheet] music; he could 
     just listen to the song and play it.

  Josh joined the Army in November of 2012. He completed training at 
Fort Jackson, SC, and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters 
Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, based out of Fort Drum, NY, as a 
satellite communications system operator and maintainer. He deployed to 
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January of 
2014.
  Joshua's funeral was held at Johnson County Middle School. He was 
buried with full military honors at Highland Memorial Park in 
Staffordsville, Johnson County.
  We are thinking of Josh's family as I recount his story for my Senate 
colleagues, including his parents Seth William Gray and Robin Rena 
Gray, his brother Dustin Mollett, his sister Delaney Mollett, his 
maternal grandparents Andy and Kathleen Price, his paternal 
grandmother, Irene Gray, and many other beloved family members and 
friends.
  PFC Joshua A. Gray was truly a talented and bright young man who 
could have done many things. The fact that he chose to serve his 
country in the U.S. Army is a testament to his character and his 
patriotism. I hope the family of Private First Class Gray knows that we 
in the Senate honor his choice to serve and we are grateful for his 
sacrifice.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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