[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10724-10725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                       Lance Corporal Adam Wolff

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I have the sad task of paying tribute 
to

[[Page 10725]]

a fellow Iowan who has given his life in service to his country. LCpl 
Adam Wolff was killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand 
province, Afghanistan. He was 25 years old. Adam was a native of Eldon, 
IA, and lived in Cedar Rapids. Eldon is home to the house depicted in 
Grant Wood's famous painting ``American Gothic,'' which has come to 
symbolize a certain indomitable American spirit. Certainly there can be 
no greater representation of the spirit of self-sacrifice that has 
preserved American liberty through the generations than patriots like 
Lance Corporal Wolff. We can never repay him for his sacrifice, but we 
as a country must remember him and all those who have given their lives 
in defense of freedom. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and 
friends who are feeling his loss very deeply, particularly his father 
Nicholas, his mother Deborah, and his siblings. We cannot begin to 
comprehend their loss, but they should know that Adam's service and 
sacrifice have earned the gratitude of an entire nation.


              Chief Warrant Officer Two Randy L. Billings

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to remember the life and 
sacrifice of a remarkable young man, Army CW2 Randy L. Billings. Randy 
died December 17, 2013, of injuries he sustained when his helicopter 
crashed in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom.
  Randy was born September 1, 1979, in Poteau, OK, and later moved to 
Heavener, OK. After graduating Heavener High School in 1997, he joined 
the military and served our country for 16 years.
  While attending flight school to Rucker, AL, Randy met his wife 
Ashley. Bonding through a mutual enjoyment of the outdoors, they were 
married in 2008.
  In September 2009, Randy transferred to the 3rd Assault Helicopter 
Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, and 1st 
Infantry Division in Fort Riley, KS.
  The couple made a home in Manhattan, KS, but they planned to move 
south after he retired from the military and start a family.
  Ashley and her family are suffering their second loss to war. Ashley 
Billings' brother died in a 2004 helicopter crash in Iraq. ``It's much 
harder because we've been through this before,'' she said. However, 
they were comforted by the knowledge that Randy ``loved what he did and 
was going to do it right.''
  On December 17, 2013, Randy tragically died of injuries he sustained 
when his Black Hawk U-60 helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan. 
Five other soldiers on board were killed alongside of Randy.
  His uncle Hurschel Billings said, ``He really loved it. Every time he 
came back, he couldn't wait to go back.'' He served two tours in Iraq 
and two in Afghanistan. ``He died loving what he does. Serving the 
country.''
  ``He was just one of the nicest people you could possibly be around . 
. . He was the definition of what a hero is. He served his country 
well,'' said Amanda Morrison, Billings' cousin.
  A memorial service was held January 4, 2014, at Cornerstone Baptist 
Church in Inverness, FL, and he was buried at Florida National 
Cemetery. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin ordered flags on State property 
to fly at half-staff from 3-6 January, 2014.
  ``He's pushed me to be a better person for myself every single day of 
my life,'' his wife Ashley said. ``That's the kind of person he was.''
  Chief Warrant Officer Billings' wife Ashley Billings resides in 
Manhattan, KS; mother Eva Cooper in Poteau, OK; and father Robert 
Billings in Heavener, OK.
  Today we remember Army CW2 Randy L. Billings, a young man who loved 
his family and country and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.

                          ____________________