[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11602-11603]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                 Second Lieutenant Tobias C. Alexander

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I wish to remember the life and sacrifice 
of a remarkable young man, Army 2LT Tobias C. Alexander. Along with one 
other soldier, Toby died May 20, 2012 of injuries he sustained when his 
unit was attacked with improvised explosive devices in Tarin Kowt, 
Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Toby was born June 8, 1981 in Wesel, Germany and graduated from Eglin 
High School in 1999.
  Toby entered the Active Duty Army in August 2002 as a signal intel 
analyst. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task 
Force--Afghanistan (3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne). He obtained 
the rank of sergeant first class.
  In 2011 he earned a bachelors' degree in interdisciplinary studies 
from Cameron University where he was a part of the Reserve Officer 
Training Corps. After receiving his commission, he attended the Field 
Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course B at Fort Sill, OK and was then 
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery, 214th Fires 
Brigade. He served as a platoon leader for Alpha Battery before being 
selected for the Security Forces Advisory Team, SFAT, which was 
responsible for the training of Afghanistan's national security forces. 
He deployed for his second tour to Afghanistan in June 2011.
  His friend, Myles Mendez, said ``He was the guy you went to if you 
needed to know something, so a lot of people were always going to him 
with `What's this? What's that? Can you help me?' He was the go-to 
guy.''
  ``I honestly don't think that he would have had it any other way. I 
think if he had to choose to go out, I think he would have wanted to 
have it serving his country. He was a patriot.''
  On May 30, 2012, the family held funeral services at Cameron Baptist 
Church in Lawton, OK.
  He is survived by his wife Amanda, his children: Angelicia, Kevin and 
Lexie, and his parents Bill and Heike Alexander.

[[Page 11603]]

  Today we remember Army 2LT Tobias C. Alexander, a young man who loved 
his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                Army Private First Class Jon R. Townsend

  Mr. President, I also wish to remember Army PFC Jon R. Townsend. 
Along with three other soldiers, Jon died September 16, 2012 in Zabul 
province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom due to 
injuries sustained due to enemy small arms fire.
  Jon was born October 28, 1992 and was raised in Claremore, OK. Two 
days after he graduated from Claremore-Sequoyah High School in 2011 he 
left for Army basic training at 17. His friends and family watched as 
he transformed--downing 5 dozen eggs a week--from an average kid into a 
bulked-up recruit.
  After completing initial training, Jon was assigned to the 1st 
Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd 
Infantry Division, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. He deployed 
to Afghanistan in December 2011.
  His mother said that Jon believed in the mission and was particularly 
fond of the children he encountered. He asked her to send him care 
packages with treats that he could give his ``babies,'' and he'd use 
his wet wipes to clean the children. ``Jon loved life and wanted to 
share it with everybody,'' she said. ``He wanted to make everybody 
happy.''
  In February 2012, he went home on leave from Afghanistan and married 
his high school sweetheart, Brittany Carden. They had 3 days together 
as a married couple before he departed back to Afghanistan.
  ``I'm not mad. . .Jon did this because he loved his country,'' his 
mother said. ``He wanted to make it safe, and (joining the military) 
was the only way he knew how.''
  On September 28, 2012, the family held a service at First Baptist 
Church and Jon was laid to rest in Lone Chapel Cemetery in Claremore, 
OK.
  Jon is survived by his wife Brittany Townsend; Lois Harrison, granny; 
Karen (Katy Harrison) Nelson, mother; Aunt Honee Sue (Harrison) 
Grumbein and spouse Keith Grumbien and their children: Kobe, Kalvin, 
and Katelyn of Foyil; respected father-like figure Roland Long of 
Foyil; Jeremy Nelson, brother, and spouse, Courtney and their children: 
Austin, Jeremiah, Keegan and Xelia Nelson; Andrew Bingham; and Caleb 
and Myah Smith; Jennifer (Nelson) Tucker and spouse Paul Tucker and 
children: Tanner and Addison; Nancy (Roberts) Carden, mother-in-law; 
James L. Carden, Jr., father; Cherish (Carden) Moye, sister, and 
husband Brent Moye; and James Larry Carden, III, brother; and faithful 
four-legged friend, Teddy. He was preceded in death by his father 
Robert Wayne Townsend, cousin Shawn Mersa, maternal grandfather (Bud) 
or Carroll Harrison, Jr., Sharon Rice (Harrison) aunt.
  Today we remember Army PFC Jon R. Townsend, a young man who loved his 
family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                       Hospitalman Eric D. Warren

  Mr. President, as well I would like to pay tribute to the life and 
sacrifice of Navy HM Eric D. ``Doc'' Warren. Eric died May 26, 2012 of 
injuries he sustained from an improvised explosive device in Sangin 
district, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom.
  Eric was born November 22, 1988 and was a resident of Shawnee, OK. As 
a child, he was active in Cub Scouts, little league sports, and earned 
a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Eric was also active in his church youth 
group, football, wrestling, and drama.
  After graduating from McLoud High School, he enlisted in the Navy, 
graduated from Corpsman School and completed Fleet Marine Force 
training as a combat corpsman. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 
8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary 
Force, Camp Lejeune, NC.
  He was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2012 for his third tour of 
duty.
  ``When he was home last time, I shook his hand and he hugged my neck 
and whispered in my ear ``pray for me,'' Reverend Ron Baldridge said. 
``I prayed for him every day.''
  Eric was a skinny kid with a mischievous streak who took pleasure in 
challenging his pastor and youth minister, Reverend Baldridge 
explained. Kevin Spurgin, youth minister at Eric's church said 
Hospitalman Warren knew the possible consequences of being in one of 
the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, but any fears he may have had 
were overcome by pride for the job he was doing there.
  His father, Marvin, said his son never put himself first and the only 
enemy he knew was at war. ``He was real passionate about being with his 
guys over there,'' said Marvin, pausing to wipe away his tears. ``He 
wanted to make sure they were safe.''
  On June 5, 2012, the family held a funeral service at Downtown 
Pentecostal Holiness Church in Shawnee, OK. There was a 60-second 
standing ovation for Eric during his funeral service to commemorate 
Hospitalman Warren's service to his country, and the ultimate sacrifice 
he and his family made.
  Eric is the son of Donna Beth and Marvin Warren Jr., who adopted 11-
year-old Eric Warren after marrying his mother. His birth father is 
William Burris, according to his obituary.
  Today we remember Navy HM Eric D. ``Doc'' Warren, a young man who 
loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for 
freedom.

                          ____________________