[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12995-12996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                       Specialist Dennis J. Pratt

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to pay tribute to a true American 
hero, Army SPC Dennis J. Pratt, who died on July 20, 2009, serving our 
Nation in Maydan Shahr, Afghanistan. Specialist Pratt, SPC Anthony M. 
Lightfoot, SPC Andrew J. Roughton, and SGT Gregory Owens, Jr., died of 
wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near 
their vehicle followed by an attack from enemy forces using small arms 
and rocket-propelled grenades.
  Dennis was born January 7, 1975, in Waterbury, CT. After graduating 
high school in Southington, CT, he moved to Arizona, Oklahoma, and then 
Texas, where he joined the military. He married Michelle Bryant on May 
9, 2008 in Lawton, OK.
  After completing basic training at Fort Sill, OK, Dennis was assigned 
to 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery (Strike), 3rd Brigade Combat 
Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, NY. A third-
generation soldier and a 34-year-old father of three, Dennis was called 
``the old man'' among comrades in his unit.
  On January 6, 2009, he was deployed to Afghanistan as a field 
artillery automated tactical data systems specialist and reenlisted 
while there. ``Dennis wasn't supposed to be at that place at that time, 
but he always told us that the Army and serving his country was where 
he wanted to be. He had found his niche in life in the military,'' said 
his mother.
  Funeral services were held July 31, 2009, at the Fort Sill chapel, 
and he was laid to rest in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK.
  Dennis is survived by his wife Michelle, three children, Collin 
Kessler, Gabrielle Pratt, and Caden Bryant, parents, Jim and Sinammon 
Pratt, mother and father-in-law, Fred and Margaret Bryant, two 
brothers, Jim Pratt and wife Staci and their children Miranda, D.J. and 
Morgan and Kyle Hansan and wife Nicole and their daughter CaLista, one 
stepsister, Leanna Pratt, and a host of other relatives and friends.
  Today we remember Army SPC Dennis J. Pratt, a young man who loved his 
family and country and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.


                Petty Officer 2nd Class Tony M. Randolph

  Madam President, I would also like to remember the life and 
sacrifices of PO2 Tony M. Randolph, who died on July 6, 2009, of 
injuries sustained when insurgents utilized improvised explosive 
devices to attack his convoy in Zabul province, Afghanistan.
  Tony was born on September 27, 1986, in Santa Rosa, CA. Growing up in 
Oklahoma, he was a 2005 graduate of Henryetta High School in Henryetta, 
OK, where he was a star athlete earning all-district honors in 
football.
  ``Tony was a leader. I truly believe he was a natural born leader,'' 
said Henryetta football coach Kenny Speer. He was known for his 
toughness. In high school one day, Coach Speer made him run lap after 
lap. All Tony had to do was say ``yes sir'' for the punishment to end. 
``I said, Tony, you say the two magic words to make you stop running. 
So he looks at me and goes, `Si Senor,''' said Coach Kenny Speer.
  Tony joined the Navy on September 28, 2005, and graduated from boot 
camp

[[Page 12996]]

at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL, in December 2005. Other 
military assignments include Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA; 
Naval Dive and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL; Naval 
Explosive Ordnance Device School at Eglin Air Force Base, FL; and 
Explosive Ordnance Device Training and Evaluation Unit 1 in San Diego, 
CA.
  He reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, 
Sigonella, Sicily, in March 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan in March 
2009.
  ``Petty Officer Randolph brought an incredible sense of youthful 
spirit, professionalism and dedication to this unit,'' said CDR Todd 
Siddall, commanding officer of EODMU 8. ``He will forever be remembered 
by his fellow Sailors as an example of true service to country and 
selfless sacrifice.''
  Funeral services were held July 15, 2009, at First Baptist Church in 
Henryetta, OK, and he was laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery, Weleetka, 
OK.
  ``He loved his friends. He loved his family. He loved his country. 
That was Tony,'' said his mother, Peggy Randolph.
  Tony is survived by his parents, Fred and Peggy Sue Randolph, his 
brothers, Shawn and Richard, and his sisters, Susan and Kelly.
  I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Tony's family and 
friends. He lived a life of love for his family and 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 for 
our protection and freedom.


                   Lance Corporal Jonathan F. Stroud

  Madam President, I also wish to remember Marine LCpl Jonathan F. 
Stroud, who died on July 31, 2009, of injuries sustained when his unit 
was attacked by insurgents with small arms fire while on foot patrol in 
Garmsir District, Afghanistan.
  Jonathan was born on October 10, 1988, in North Richland Hills, TX. 
He attended Cashion High School in Cashion, OK, where teachers remember 
him as exceptionally intelligent. Fellow students remember him as the 
class clown--goofy, gangly, dorky, the most honest, and one of the 
nicest guys you could ever meet.
  After graduating from high school in 2007 he joined the Marines on 
April 14, 2008. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd 
Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC, as a 
combat engineer.
  Funeral services were held on August 8, 2009, and he was laid to rest 
in Cashion Cemetery, Cashion, OK.
  While many tears were shed, there was a brief moment of laughter when 
Jonathan's final request was played, ``Another One Bites the Dust'' by 
Queen. The song is to let everybody know that he's still with us and 
he's still trying to make us happy even after he's gone,'' a friend of 
his said.
  Jonathan is survived by his wife Lacie E. Stroud of Jacksonville, NC, 
mother Mavis Stroud and Thomas ``Smokey'' Longan of Cashion, OK, sister 
Marissa L. Stroud of Oklahoma City, OK, father Bill R. Stroud of 
Bedford, TX, grandparents Virginia Crawford Light and Jim Light of 
Weatherford, TX, grandparents Bo and Helen Stroud of Hobbs, NM, and 
numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
  I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Jonathan's family 
and friends. He lived a life of love for his family and 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 for 
our protection and freedom.

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