[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2708]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER MARINE SERGEANT 
                      (SGT) DONNIE LEO FORD LEVENS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Marine Sergeant (SGT) Donnie Leo Ford Levens who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice while defending our great nation on February 17, 2006, during 
Operation Enduring Freedom. SGT Levens was killed when two CH-53E Sea 
Stallion helicopters crashed into the Gulf of Aden near Ras Siyyan, 
northern Djibouti, while on a training mission in the Godoria Range 
area.
  SGT Levens of Long Beach, MS, was assigned to the Marine Heavy 
Helicopter Squadron 464, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, 
II Marine Expeditionary Force, New River, N.C. He was deployed to 
Djibouti as part of the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force--Horn of 
Africa, a counterterrorism force. SGT Levens was an Aircraft Ordnance 
Technician.
  SGT Levens's mother Margaret and brother Matt honored SGT Levens by 
completing their studies at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 
2006. Margaret Levens said Donnie's courage inspired her to go back to 
school and earn a degree. President George W. Bush delivered the 
commencement address at the graduation ceremony held in Biloxi. 
President Bush praised SGT Levens for his service and sacrifice.
  SGT Levens will be remembered for his courage and determination to 
keep America safe.

                          ____________________