[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8607]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SERGEANT 
                       (SGT) DANIEL RYAN VARNADO

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 26, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Mississippi Army National Guard Sergeant (SGT) Daniel Ryan Varnado who 
paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our great nation on May 23, 
2005, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SGT Varnado was killed when his 
military vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Haswa, 
Iraq. Also killed were Specialist (SPC) Bryan Edward Barron, Sergeant 
(SGT) Audrey Daron Lunsford, and Sergeant First Class (SFC) Saburant 
Parker.
  SGT Varnado was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 1-155th 
Infantry Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, Biloxi, 
Mississippi. SGT Varnado, a Saucier resident, joined the Mississippi 
Army National Guard in November 2000.
  According to a website created in his memory, SGT Varnado played 
baseball growing up for Harrison Central High School in Lyman until he 
graduated in 1999. He also played baseball for Mississippi Gulf Coast 
Community College while pursuing a degree in education. SGT Varnado 
wanted to be a baseball coach.
  The website's author describes SGT Varnado as the perfect husband, 
father, son, and friend. He is also described as a person with faith 
and a love for the Lord which kept him strong in times of war. 
Additionally, the author says he will be deeply missed.
  The Army National Guard Readiness Center in Gulfport has been named 
in honor of SGT Varnado.
  Mississippi Army National Guard Brigadier General (BG) John Rhodes 
was the 1-155th infantry battalion commander in 2005. BG Rhodes 
recently said SGT Varnado will always be remembered along with those 
who died with him.
  ``SGT Daniel Ryan Varnado, SPC Bryan Edward Barron, SGT Audrey Daron 
Lunsford, and SFC Saburant Parker are remembered in many ways, but we 
knew them as warriors who represented something larger than 
themselves,'' BG Rhodes said. ``They operated in a hostile environment 
and faced the dangers of combat on a regular basis. Yet, if given the 
choice, they would not have wanted it any other way. They sacrificed 
their lives trying to provide a better life for people who they did not 
even know. This is who they were and what they represented. They 
exemplified the modern day Mississippi Riflemen. Stand Fast, 
Mississippians! Stand Fast!''
  During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Andrew 
Robertson served as company commander of Charlie Company, 1-155th 
Infantry Regiment, MS Army National Guard, Biloxi, Mississippi, serving 
operational control under 2-11 Armed Cavalry Regiment (ACR), U.S. Army. 
He says there were no greater people than the Charlie Company soldiers 
who endured being in the most dangerous and highest casualty area of 
operation as part of OIF III under Task Force 155 Heavy Brigade Combat 
Team.
  ``In 2005, there were no greater Americans than our fallen patriots, 
Charlie Company Infantrymen and their families. None greater. This, I 
believe, America needs to know,'' LTC Robertson said.
  SGT Varnado is survived by his wife, Sharon Shavers, and son, Kannon 
Varnado.
  SGT Varnado's sacrifice to protect our freedoms will always be 
remembered.

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