[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9031]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY SERGEANT FIRST 
                  CLASS (SFC) CLARENCE DOUGLAS McSWAIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of Army 
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Clarence Douglas McSwain who paid the 
ultimate sacrifice while defending our great nation on June 8, 2006, 
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SFC McSwain died from injuries he 
sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his 
military vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad.
  SFC McSwain, of Meridian, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd 
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division 
(Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
  SFC McSwain was a proud soldier on his third tour in Iraq when he was 
killed. He met his 4-month-old son, Kenneth, only once. SFC McSwain's 
Sister, Ashley McSwain, said her brother put his family first. She said 
it was bad that the world had to lose him because he was one of the 
good guys.
  SFC McSwain's father, Reverend Theodis McSwain, recently reflected on 
his son's service.
  ``I was very proud of him,'' Rev. McSwain said. ``He wanted to serve 
his country.''
  SFC McSwain, a 1993 Meridian High School graduate, played high school 
football and graduated with honors. After high school, he attended the 
University of Southern Mississippi according to the Associated Press 
article.
  ``I was a medic that worked with him in his first two rotations and I 
just found out about his death,'' Troy Criddle said. ``I am hurt by his 
passing. He was a great soldier and will always be a paratrooper.''
  ``Clarence and I had the opportunity of spending a lot of time 
together in the 1st PLT Company C 2nd Battalion 237th,'' Staff Sergeant 
(SSG) Shannon Corbin said. ``I believe that he was a shaping catalyst 
in me both professionally and personally.''
  SFC McSwain is survived by his father and mother; Theodis and Sandra 
Lee McSwain; wife, Kendrah; children; Jasmin, Krista and Kenneth 
McSwain; and siblings; David, Ashley, Kimberly, and Christopher 
McSwain.
  SFC McSwain proudly served our nation to protect the freedoms we all 
enjoy.

                          ____________________