Honoring Our Armed Forces

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today, in the few days before Veterans Day, to pay tribute to one of America's and one of Ohio's fallen sons. Twenty-seven year-old Army Specialist James Christopher Wright, who served in the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, of the 4th Infantry Division, passed away on September 18, 2003, while trying to secure a hostile area near Tikrit, Iraq.

James Wright-known as Jimmy by his family and friends-was from Delhi Township, OH. In the early 1990s, he graduated from Oak Hills High School and Diamond Oaks Vocational School.

Growing up, Jimmy was a fun-loving kid. Friends say he was always ready with a smile or a joke. He could make any situation seem comfortable.

He could put people at ease.

Christina Schwaller, who attended Oak Hills High School with Jimmy said that he was "very outgoing and lovable, very much the clown. He was always laughing-you never had a bad moment when he was around."

Jimmy also loved cars. It's a love he shared with his older brother, Eddie. When Jimmy was still in high school, and Eddie had just graduated, they bought low-riding pick-up trucks and spent hours upon hours outfitting them. In Iraq, Jimmy was the proud driver of a Humvee. Today, Eddie drives a Porsche with a memorial to his brother painted on the front hood.

In 1996, Jimmy enlisted in the Marines and served four years. In that time, he toured in Bosnia, Greece, and Italy. Jimmy felt strongly about serving our Nation. He had a deep, abiding sense of duty-something he learned from his family. His father, Edward, served in the Army for 20 years and did two tours in Vietnam. He learned from his family about sacrifice and service.

After his tour with the Marines was over, Jimmy decided to settle down for a short time in Delhi Township and later Waco, TX, with his wife, Alina, whom he had met when they were both stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She, too, had been a Marine. As they were settling in to their new civilian life, the world turned upside-down with the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Once again, Jimmy and Alina felt the familiar pull of duty-duty to the victims of September 11th, duty to their families, duty to our country. Alina remembers Jimmy saying then that "it was time to put the uniform back on. He couldn't just sit back and not do anything."

Jimmy and Alina both enlisted-this time into the Army. Jimmy was deployed to Iraq on April 1, 2003. Three weeks later, he learned that his wife was pregnant with a baby boy whom they named Jamison Edward. Five months later, Jimmy Wright gave his life fighting to secure the safety and freedom of the Iraqi people-fighting to secure a peaceful world and future for his unborn son. As his brother Eddie said, "When Jimmy died, he was doing something he loved. I'm proud of my brother. He's a hero."

He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Armed Forces Services Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
Specialist James C. Wright did not have to re-enlist. He did not have to fight and die for us and for his son, Jamison Edward. But he did. As Reverend Thomas King said at Jimmy's memorial service in Ohio, "Jimmy knew the dangers he faced, but he never backed down." He felt it was his duty-his calling-to serve. He believed in what he was doing-in what he was fighting for. He wanted his son to live in a world without terrorism-a safe world-a world of freedom and liberty and hope.

Pliny the Elder wrote that "hope is the pillar that holds up the world." Jimmy was a man of courage, of love, of duty-and his broad shoulders of hope will continue to hold up the world safely above our heads.

He will continue to be that pillar as we remember his life-as we remember how he followed his heart, lived a life full of love, and dutifully responded to the call of his country.

Left to cherish and honor his life are his wife, Alina; his unborn son, Jamison Edward; his parents, Edward and Barbara; his two brothers, Eddie and Mark and their families; and his grandmother, Josefa Wright. Let me say to all of them that you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.

I thank the Chair and yield the floor.