Honoring Our Armed Forces

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

Mr. ENSIGN. Madam President, I rise to speak for a few minutes about the men and women in uniform who are serving this Nation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.

I know the recent news has focused on the actions of a few of our service men and women, but I rise today because they truly are the exception.

I want to thank the members of our armed services who continue to exhibit extraordinary bravery, integrity, and commitment. I want to remind them we are grateful for them each and every day as they defend our freedom and our security.

My State of Nevada is proud and blessed to have many sons and daughters among the ranks of those on the front lines of our war on terrorism, people such as Jon Carpenter. Jon Carpenter is a 42-year-old marine reservist on his second tour in Iraq. Back in Las Vegas he has a wife and five children, and a proud community.

Jon wrote a letter earlier this year to his friends and family explaining why he would return to Iraq with the First Marine Division.
I ask unanimous consent that the entire letter be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
Why is Jon going back to Iraq?

It is a question my wife and I have heard from quite a few people recently after announcing that I am getting orders to return to Iraq with the 1st Marine Division.

Some have asked with a quizzical tone, assuming that I had already done my duty for the country with my first trip to Iraq last spring.

Some have asked with expressed concern that I have a good wife, five good kids, a good church and a good job here at home that all need me, and that I should let the younger men and women run off to war and serve their country.

When people ask why I am going back to Iraq, I say "Because the country has asked."

Our country is at war, and even though the battlefields are different than those of WWII, the dangers of not winning this war are at least as great as those of our country's previous wars.

It is very easy to forget that we are at war, due to the level of prosperity we have here and the lack of terrorists attacks we have had since the beginning of this war on terror. But we are at war, and during times of war, men and women must make sacrifices.

I look at the sacrifices that our fellow countrymen have made during the world wars; and my previous deployments pale in comparison.

When people ask why I am going back to war, to fight on foreign soil, to prevent the war from being fought on our soil, endangering my family and friends, I say, "Because I can."

The next question is usually, "What will Jon be doing there?"

I will be deployed with 1st Marine Division (Forward), when they go back to an area near Baghdad. I will be part of the Government Support Team, and assigned to the Police Training team, responsible for retraining the Iraqi Police to retake control of law enforcement functions and maintaining the peace.

The next question is usually "How can we help you or your family?"

I usually say to pray regularly for my wife, family and I, and to be supportive of the President and his policies in Iraq. Both of these are extremely important, especially in light of the relentless attack on the President, during a time of war, by our country's own extremist citizens; i.e. the liberals and media elite who hate that another socialist country has fallen (Iraq), and that conservatives can take credit for the tremendous successes we have had in the war on terrorism.

From experience, I can tell you how demoralizing all of the criticism of the military and the dissension in the country is on the troops in Iraq. It also encourages the radical criminals and terrorists we are fighting over there to continue fighting in hopes we will pull out.

We are doing the right thing there, we are winning, and the majority of the Iraqi citizens truly appreciate what we are doing for them.
So, thank you for your past support and thank you for your future support of this next mission in Iraq.
Sincerely-Jon Carpenter.

Mr. ENSIGN. He states:

When people ask why I am going back to Iraq, I say, "Because the country has asked." Our country is at war, and even though battlefields are different than those of WWI, the dangers of not winning this war are at least as great as those of our country's previous wars.

He continues on to write:

But we are at war, and during times of war, men and women must make sacrifices.

Jon was wounded a few weeks ago when he was shot through the neck. He has recovered now, pinned with a Purple Heart, has returned to his work training Iraqi police officers. Actually, he could not wait to get back to his fellow troops.

It is commendably common for our wounded troops to return to the front lines when given the option. That is because they are focused on the mission and determined to get the job done.

Army PFC Sean Freeman, Sparks, NV, is another example of a determined soldier. He was wounded in a June 22 ambush last year in Baghdad where he was stationed as an artillery crewman. Sean suffered back, shoulder, and arm wounds and is stationed in Germany while he recovers. He is motivated to do so, so he can return to Iraq.

The stories of bravery and heroism are truly inspiring and there is no shortage.

Dr. Thom Merry in Douglas County, NV, volunteered for duty in Iraq as a flight surgeon and has since been decorated with a Bronze Star for entering a minefield, without regard for his own personal safety, to rescue a severely injured marine.

TSgt William Kudzia, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, was engaged in ground operations against an opposing armed force in Iraq and hand-excavated 226,000 pounds of high explosive bombs buried by fleeing Iraqi forces.

With disregard for his own personal safety, he hand-removed a burning projectile, saving the lives of his team members and averting a catastrophic detonation. He was also awarded the Bronze Star with Valor.

As brave as our men and women are, I think there is an equal amount of emotional bravery exhibited by the spouses, parents, and children left behind to wait for their loved one's safe return. Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper SGT Jim Olschlager's son, James Jr., is on an aircraft carrier. His daughter Laurie is in the Army and will be sent to Iraq in September, and his son-in-law Kendall is currently serving in Karbala, near Baghdad.

In Fallon, NV, Juanita and Kevin Porteous got to visit with their son Jon for only a few days before his leave was cut short and he had to return to Iraq. I had looked forward to meeting and thanking Jon on a recent trip to Fallon, but was honored to deliver my appreciation via his parents. They are extremely proud of him, but that does not make the waiting or the worrying any easier.

My prayers are with the Olschlager and Porteous families and every other family which is anxiously awaiting the return of a loved one. We all thank them for the sacrifices they have made to keep this Nation safe. The men and women of our Armed Forces are truly defending our security. Our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan are critical to the continued ability to fight terrorism on foreign soil rather than on our shores.

Make no mistake about it, a war on our homeland would be devastating. That is why it is so important for us to continue steadfastly supporting our troops. Although we cherish our freedom of speech and the opportunity to debate, our united voice of support is essential if we want our troops to continue giving 110 percent to the mission.

It is easy to pretend what we as elected officials say is not heard by the men and women on the front lines, or for that matter by our enemies, but listen to what Jon Carpenter, the marine I talked about earlier, wrote before heading back to Iraq:

From experience, I can tell you how demoralizing all the criticism of the military and the dissension in the country is on the troops in Iraq. It also encourages the radical criminals and terrorists we are fighting over there to continue fighting in hopes we will pull out. We are doing the right thing there, we are winning, and the majority of the Iraqi citizens truly appreciate what we are doing for them.

God bless Jon Carpenter and all of the men and women who are willing to lay their lives down for this Nation. Our prayers are with you and your families. God bless America, truly the home of the brave.

I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.