WASHINGTON, DC- On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) paid tribute to the 169 Pennsylvanians killed in Iraq and the sacrifices made by these troops and their families. In his remarks, Senator Casey read the name and hometown of all 169 Pennsylvanians killed.
A copy of his remarks is attached.
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Remarks of U.S. Senator Bob Casey
As Prepared
July 11, 2007
Mr. President, the Senate is once again debating future U.S. policy in Iraq. I have long advocated a new direction for our policy. I will continue to vote in a manner consistent with changing course in Iraq.
However, today I rise to not speak about policy, tactics, or strategy. I will speak today only about our troops and their families. The numbers are important:
1) 3,609 Americans have lost their lives, including 169 from Pennsylvania – the third highest toll of any state;
2) Over 25,000 have been wounded, including more than 1,100 from Pennsylvania;
3) Approximately 156,000 Americans, both active-duty and reserve forces, are currently serving in Iraq, including more than 8,000 from Pennsylvania;
Those numbers surely don’t tell the whole story. Especially when we consider the traumatic effect the war has had on individual families. These fighting men and women were born into families, not into divisions and brigades. They are sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Their love for their families is matched only by their devotion to our country.
This war has impacted these families in different ways. We remember with gratitude and reverence those more than 3600 soldiers and marines who have died – who gave, as President Lincoln said, “the last full measure of devotion to their country.” Their families have loved and lost and the sharp pain of that loss may, we pray, diminish over time but the ache, the hurt, will long endure because someone they loved, someone whose strong and warm embrace gave them comfort, will not be there any longer. They’re missing.
Some families have a loved one who served in Iraq and returned home, but was one of the 25,000 wounded. Those families have paid a terrible price for the courage and dedication of their family members. The bravery of our fighting men and women is so inspiring! I met one of them in March who represents so many across this “land of the brave”, our America. His name is Joshua Humberger of Grapeville, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania – and he is 20 years old.
Like many of our troops, Joshua comes from a small town, in southwestern Pennsylvania; he is in the Army National Guard. He received the Purple Heart and other commendations after he was wounded when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a bomb, killing his commander, Sgt. First Class Daniel Brozovich of Greenville, PA. Two others, Ryan Griffin and Robert Kaminski, both of Allegheny County, were injured. To say that Joshua was injured is an understatement. A newspaper article put it this way:
His left leg was amputated at the knee. His stomach was
pierced by shrapnel and surgeons had to remove part of
his lower bowel.
Despite all of this pain that he and his wife, Jessica, have endured, he said during our visit, “I want to go back”, to continue serving. Where do these young men and women find their strength? I don’t know, because it’s hard for me to comprehend or fully appreciate such courage. They must find it from a deep reservoir of faith, the love of their family, and an abiding allegiance to this nation. Other families have loved ones who are in Iraq now or had been there for a long time. Even if a soldier isn’t killed or wounded, while they’re in Iraq, they’re missing. The great rock music icon Bruce Springsteen’s words come to mind, written in the aftermath of 9/11, but they help explain what our families have endured during this war. His song, “You’re Missing” says in part:
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
For you to walk in
But you're missing
You're missing when I shut out the lights
You're missing when I close my eyes
You're missing when I see the sun rise
You're missing
Children are asking if it's alright
Will you be in our arms tonight?
And, so, to pay tribute to those who are missing from their homes and their families because they lost their life on a battlefield in Iraq, I want to take a few minutes to read the names and hometowns of the 169 Pennsylvanians killed in action:
Shawn M. Davies - Aliquippa/Hopewell
Aric J. Barr - Allegheny
Joseph P. Goodrich - Allegheny
Luis O. Rodriguez-Contrera - Allentown
Larry Parks Jr. - Altoona
Russell G. Culbertson III - Amity
Stevon Alexander Booker - Apollo
Joshua J. Henry - Avonmore
Todd M. Siebert - Baden
Allan R. Bevington - Beaver Falls
Clint Richard Matthews - Bedford
Russell A. Kurtz - Bethel Park
Christopher D. Coffin - Bethlehem
Frederick A. Carlson - Bethlehem
Brent W. Dunkleberger - Bloomfield
Paul D. Karpowich - Bridgeport
John H. Todd III - Bridgeport
Christopher E. Loudon - Brockport
Tristan Smith - Bryn Athyn
Carl J. Morgain - Butler
George A. Pugliese - Carbondale
Oliver J. Brown - Carbondale
Kimberly A. Voelz - Carlisle
Nicholas B. Morrison - Carlisle
Gregory A. Cox - Carmichaels
Aaron M. Genevie - Chambersburg
Brandon M. Hardy - Cochranville
John T. Bubeck - Collegeville
Nils George Thompson - Confluence
Shelby J. Feniello - Connellsville
Timmy R. Brown Jr. - Conway
Matthew C. Bowe - Coraopolis
Michael W. Franklin - Coudersport
Michael J. Cleary - Dallas
Joseph M. Kane - Darby
Jason A. Shaffer - Derry
Kenneth E. Zeigler II - Dillsburg
Colby J. Umbrell - Doylestown
Travis L. Manion - Doylestown
Steven R. Tudor - Dunmore
Corey L. Small - East Berlin
Christopher Scott Seifert - Easton
Joshua P. Klinger - Easton
Ashly L. Moyer - Emmaus
Ernest G. Bucklew - Enon Valley
Donald Samuel Oaks Jr. - Erie
Victor M. Cortes III - Erie
Jeremy R. Horton - Erie
Mark T. Resh - Fogelsville
Bradli N. Coleman - Ford City
Sean P. Huey - Fredericktown
Dylan R. Paytas - Freedom
Mark P. Phelan - Green Lane
Roger Alan Napper Jr. - Greenburg
Eric W. Slebodnik - Greenfield Township
Michael A. Marzano - Greenville
Daniel A. Brozovich - Greenville
William L. Evans - Hallstead
Lee A. Wiegand - Hallstead
John Kulick - Harleysville
Sean Michael Thomas - Harrisburg
Barton R. Humlhanz - Hellertown
Ronald E. Baum - Hollidaysburg
Brandon E. Adams - Hollidaysburg
Daniel R. Lightner Jr. - Hollidaysburg
Curtis J. Forshey - Hollidaysburg
Keith A. Bennett - Holtwood
Landon S. Giles - Indiana
Randy D. McCaulley - Indiana
Bradley G. Kritzer - Irvona
Robert H. Dembowski - Ivyland
Michael R. Cohen - Jacobus
David Michael Veverka - Jamestown
Dennis J. Veater - Jessup
Andrew Joseph Baddick - Jim Thorpe
Raymond R. Buchan - Johnston
Christopher A. Golby - Johnstown
Aaron J. Rusin - Johnstown
Andrew R. Jodon - Karthaus
Ross A. McGinnis - Knox
Jacob Walter Beisel - Lackawaxen
Jason L. Frye - Landisburg
Joseph Basil Maglione III - Lansdale
Maurice J. Johnson - Levittown
Jae S. Moon - Levittown
Ryan S. Ostrom - Liberty
Stephen P. Snowberger III - Lopez
David E. Dietrich - Marysville
Keith A. Callahan - McClure
Christopher E. Cutchall - McConnellsburg
Mark Joseph Kasecky - McKees Rocks
Edward W. Carman - McKeesport
Michael J. Smith - Media
Michael E. McLaughlin - Mercer
Jeremy M. Campbell - Middlebury
Louis E. Allen - Milford
Zachariah W. Long - Milton
Edward W. Shaffer - Mont Alto
Daniel L. Arnold - Montrose
Nathaniel E. Detample - Morrisville
Thor H. Ingraham - Murrysville
Travis C. Zimmerman - New Berlinville
Clifford L. Moxley Jr. - New Castle
Albert Pasquale Gettings - New Castle
Orlando E. Gonzalez - New Freedom
Jennifer M. Hartman - New Ringgold
Brandon J. Van Parys - New Tripoli
Timothy L. Hayslett - Newville
Kyle J. Grimes - Northampton
Justin W. Dreese - Northumberland
Brett D. Swank - Northumberland
John R. Priestner – Leraysville
Jonathan Roy Kephart - Oil City
Kyle J. Renehan - Oxford
Jeremy E. Maresh - Penn Forest Township
Brian R. Faunce - Philadelphia
Francis J. Straub Jr. - Philadelphia
Adam C. Conboy - Philadelphia
Carl W. Johnson II - Philadelphia
Edward W. Brabazon - Philadelphia
Joseph M. Nolan - Philadelphia
Rodney A. Jones - Philadelphia
Nicholas J. Zangara - Philadelphia
Brahim J. Jeffcoat - Philadelphia
Gennaro Pellegrini Jr. - Philadelphia
Albert M. Nelson - Philadelphia
Wesley J. Williams - Philadelphia
David R. Bernstein - Phoenixville
Douglas J. Weismantle - Pittsburgh
Rafael L. Navea - Pittsburgh
Nicholas A. Tomko - Pittsburgh
Robert E. Hall Jr. - Pittsburgh
Patrick Brian Kenny - Pittsburgh
Mark W. Melcher - Pittsburgh
Jason M. West - Pittsburgh
Thomas E. Vandling Jr. - Pittsburgh
Steven Freund - Pleasant Hills
Andrew W. Brown - Pleasant Mount
Sherwood R. Baker - Plymouth
Jaror C. Puello-Coronado - Pocono Summit
Craig S. Ivory - Port Matilda
Anthony L. Sherman - Pottstown
Scott R. Smith - Punxsutawney
Tamarra J. Ramos - Quakertown
William V. Fernandez - Reading
Joseph Minucci II - Richeyville
Tony L. Knier - Sabinsville
Timothy J. Lauer - Saegertown
Robert T. Mininger - Sellersville
Matthew J. Sandri - Shamokin
Douglas E. Kashmer - Sharon
Kurt E. Krout - Spinnerstown
William R. Sturges Jr. - Spring Church
Tristan Neil Aitken - State College
Eric A. McIntosh - Trafford
Carl F. Curran - Union City
Eric R. Hull - Uniontown
Jeffrey P. Toczylowski - Upper Moreland
Lonny D. Wells - Vandergrift
Neil Anthony Santoriello - Verona
Steven W. Szwydek - Warfordsburg
Michael T. Gleason - Warren
Ryan J. Kovacicek - Washington
Dale Thomas Lloyd - Watsontown
Brent A. Adams - West View
William J. Maher III - Yardley
Allen J. Dunckley - Yardley
Martin W. Kondor - York
Sean R. Mitchell - Youngsville
May they rest in peace.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
