E1358 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 31, 2012 

Franco is my good friend and he is a true 

champion of the people. He has always been 

available to discuss issues and work together 

to make our Central Valley a better place to 

live and work. I extend to him my very best 

wishes and ask my colleagues to join with me 

in recognizing the commitment, dedication, 

and success of Frank C. Franco. 

f 

RECOGNIZING RYAN HARDY 

HON. STEVE STIVERS OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to 

recognize one of Central Ohio’s very own 

hometown heroes, cancer survivor, Ryan 

Hardy. 

Ryan’s long, difficult journey finally came to 

an end when he joyously rang the bell to signify his final chemotherapy treatment last 

month at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He 

was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the 

young age of two and was later diagnosed 

with leukemia when he was only eight years 

old. 

Ryan was extremely courageous, enduring 

treatments for almost 10 years with the love 

and support of family, friends, and the hospital’s staff. Ryan and the people around him 

never gave up hope. He tried to live life as 

normally as possible by taking part in activities 

like playing on the youth football team. 

Ryan’s story reminds us that we shouldn’t 

take life for granted. With faith, hope and endurance we can overcome many obstacles in 

life. I am proud to represent heroes like Ryan 

Hardy in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. I 

commend him for his courage and am happy 

to hear that he was able to finally ring the bell. 

f 

HONORING ARMY STAFF SERGEANT MATTHEW J. WEST AND 

MARINE SERGEANT DAVID P. 

DAY 

HON. DAN BENISHEK OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, Sunday, July 

29, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., the citizens of Gaylord, 

Michigan, gathered to rededicate their Fallen 

Heroes Memorial and pay tribute to the lives 

of two service members who lost their lives in 

service to their country during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. 

Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Matthew J. 

West grew up in Gaylord, Michigan, and graduated from Gaylord High School in 1992. He 

returned to Gaylord after graduating from 

Northern Michigan University in 1997, and enlisted in the Army in June of 2004. 

SSG West completed three tours in support 

of Operation Enduring Freedom, and was 

highly decorated. His honors included the 

Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation 

Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, Meritorious Unit Citation, two Army Good Conduct 

Medals, National Defense Service Medal, two 

Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Iraq Campaign 

Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on 

Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on 

Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned 

Officer Professional Development Ribbon, 

Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service 

Ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge 

and the Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal 

Badge. 

SSG West died on August 30, 2010, in the 

Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan. SSG 

West was killed by an improvised explosive 

device, along with four other soldiers from his 

unit. He served with the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, tasked with locating 

and eliminating bomb threats. 

SSG West was laid to rest, with full military 

honors, in Arlington National Cemetery. He is 

survived by his wife, Carolyn, their three 

young children, sons Tyler and Joseph, and 

daughter Annaliese, as well as a large extended family. 

Marine Staff Sergeant (SSgt) David P. Day 

was born in Englewood, Colorado, on November 13, 1984, and grew up in Gaylord, Michigan. A 2003 graduate of Gaylord High School, 

he excelled in hockey and served as co-captain for the Otsego County Recreational Hockey Team. SSgt Day married Nicole Makins on 

October 6, 2009. SSgt Day enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately following high school 

and was a seven-year veteran, serving two 

tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was 

an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician for the elite Marine Force Recon. SSgt 

Day died on April 24, 2011, while conducting 

combat operations in Badghis Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine 

Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special 

Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps 

Forces Special Operations Command, Camp 

Lejeune, NC. 

SSgt David P. Day’s Awards and Decorations include the Bronze Star and Combat ‘‘V’’ 

for Valor (posthumously), Purple Heart Medal 

(posthumously), the Navy and Marine Corps 

Commendation Medal with the V device, the 

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal 

with Gold Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, the 

Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan 

Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, 

the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the 

NATO Service Medal, Parachutist (Jump) 

Wings, Expert Marksmanship Badge and EOD 

Badge. 

SSgt Day is survived by his wife, Nicole, his 

parents Don and Kathy; sister, Samantha Day; 

grandparents, Janice and Pirie Benson of 

Gaylord and Grace Day of Missouri; mother 

and father-in-law, Robert and Patricia Makins; 

and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and 

cousins. 

These men were combat hardened, professional soldiers. They willingly enlisted in the 

United States Armed Forces in order to defend their country. They both became experts 

in explosive ordnance disposal despite the 

elevated risks associated with the job. SSG 

West and SSgt Day made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and have earned 

the lasting gratitude of this community and of 

our nation. 

‘‘He which hath no stomach to this fight let 

him depart. But we in it shall be remembered. 

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! 

For he today, that sheds his blood with me, 

shall always be my brother.’’—William Shakespeare 

HONORING MAJOR KHIEEM 

JACKSON 

HON. DAVID DREIER 

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize 

and pay tribute to Major Khieem Jackson, 

United States Marine Corps, on the occasion 

of his transfer from the Marine Corps Liaison 

office. I and many of my colleagues have had 

the pleasure of working closely with him over 

the past three years, as he has served as part 

of the Marine Corps’ Office of Legislative Affairs and as the Deputy Director of the Liaison 

Office in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

He has done exemplary work in this capacity, 

working tirelessly in behalf of not just his fellow Marines, but also the Members and staff 

of this Chamber, and the American people. 

Many Americans may not be aware of the 

tremendously important role of the Marine 

Corps Office of Legislative Affairs. By acting 

as a conduit between the Marine Corps and 

the Congress, this hard-working team provides 

a vital link between our military leaders and 

the American people’s elected representatives. 

Major Jackson stepped into this role with extraordinary dedication and enthusiasm. He 

was able to develop and execute legislative 

strategy for the United States Marine Corps 

that was instrumental in creating a fiscal and 

policy landscape conducive to training and 

equipping the Nation’s most elite fighting force 

and ensuring its success on the battlefield. His 

candor and expertise were essential in developing close working relationships with many 

Members of the House of Representatives and 

Committee Staffs—a cornerstone of Commandant of the Marine Corps’ strategic vision 

and a vital aspect of civil-military relations. 

Throughout his tour, Major Jackson personally supervised the response to hundreds of 

congressional inquiries, some of which gained 

national-level attention. Through his exceptional inter-personal skills and broad knowledge in a wide range of military affairs, he assisted the Director, Marine Corps Liaison Office, in gaining the Members’ support and trust 

on critical issues. 

Major Jackson also successfully planned, 

coordinated, and escorted an extensive number of international and domestic missions for 

Congressional and Staff Delegations. I had the 

pleasure of leading many such CODELs that 

Major Jackson helped to organize, under the 

auspices of the House Democracy Partnership. His impressive attention to detail and anticipation of requirements allowed our delegations to focus exclusively on our mission to 

promote the building of sound democratic institutions around the world. Major Jackson 

was an invaluable member of our team, and 

we remain deeply grateful for his tremendous 

work. 

Through his exceptional personal efforts, 

Major Jackson has contributed immeasurably 

in the Marine Liaison Office here on Capitol 

Hill. I wish him well in all of his future endeavors, and look forward to hearing of his many 

successes to come. 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS