S6540 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 20, 2012 

Out of such tragedy somehow has somehow 

moved on! With your lovely wife by 

your side . . . 

And your beautiful children in your arms as 

you’ve cried! For you had something to 

live for! 

Touching all our hearts so deep inside! 

As the word Hero Charles, in front of your 

name comes before! And one day up in 

Heaven Charles you will be Airborne! 

As a PRAETORIAN with wings, to watch 

over us once more!

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∑ 

TRIBUTE TO SAM HAMRA 

∑ Mrs. MCCASKILL. Mr. President, I 

rise today to honor and congratulate 

my friend, Mr. Sam Hamra. 

Born in Steele, MD, Sam received 

both business and law degrees from the 

University of Missouri and served as an 

officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery 

and Second Armored Cavalry Regiment. He began practicing law in 

Springfield, MO, and later became the 

city attorney for Nixa and St. Robert 

and the governmental relations attorney for Branson. 

As Sam’s practice became more successful, he never forgot his modest 

roots, or those less fortunate. In 1976, 

Sam was elected president of the newly 

formed Legal Aid Association of Green 

County, MO, known today as the Legal 

Services of Southern Missouri, LSSM. 

The Legal Aid Association was created 

to help low income citizens whose legal 

needs would otherwise be unmet. Under 

Sam’s leadership, LSSM has helped 

thousands of Missourians in 43 counties. 

On October 11, Legal Services of 

Southern Missouri will dedicate their 

new building, the ‘‘Sam F. Hamra Center for Justice.’’ It is my hope that this 

building will help LSSM provide services to Missourians for many years to 

come. 

In addition to his contributions to 

the legal community, Sam is very active in many local organizations. He 

served on the board of the Missouri 

Sports Hall of Fame, the Springfield 

area Sports Hall of Fame, and the 

Springfield/Branson Transportation 

Study Committee. As the chairman of 

the Springfield Chamber of Commerce 

Building Fund, he raised over $300,000 

for the construction of a new Chamber 

building. 

Sam’s dedicated service is an inspiration to all Missourians. His achievements and commitment to helping 

those in need deserves the highest commemoration and I am proud to honor 

him today. 

Mr. President, I ask that the Senate 

join me in honoring and congratulating 

Mr. Sam Hamra.

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∑ 

HONORING TECHNICAL SERGEANT 

BRIAN BELL 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, it is 

with a heavy heart that I rise today to 

pay tribute to the life of Technical 

SGT Brian A. Bell, who died at the age 

of 54 at his home in Brookfield, NH on 

August 5. Brian served his country 

bravely for 29 years in both the 157th 

Air Refueling Wing of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, and in the 

United States Navy, deploying to Kuwait in 2005 and 2011. 

Besides his love of country, Brian 

was best known for his deep devotion 

to his family and friends. He appreciated the small things in life such as 

going to concerts with his wife, heading out on fishing or hiking trips and 

going kayaking. He took so much joy 

in being a grandfather to his two 

grandchildren, James and Jocelyne. 

Brian dedicated more than half of his 

life to defending our Nation, a devotion 

matched by his loyalty to his community. People who knew Brian say he 

was always willing to lend a helping 

hand when it was needed. His friends 

and loved ones knew him as a man 

driven by a fierce determination to defend the freedom we hold dear as Americans. Our country is better off today 

because of his efforts. 

Today and every day, Americans like 

Brian heed the call to defend this great 

nation. They offer their service so we 

may live freely and securely. I hope 

that, even at this challenging time, 

Brian’s family can find comfort in 

knowing that we share a deep appreciation for his life in the service of others. 

Brian is survived by his loving wife 

Christine, daughter Natasha Nemetz, 

mother Helen Sue Bickford, brother 

James D. Bell, III, sister Rosanne 

Combs, and his beloved grandchildren. 

He will be loved and missed by all. 

I ask my colleagues and all Americans to please join me in honoring the 

life and service of Technical SGT Brian 

A. Bell.∑ 

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HONORING STAFF SERGEANT 

BRANDON CULLEN-TOWLE 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, it is 

my sad duty to rise in tribute today to 

the brave service of Staff Sergeant 

Brandon Cullen-Towle. Staff Sergeant 

Cullen-Towle, who was known as ‘‘CT’’ 

to his friends, died on August 25 in a 

motorcycle accident. He was as dedicated to his country as he was to his 

family and friends. 

Brandon was born on April 29, 1987 in 

Dover, NH. He graduated from Dover 

High School where he was a three-sport 

athlete, playing football, basketball 

and baseball. Brandon briefly attended 

the University of New Hampshire before realizing his true calling to serve 

our nation in the United States Air 

Force. 

Brandon successfully completed his 

basic training at Lackland Air Force 

Base in Texas and was assigned as a 

Tactical Air Control Party Member in 

the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron in Pope Field, NC. In this role, 

Brandon was responsible for calling in 

air strikes to support ground forces. He 

performed exceptionally well during 

his three tours of duty in Afghanistan; 

he took his responsibility seriously and 

it showed. In fact, Brandon’s skill 

earned him a spot with the Special Operations Forces Tactical Air Control 

Party in the 21st Special Tactics 

Squadron. 

Brandon received many awards for 

his service, including the Order of the 

Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and an Army Achievement 

Medal. Most impressively of all, President Obama and Chief of Staff of the 

Air Force General Norton Schwartz 

personally recognized Brandon for his 

courageous service during a mortar attack in Afghanistan. After being injured himself in the fight, Brandon 

saved an interpreter’s life and called in 

an airstrike that successfully secured 

the base and neutralized the threat. He 

demonstrated great courage and tremendous poise under incredible pressure. 

Brandon is remembered by family 

and friends as a giving person with an 

infectious laugh and a contagious 

smile. Always willing to lend a hand to 

those in need, Brandon consistently 

put others before himself. He valued 

his relationships and had an impact on 

everyone with whom he came in contact; people simply gravitated toward 

him. 

Our Nation can never adequately 

thank. this young New Hampshire son 

for his willingness to serve his country 

and to protect our freedom, and also 

never fully thank his family enough for 

their sacrifice. I hope that Brandon’s 

family knows that all Americans share 

a deep appreciation and abiding respect 

for his brave service. 

Brandon is survived by his mother 

Laura Towle and her husband Dennis; 

his father Brad Cullen; his stepfather, 

Mike Towle; two sisters, Stephanie and 

Kaylee Towle; brother Kameron Towle; 

his significant other Marlena CullenTowle; grandparents Norma and James 

Hughes, Fern Cullen, Rick and Kay 

Towle; and many aunts, uncles, cousins 

and friends. This young hero will be 

missed by all. 

I ask my colleagues and all Americans to please join me in honoring 

Staff Sergeant Brandon Cullen-Towle.

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∑ 

HONORING SPECIALIST JARED 

DAVISON 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise 

today to honor the life and service of 

U.S. Army SPC Jared Davison. Specialist Davison, who died unexpectedly 

on September 4, was a dedicated servicemember, son, brother, and friend. 

Jared was born on February 20, 1988 

in Boston, MA. He graduated from Milford High School in 2006 and went on to 

attend Norwich Academy in Vermont 

and then the prestigious U.S. Military 

Academy at West Point, NY. Jared 

served as a watercraft engineer with 

the 558th Transportation Company, 

Special Troops Battalion, 7th 

Sustainment Brigade at Fort Eustis in 

Virginia. Before his death, Jared was 

working toward a promotion to sergeant. 

Jared first realized his passion to 

serve in the military on a family trip 


tjames on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE