In Honor of Private First Class Samuel Bowen

IN HONOR OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SAMUEL BOWEN -- (House of Representatives - July 08, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of my constituents who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country, Private First Class Samuel Bowen. Private Bowen was killed in action yesterday in Iraq. He was a member of the 112th Engineer Battalion of Brookpark. Private Bowen was a resident of the city of Cleveland, a husband, and a father of three children.

Just last month Private Bowen saved the life of a fellow soldier during a rocket attack in Baghdad. I would like to read a portion of an article from today's Cleveland Plain Dealer that includes a quote from the soldier whose life Private Bowen saved.

It reads: "I cannot believe he was under attack twice in 3 weeks," said Ron Eaton, who was rescued by Bowen's heroism June 16 north of Baghdad.

Another quote: "I just wish that I would have been there for him like he was there for me."
"He took care of me before he took care of himself, Eaton said. And he said, "As soon as I got out of surgery, he called me. He told me that he needed to talk with me because I was his battle buddy, and he needed to hear my voice. I can't believe how hard this is."

Private Bowen is the third soldier lost to the war in Iraq from my congressional district. It has been over a year since we declared major combat operations over in Iraq, yet our young people continue to die in this conflict. My heart aches for all of the families who have lost loved ones during this war.

I have been a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq, as many of my colleagues are aware. I have also been vocal in my support of the military troops over in the Middle East and across the world as well.

I pause today in remembrance of this brave young man, Private Samuel Bowen, who gave his life for our country. May the Lord bless and keep his family during this trying time.

I would ask that my colleagues join me in a moment of silence for Private First Class Samuel Bowen.

I do not pretend to be a great student of the Bible, yet my Sunday school lessons remain cemented in my head. All of those lessons talked about the importance of prayer, and some of them discussed how to pray; that a prayer can be general and that a prayer can be specific. My specific prayer is focused on all of the servicemen and women still serving in Iraq. I pray for their safe return and that the family of each young military men and women be comforted by their faith in God, a mighty God who will never let us down.

There is a passage in the Bible that reads: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one."