Honoring Our Armed Forces

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Oct. 9, 2004

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

ARMY SPECIALIST ALLEN JEFFREY "A J." VANDAYBURG

Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, I rise this evening to say thank you to the men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Too often, we don't take the time to show our appreciation and tell them what their service means to us. They are there for us each day, dedicated to protecting all that we hold dear. They are there for us, making our world more secure. They are there for us, making our world a better place-a safer place. They are there for us, protecting our freedom.

That freedom, though, as we know so well, does not come without a price. It does not come without sacrifice. As General Douglas MacArthur once said:

The soldier, above all other men, is required to perform the highest act of religious teaching-sacrifice. . . . The soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country is the noblest development of mankind.

This evening, I rise to honor a Mansfield, OH, serviceman who selflessly gave his life while saving those of his comrades. Army SP Allen Jeffrey Vandayburg-"A.J." to his family and friends-earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his final act of bravery-an act that ultimately saved the lives of the men and women serving with him.

On April 9, 2004, in Barez , Iraq, A.J. and other members of the Army's 1st Infantry Division-the "Big Red One"-found themselves in the middle of a fierce firefight with Iraqi insurgents. A.J. was manning the gunner position of his Bradley fighting vehicle when his unit was fired upon. According to an official Army report, A.J. fought valiantly, drawing enemy fire to himself. The report detailed the following:

Vandayburg's unparalleled reflexes allowed him to destroy an [enemy] who was attempting to fire a rocket propelled grenade within 50 meters of his vehicle. Vandayburg had to swivel the entire turret, acquire the target, and destroy the enemy before the rocket-propelled grenade could be fired.

A.J. prevented that grenade from hitting his convoy. He saved many lives that day-an act that ultimately took his own life. His valiant efforts prompted the insurgents to focus their fire on his vehicle. A.J. was killed in the onslaught. He was just 20 years old.

A.J. was truly a great soldier-a courageous young man who put the safety of others above his own. We will never be able to repay A.J. for what he has done, and we will never be able to honor him the way he truly deserves. We can, however, remember this American hero as he was-as a strong, independent young man who did a great deal of good in this world.

In his all too brief 20 years, A.J. touched many lives. His mother, Chantil, fondly recalls that "everybody loved him." It was his smile; it was hard to stay mad at him." A.J.'s father, Allen, remembers that he was the kind of kid who could walk into a room and just light it up.

A.J. loved his family very much. In the summers, A.J. always looked forward to their family vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. A.J. loved kids. Family friend, Kim Loveland, recalled that she would pay A.J. to watch her children, only to have him turn around and use the money to buy the kids candy.

A.J. went to Mansfield High School, where he played golf and baseball. He was known as a "good guy" who had a lot of good friends. After graduation in 2001, A.J. enlisted in the Army. He would eventually serve in Kosovo, Germany, Kuwait, and Iraq. Allen and Chantil Vandayburg treasure the picture they have of their son with children in Kosovo. Allen likes to call A.J. "a warrior who also had a soft side."

A.J. was a lot like his father. Allen is a 25-year veteran of the Mansfield Police Department. A.J. learned from his dad the value of public service and how to trust your comrades-lessons he would bring with him overseas. A.J.'s parents knew that their son believed in what he was doing in Iraq. A.J. e-mailed them as often as he could and would tell them not to worry-that he trusted his fellow soldiers and knew they would look out for him. In his final battle, it was A.J. who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his comrades and for Iraqis he did not know.

A friend of A.J.'s, Nathan Pival, who is serving in Afghanistan, posted the following message on a Web site honoring A.J.:

A.J.-I found out what happened to you my first week in Afghanistan. To say the least, I felt like a piece of me died, too. I mean, who would have thought that you and me would end up in the Army after high school? I know you didn't find out I was in the service until you tried to call my cell when I was in Basic, but I want you to know that you were the person that helped to convince me that the military would help me out. It has helped me. . . . You are a hero, and you did the right thing, and that is what matters. I believe in a higher purpose, so I know I will see you again some day, but I'm still pretty upset that I am going to have to wait so long to tell my Army stories to my buddy who motivated me to join. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably . . . be going nowhere. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you man. See you again someday.

A.J.'s family found solace in the final act of devotion from one brother to another. Though he described it as "the hardest thing I've ever had to do," A.J.'s brother Chris, a Marine, crossed military branches to escort his brother's body from Dover Air Force Base to their home in Mansfield.

Hundreds of people came to support the Vandayburg family at A.J.'s memorial service. Hundreds more lined the funeral route. The outpouring of support was a truly moving display. At the memorial service, Reverend David Root spoke to the standing-room-only crowd. He said:

[A.J.] was special and that is why you are all here. He chose to take the tough road. He knew the risks. . . . He changed the history of this country.

A.J. Vandayburg was indeed special. He will be remembered always for his bravery, compassion, and sacrifice. He will be remembered as a hero.

I close my remarks with the heartfelt words of A.J.'s 11-year-old sister, Taylor. Her words speak volumes about A.J., her hero-and A.J., her big brother:

Bubby, you are my biggest hero, and I will always love you, but that does not mean I am still not mad at you for leaving, 'cause I am. But, I will always and forever love you. I miss you so much. You are loved and missed so much by me, Mom, Dad, and Chris. . . . You are my hero and my bubby and I love you so much. I am not saying goodbye because you are not gone. You are still with me, and you are the biggest and bravest soldier I know and I know God has a plan for you, but I had one for you to be right here beside me. You still are. I love you so much.