Barbara Boxer: “today I wish to pay tribute to 21 servicemembers from California or based in California who have died while serving our…”

“today I wish to pay tribute to 21 servicemembers from California or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since I last entered names into the Record on September 11, 2012. This brings to 402 the number of servicemembers either from California or based in California who have been killed while serving our country in Afghanistan. This represents 18 percent of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan: CS2 Milton W. Brown, 28, of Dallas, TX, died August 4, 2012, from a noncombat related incident in Rota, Spain. Culinary Specialist Second Class Brown was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137, Lemoore, CA; Sgt Camella M. Steedley, 31, of San Diego, CA, died October 3, 2012, while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Steedley was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA; SGT Thomas R. Macpherson, 26, of Long Beach, CA, died October 12, 2012, in Andar District, Afghanistan, from small arms fire while on patrol during combat operations. Sergeant Macpherson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; SGT Clinton K. Ruiz, 22, of Murrieta, CA, died October 25, 2012, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by small arms fire in Khas Uruzgan, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.…”