Political Quotes

“I rise today to pay tribute to 39 service members from California or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since December 7, 2010. This brings to 276 the number of service members either from California or based in California who have been killed while serving our country in Afghanistan. This represents 17 percent of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan. CPL Kenneth E. Necochea Jr., 21, of San Diego, CA, died December 12 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Corporal Necochea was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, KY. CPL Derek T. Simonetta, 21, of Redwood City, CA, died December 12 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Corporal Simonetta was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, KY. SSgt Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, PA, died December 15 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Schmalstieg was assigned to the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. LCpl Jose L.…”