Barbara Boxer: “I had asked for an hour to speak for the Record on a number of issues. First, I will pay tribute to 53 young Americans…”

“I had asked for an hour to speak for the Record on a number of issues. First, I will pay tribute to 53 young Americans who have been killed in Iraq since December 7, 2004. This brings to 402 the number of soldiers who were either from California or based in California that have been killed while serving our country. I want to make the point to my colleagues this represents 26 percent of all the military deaths in Iraq. Twenty-six percent of those deaths have come from California, either the person was born and raised in California or was stationed in California. We continue to mourn those losses. As I have promised since the day the war started, I will pay tribute to them by name so they are not forgotten. CPL In C. Kim died December 7 as a result of a nonhostile vehicle incident in Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton. PFC Christopher S. Adlesperger died December 9 as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province. He was also assigned to Camp Pendleton. I want to mention the ages of these soldiers too. Corporal Kim was 23 years old. PFC Christopher Adlesperger was 20 years old. SPC Edwin W. Roodhouse, 36 years old, died December 5 in Habbaniyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his humvee. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 56th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Greaves, Korea, and he was from San Jose, CA. SSgt Melvin L. Blazer, age 38, died December 12 as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province.…”