Jim Inhofe: “today I want to recognize Oklahoma's first loss in the fight for our country's security and our country's freedom and…”

“today I want to recognize Oklahoma's first loss in the fight for our country's security and our country's freedom and future. LCpl Thomas ``Tommy'' Alan Blair from Broken Arrow, OK, was killed in the line of duty on or about March 23. Lance Corporal Blair was described as a born leader, an enthusiastic student, and a confident young man who loved Oklahoma and his country. I remember him well when I went out and talked to him and some of the others before their deployment. All of them were enthusiastic, all of them were courageous, but all of them knew they were risking their lives. He was killed when an enemy rocket-propelled grenade hit and destroyed his amphibious assault vehicle as it was traveling near Nasiriyah, Iraq. This battle was described as the sharpest battle in the war to date, and Lance Corporal Blair paid the ultimate price--his life. Let me say again, he gave his life. Why would a person pay this price? Why would a person risk facing this fear and die in combat? Lance Corporal Blair fought and died because he was an American, he was a marine, and he knew what freedom really means--the freedom most Iraqis have never known, and a freedom most Americans take for granted. He fought for Americans who have already forgotten our freedoms were attacked on 9/11.”