Jim Inhofe: “I rise today to honor Marine LCpl. Joseph L. Nice from Nicoma Park, OK, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country…”

“I rise today to honor Marine LCpl. Joseph L. Nice from Nicoma Park, OK, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country on August 4, 2004. This fourth-generation soldier died defending the freedom he enjoyed and fighting to ensure it for others. Lance Corporal Nice moved to Nicoma Park, OK from Newark, NJ, in 1998. He was a gifted young man--a musician, artist and sportsman, who used these gifts in the marching band and on the soccer team at Choctaw High School. From the age of 5, he had longed to follow in the footsteps of his father, his grandfathers, and his uncle in serving in the military. After weighing this tradition and putting on hold his plans to study law, Joseph Nice decided to join the Marine Corps in June 2003. Lance Corporal Nice was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, CA. His unit was deployed to Iraq in February 2004, where Lance Corporal Nice and his fellow Marines faced daily attacks in the Anbar province. During one of these attacks on August 4, 2004, Joseph Nice was killed. I represent the State of Oklahoma in paying my condolences to the family of this American hero. A friend of his said about him: "If you had a problem, he was always there for you." Through his service in Iraq, LCpl Joseph Nice demonstrated his worthiness to receive this highest compliment.”