Joe Wilson: “I rise today in sadness to report the third death that has touched the Second District of South Carolina during…”

“I rise today in sadness to report the third death that has touched the Second District of South Carolina during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Twenty-one-year-old Specialist Orenthial J. Smith paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war against terrorism when he was killed during an ambush on his convoy south of Baghdad on Sunday. He was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, and lived in nearby Martin in Allendale County. O.J. joined the United States Army shortly after graduating from high school with the intent on making the military his lifelong career. Stationed in Dexheim, Germany, with the 123rd Maintenance Support Battalion, Specialist Smith was a leader with a great potential. While in Germany, he graduated ninth out of 127 from a leadership development course. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in extending to O.J.'s family our most sincere thanks for their son's sacrifice and commitment to bringing liberty and freedom to the oppressed people of Iraq while protecting the American public in the war against terrorism. In conclusion, may God bless our troops.”