[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16] [Senate] [Page 21530] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES Lance Corporal Philip Johnson Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to U.S. Marine Corps LCpl Philip A. Johnson, of Enfield, CT, a heroic young man who lost his life serving his country in Iraq on September 2, 2006. He was 19 years old. Lance Corporal Johnson, a member of the weapons company of the 3rd Battalion, Second Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, NC, was killed along with one other marine when a roadside bomb detonated as their unit was traveling from Ramadi. Philip Johnson was the consummate American patriot. He dedicated his life to the U.S. Marine Corps and took immense pride in serving his country. As a little boy, Philip dreamed of being a marine and wasted no time in pursuing his goal. He joined a youth education and service organization named the Westover Young Marines at the age of 11, where he attained the rank of staff sergeant and served as a role model for younger members. Many who knew him remember his lifelong love of the Marine Corps, but they also remember him as a focused and thoughtful young man with a drive to help people. Philip was active in his church and committed to his faith. Above all, Philip was eager to serve his country, so shortly after graduating from Enfield High School in 2005 he fulfilled his childhood dream by enlisting in the Marine Corps. As a marine, he continued to exhibit the exceptional determination and focus that defined his youth. Philip attained the rank of lance corporal in less than a year, an impressive feat that speaks volumes about his dedication to the Marine Corps. Philip Johnson was a model marine, prepared to fight America's worst enemies and deeply committed to both the Corps and our Nation. Lance Corporal Johnson and others like him have made the ultimate sacrifice so that their fellow Americans can live in peace and security, and for that, we should be eternally grateful. So today I salute Philip Johnson for his unwavering commitment to our Nation and the principles for which it stands. He was a young man of exceptional integrity and will be greatly missed. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his parents, Louis and Kathy, his sister, Jessica, and to all those who knew and loved him. ____________________