[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 18069] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING ARMY STAFF SERGEANT ALEX JIMENEZ ______ HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY of new york in the house of representatives Monday, September 8, 2008 Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor, salute, and pay tribute to one of our brave fallen soldiers. Army Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez went to Iraq for the first time in 2005. Already fluent in Spanish, he quickly taught himself Arabic and became a translator for fellow soldiers who needed to communicate with the Iraqi people they had been sent there to protect. Army officials always praised his leadership and strength. Alex took pride in the Army and his responsibilities as a soldier. He once told his cousin, ``Honestly, I signed the contract, and it doesn't matter what my opinion is. I just think about the guy to my left and the guy to my right making it home. That's all I care about.'' He recognized the importance of his duties, writing, ``I believe that in the United States Army, I may reach my goals which are--making positive differences, bringing peace to the innocent, and making justice my duty as a U.S. soldier.'' Without a doubt, Alex achieved all of these goals. Without a doubt, Alex made his family, his army, and his hometown community of Corona, Queens very proud. And, without a doubt, Alex's services to our country was honorable and distinguished. Sadly, however, on May 12, 2007, Alex Jimenez, along with six of his fellow soldiers, was patrolling a deserted highway south of Baghdad, looking for insurgents planting roadside bombs, when he and the group came under fire. Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez, who was on his second tour in Iraq, Specialist Byron Fouty, and Private First Class Joseph J. Anzack Jr. were taken prisoner. The four soldiers who died in the attack were Sergeant Anthony J. Schober, Private First Class Daniel W. Courneya, Private Christopher E. Murphy, and Sergeant First Class James D. Connell, all of Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Private First Class Joseph J. Anzack Jr.'s body was recovered on May 23, 2007. The Queens community mourned for the loss of Alex's fellow soldiers and, together, we prayed for the safe return of Alex and Byron. Despite our wishing and hoping for the best, the bodies of Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez and Specialist Byron W. Fouty were found on July 8, 2008. So many worked tirelessly to bring Alex home, and the Queens community and Alex's family are so appreciative and grateful for their efforts. Because now, we have the opportunity to say goodbye to Alex one more time and to lay his body to rest. As a parent, I know that this loss will stay with Sergeant Jimenez's family forever. But, I hope that in some small way, Alex Jimenez's parents have some relief now that they finally have the opportunity to lay their son to rest. Those closest to him will always remember his love for music and his family, and his loyalty as a soldier and friend. I extend my deepest and most sincere sympathies to the family of Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez, and thank them for their sacrifice for our country. I would like to close my remarks by reading a few pieces of the U.S. Army Soldier's Creed, which exemplifies the type of person Staff Sergeant Jimenez was; a man who loved his family and his country. I am a Warrior, and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier. ____________________