CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 154, Pt. 3 March 10
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March 10, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 154, Pt. 3 3573 Lions, and star running back Barry geant Gallegos says. ‘‘His body was MORNING BUSINESS Sanders was his role model. Brent, short in stature, but he was pure mus- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Gary, and Jason would fly to wherever cle with about maybe eight to nine per- pore. Under the previous order, the the big game was and stay for the cent body fat.’’ Senate will proceed to a period for the weekend; they never missed a Super ‘‘He looked like an action figure, a transaction of morning business until 3 Bowl. poster child of what a United States p.m., with Senators permitted to speak Football was more than just a game soldier looks like. The reason be- for up to 10 minutes each and with the to watch for Brent, it was his passion, hind the nickname was because Cor- time equally divided and controlled be- and he excelled at it. At Pikeville High poral Coleman worked out hard every- tween the two leaders or their des- School, Brent was an all-county run- day here for two to three hours a day. ignees. ning back for the Pikeville Panthers. ‘‘Then whenever he got the oppor- The Senator from Washington is rec- He was named offensive player of the tunity, he would go outside our bunker ognized. year at the start of his senior year, in into the sun in just his PT shorts, place f 1996, and he is still the leading rusher mirrors around him, put on his shades and scorer in the school’s history. and throw on some music and tan. It AIR FORCE CONTRACT AWARD The Kentucky High School Athletic was like he was a movie star.’’ Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, in the Association recognizes Brent for hold- Brent was well liked by his fellow last several days, we have learned some ing these records: 8th overall in career soldiers; and not just because of funny surprising things about the Air Force’s yards rushing, tenth overall in career stories like these. He was liked and re- decision to award a $40 billion contract touchdowns, and 11th overall in career spected because he always gave his to the European company, Airbus. points scored. best, and encouraged others to do the The Air Force wants Airbus, which is ‘‘Brent was idolized by the students same. headquartered in Toulouse, France, to and their parents,’’ says Eddie Cole- ‘‘He would always volunteer for the supply our next generation of aerial re- man, Brent’s uncle. ‘‘He was a local tough missions,’’ Staff Sergeant fueling tankers. It chose Airbus over hero before he was the real hero.’’ Gallegos says. ‘‘ ‘Be smart and be ag- the American company, Boeing, which With so much talent came an appro- gressive,’ he would say, because he felt has been making those tankers for the priate nickname. Brent’s teammates if you’re passive then you not only en- called him ‘‘Rocket,’’ because he could last 50 years. danger yourself, but also your soldiers. I have made it clear over the past find a hole and plow right through it. Footage from a local television sta- . He was there for anybody, no mat- several days that I think this decision tion shows Brent earned yet another ter what platoon, what day of the is shortsighted and dangerous. But nickname—‘‘Stumpy.’’ ‘‘I guess be- week, or what time of day.’’ today, even more questions have been cause I’m short and fat,’’ a grinning At Brent’s funeral, his sergeant told raised about the process the Air Force Brent said to the TV reporter. the Coleman family, ‘‘Brent was 24 and followed to make this decision. So I ‘‘He didn’t lack for confidence,’’ his they get a lot of 18-year-olds. Brent want to take the opportunity this father Gary tells us. ‘‘Brent was some- would always volunteer to take the afternoon to walk through the impact I one with compassion, always trying to young ones’ places to protect them.’’ believe the Air Force decision will have do good, always trying to do the right ‘‘He served his country. He never because I think we need to take a good thing, and he had a competitive person- complained. He was made for the mili- hard look at whether we as Members of ality.’’ tary, physically and mentally,’’ Brent’s the Senate think this contract should Everyone around him could see Brent father, Gary, says. ‘‘He said he had a be finalized. was special, and that did not change job to do.’’ First, we need to be very cautious when Brent joined the Army. After at- Mr. President, I had the honor of about any decision that awards the tending Marshall University in Hun- meeting Gary Coleman in 2005, and I right to build a critical part of our tington, WV, for 2 years, he enlisted on presented him with an American flag military air technology to a company July 11, 2001, and underwent basic flown over this Capitol. Neither that that is controlled by a foreign govern- training at the U.S. Army Armor Cen- flag nor the words we say here today ment. What happens if that govern- ter at Fort Knox, KY. He graduated can make up for what the Coleman ment disagrees with us on foreign pol- Basic in the top five overall. family has lost. But they are the very icy? What if it decides it wants to slow Brent was then assigned to Company least we can do to honor Brent’s mem- down our military capacity? Do we B, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, ory. want another country to have that 4th Infantry Division, based out of Fort We are thinking today of Brent’s kind of control? Carson, CO. Upon graduating basic loved ones, including his wife Kirsten The Air Force, of course, did not take training, he told his family, ‘‘I know I Sinley Coleman; his mother Janie that into consideration. They said they can make it on my own.’’ Adkins Johnson; his father Gary Keene didn’t have to. I think this case is a Brent saw service to his country as a Coleman; his brother Jason Byron perfect example of how misguided that way of life. ‘‘He was going to make a Coleman; his grandmother Ruby Cole- idea is. career out of it, and I encouraged him man Damron; and many other family Airbus is owned by the European to,’’ says Gary. Brent held several posi- members and friends. Aeronautic Defense and Space Com- tions on the M1A1 Abrams tank, in- Mr. President, today, March 10, is pany—EADS—which in turn is con- cluding gunner and loader, and he Brent’s birthday. It is a day to cele- trolled by several nations. Among eventually became a tank commander. brate Brent’s life, and I thought an ap- them are countries which have not al- Stationed in Colorado Springs, Brent propriate day for me to speak on how ways agreed with the United States on met a special woman there, and Brent he lived, and what he lived for. foreign policy. They include Russia, and Kirsten Sinley Coleman became To the Coleman family who have lost which has a 5-percent stake, and the husband and wife. They married in a husband, brother, and son, I want to United Arab Emirates, which controls March, 3 weeks before Brent deployed say this: CPL Gary Brent Coleman left 7.5 percent of EADS. to Iraq. this world a hero. And on behalf of a Now, EADS has already dem- The star running back and tank com- grateful Nation, the U.S. Senate hon- onstrated it is willing to bend the rules mander who had already acquired a few ors his life of sacrifice and service. if it can help the company make nicknames soon picked up another f money. I have talked extensively on from his fellow soldiers: ‘‘Hollywood.’’ the floor of the Senate about their at- I will let SSG Jason Gallegos, who RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME tempts to sell military helicopters and served with Brent, explain why. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- planes to Iran and to Venezuela. But Brent ‘‘was about five-foot-five and pore. Under the previous order, the now we are opening the doors to a key weighed about 175 pounds,’’ Staff Ser- leadership time is reserved. piece of our military defense to them. VerDate Mar 15 2010 08:20 Oct 21, 2010 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR08\S10MR8.000 S10MR8 rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with BOUND RECORD.