Press Release
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The United States Department of Justice United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana For Immediate Release www.justice.gov/usao/law September 10, 2011 Stephanie A. Finley United States Attorney (337) 262-6618 [email protected] STATEMENT OF U.S. ATTORNEY STEPHANIE A. FINLEY ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 117 From Louisiana Remembered Lafayette, La.: I remember September 11, 2001, as if it were yesterday. A day in which our nation was paralyzed while watching planes attack the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and land in rural Pennsylvania. I was horrified that human beings could commit such evil and cause such pain to innocent people. Little did those attackers realize that their atrocious acts would galvanize our nation to stand together and show once again what makes us so great. On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Louisiana will be reflecting on those who died that day and sending our prayers and thoughts to their families and loved ones. Our office will remember in a special way FBI Special Agent Lenny Hatton, who worked with us for many years in Alexandria, Louisiana. On 9/11, Lenny was in New York, and when he saw the first tower on fire, went straight to the scene. As the second tower was struck, he raced into the building to help firemen and rescue personnel, lead people out of the smoke and darkness and into safety. One man in the building later told the FBI that he was guided out by a person who identified himself as an FBI agent. When they were outside in the clear, he was surprised to see the agent turning back around. “Where are you going?” he asked. “Back into the building,” came Lenny’s reply. Lenny was a devoted husband, father, friend and colleague, who died when the building collapsed. Today all of us honor his sacrifice, fortitude and courage and that of so many others who gave their lives for freedom on that dreadful day. We also honor today the generation of Americans who have fought for our security in a decade of war. More than 2 million of our troops have served in war zones, every one of them a volunteer who has chosen to serve in a time of war; every one of them upholding the virtues of service, sacrifice and selflessness. Those virtues were vividly shown to us recently here in Louisiana by two Navy SEALs, Rob Reeves and Jonas Kelsall, childhood friends and graduates of Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, who were both killed last month in Afghanistan when their Chinook helicopter was downed by a Taliban rocket as they were on a mission to assist an American ground unit facing stiff resistance from insurgent fighters. It is said that the price of a memory is the memory of the sorrow it brings, but we will always remember the bravery and sacrifice of these two heroes and 117 others from the Western District of Louisiana and other cities around Louisiana who have fallen for freedom in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As members of the Department of Justice, today, we re-dedicate ourselves on this tenth anniversary of 9/11 to our mission to keep America safe. The Department has no higher priority than protecting national security. No aspect of our work is more important or more urgent. The hard work of professionals at the Department of Justice and our partners at home and abroad has enabled us to disrupt numerous terrorist plots and prosecute those involved, as well as to collect intelligence needed to protect our country. As Attorney General Eric Holder stated "[s]ince America's earliest days - even in the darkest of moments - the citizens of this country have proven that - no matter the challenge, no matter the obstacle, no matter the differences that, at times, can divide us from one another - we are, and always will be, one nation. One people. Conceived in liberty; dedicated to the highest ideals of justice; and striving - always - to carry forward the difficult but essential work of building a more perfect union." Our values have endured for more than two centuries and are stronger than the hateful ideology of the faceless cowards who attacked us on 9/11. Just as earlier generations of Americans overcame great tests, we will continue to draw on their memory and strength to overcome the greatest challenge of our time - the threat to that freedom. Those who have died for this nation have not died in vain. Today, we want their families, their communities, this state and this Nation to know that we will never forget them. Each day that we enter these courthouses, we will strive to continue to represent what they lived and died for - FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! The Western District of Louisiana proudly honors the following Louisiana soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice. * * * Navy Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died August 6, 2011. Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, La., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died on August 6, 2011. Page 2 of 9 Army Sgt. Christopher P. Soderlund, 23, of Pineville, La.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.; died July 9, 2011. Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Garcia, 27, of Bossier City, La.; assigned to the 63rd Ordnance Battalion, Fort Polk, La.; died July 4, 2011. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Douville, 33, of Harvey, La.; assigned to 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; died June 26, 2011. Marine Cpl. Matthew T. Richard, 21, of Acadia, La., assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, N.C., died June 9, 2011. Army Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins,26,ofNew Orleans;assigned to Maintenance Troop,RegimentalSupport Squadron, Fort Hood, Texas; died April 2, 2011. Army Spc. Christian J. Romig, 24, of Kenner, La.; assigned to 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment,101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died January 5, 2011. Marine Lance Cpl. Dakota R. Huse, 19, of Greenwood, La.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 9, 2010. Army Spc. Steven L. Dupont, 20, of Lafayette, La.; assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany; died Oct. 24, 2010. Army Spc.Matthew C.Powell , 20, of Slidell, La.; assigned to 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Oct. 12, 2010. Marine Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia, 24, of Kenner, La.; assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan; died Aug. 31, 2010. Marine Sgt. Joe L. Wrightsman, 23, of Jonesboro, La.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; died July 18, 2010. Army Sgt. Jordan E. Tuttle, 22, of West Monroe, La.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, Louisiana National Guard, New Orleans; died July 2, 2010. Army Pfc. Bryant J. Haynes, 21, of Epps, La.; assigned to the 199th Support Battalion, Louisiana National Guard, Alexandria, La., died June 26, 2010. Army Maj. Ronald W. Culver Jr., 44, of Shreveport, La.; assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Louisiana National Guard, Shreveport, La.; died May 24, 2010. Army Sgt. Joshua A. Tomlinson, 24, of Dubberly, La.; assigned to Special Troops Battalion, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany; died May 18, 2010. Army Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, 24, of Broussard, La.; assigned to the 1 st Battalion, 17 th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Lewis, Washington; died October 27, 2009 Army Pfc. Brian R. Bates Jr., 20, of Gretna, La.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Lewis, Washington; died October 27, 2009. Army Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr., 20, of Denham Springs, La.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died September 19, 2009. Page 3 of 9 Army Pfc. Matthew E. Wildes, 18, of Hammond, La.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.; died August 27, 2009. Army Pfc. Jason R. Watson, 19, of Many, La.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died February 12, 2009. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Milton E. Suggs, 51, of Lockport, La.; assigned to the 38th Operational Support Airlift Detachment, Hammond, La.; died January 30, 2009. Air Force Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight, 22, of Marrero, La.; assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; died January 18, 2009. Army Sgt. 1st Class David J. Todd Jr., 36, of Marrero, La.; assigned to the Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-West, Herat, Afghanistan; died August 20, 2008. Marine Staff Sgt. Danny P. Dupre, 28, of Lockport, La.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died July 15 2008. Army Pfc. Bryan M. Thomas, 22, of Lake Charles, La.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, Baumholder, Germany; died June 23, 2008. Army Sgt. 1st Class David R. Hurst, 31, of Kenner, La.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, Fort Polk, La., died June 8, 2008. Army Cpl. Justin R. Mixon, 22, of Bogalusa, La.; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany; died June 1, 2008.