Gabrielle Giffords

I miss you.

The First Amendment: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army Sergeant First Class James E. Thode, who was killed in action on December 2, 2010.

A resident of Tucson since the age of 6, James graduated from Catalina Magnet High School before attending the University of Arizona. A decorated combat veteran, he was assigned to Detachment 1 of the 118th Engineer Sapper Company, 1457th Engineer Battalion based out of American Fork, Utah. He was on his third combat deployment with the Army National Guard in Sabari District, Khowst Province, Afghanistan when he was killed by insurgents who attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device. In his civilian life, James served as a police officer in Farmington, New Mexico, having joined the department in 1996 and working as a field training officer and member of the SWAT team.

Among his many decorations, he earned the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Purple Heart. He was one of our Nation's most elite, best and bravest, and he will be remembered always.

We remember James and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that James made a difference in the lives of many others and serves as an example of a competent and caring leader and friend that will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he touched.

This body and this country owe James and his family a debt of gratitude, and it is vital that we remember him and his service to this country.

Sergeant First Class James Thode is survived by his wife, Carlotta; mother, Evelyn; father, Ernest; daughter, Ashley; son, Tommy and sister, MaryAnn.