Honoring U.S. Army First Lieutenant John M. Runkle Of West Salem, Ohio
Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of 1st Lt. John Runkle as we honor his memory and express our deepest gratitude for his service to America. Our Nation and our State lost one its finest last month when Lt. Runkle of…
Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of 1st Lt. John Runkle as we honor his memory and express our deepest gratitude for his service to America. Our Nation and our State lost one its finest last month when Lt. Runkle of West Salem, OH died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. A native Ohioan, John Runkle graduated from Northwestern High School in 2002 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. Following a deployment to Iraq during 2004 and 2005, he entered West Point, where he went on to graduate in the top ten percent of his class.
In 2010 Lt. Runkle graduated from Ranger School and served with the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. A standout servicemember in our Armed Forces, Lt. Runkle earned numerous commendations and medals during his career, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Lt. Runkle was 27 years old when his unit was struck by an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 26, 2011. Lt. Runkle is survived by his father, John Runkle of Wooster, OH and his mother, Christine Runkle of West Salem, OH. He is also survived by his sister, Jane, and brothers Corey and Brent.
Although Lt. Runkle's life was cut far too short, the achievements he earned and the selfless service he gave to our Nation during his 27 years far exceeded what most of us could hope for in several lifetimes. Lt. Runkle represented the best of what America has to offer and his legacy will serve forever as a shining example of sacrifice, honor and a steadfast commitment to preserving freedom and liberty for all those that he left behind. Our country is a lesser place without him, but remains free and strong thanks to his service and his sacrifice.