Scott Murphy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the very sad duty of reporting the tragic loss of U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Philip Charte. He had just turned 22 years old. Charte was killed in action in Afghanistan on Monday, September 6, 2010.

Corporal Charte, a rifleman, joined the Marines in June 2007, the same day he graduated high school. Last year he served in Iraq; and after being promoted to Corporal little more than a few months ago, he was deployed once again, this time to Afghanistan.

Corporal Charte was willing to give his life in service to all of us and to the country he loved. Our gratitude cannot simply be expressed nor our sorrow properly conveyed.

Charte will be remembered as many things: a prankster, a dedicated athlete, a competitor and a teammate. But above all else, he was a soldier, serving his country and community with honor.

While Philip lived in New Hampshire, he grew up and his family still lives in Washington County in New York. My heart goes out to Philip's father, also named Philip, and his sister, Alicia.

His father perhaps said it best: ``Philip served his country with courage, honor and distinction. He was a great son, brother, nephew, uncle and friend. He will be missed sorely.''

On behalf of a grateful Nation, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Charte family during this incredibly difficult time.

Madam Speaker, the following is an exchange of e-mails between Derek Farley and his mother, Carrie.

Communication between Carrie Farley and Derek Farley before he left for Afghanistan September 11, 2009:

It was nice hearing your voice and thank you for the call.

I'm proud of you Derek, you are right. For a young man

you've accomplished and experienced a lot within your years

of travel. You've met some really good friends, people you

will always be able to depend on and will have your back.

All these experiences have made you a wonderful young man

and I'm proud to be your mother.

I love you,

Mom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the very sad duty of reporting the tragic passing of Army Staff Sergeant Derek Farley. Farley was killed in action Tuesday, August 17, in Afghanistan while disarming a roadside bomb. Farley was a member of the 702nd Ordnance Maintenance Company. His job as a bomb disposal technician was to diffuse bombs and IEDs to keep other soldiers and civilians safe.

He graduated from Columbia High School in East Greenbush in 2004 and made up his mind to join the military at the age of 17, continuing his family's tradition of service to our Nation. His father served in the Vietnam era.

In a previous tour in Iraq, where he served from 2006 to 2007 with the 756th EOD Company, Farley received a Purple Heart after losing his hearing in one ear during a bomb detonation.

In a letter to his mother, Derek said the following: ``If something were to happen to me, just remember that I do the most dangerous job because it has the most rewarding payoff. . . . There would be no greater honor for me if it comes to it, but I keep fighting because there are thousands of mothers out there just like you who want to see their sons and daughters again.''

My heart goes out to Derek's parents, Ken and Carrie; his brother, Dylan; sisters, Colleen, Theresa and Julie; and his beloved Maria.

On behalf of a grateful Nation, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Farley family during this difficult time.