Jesse Halling

Pfc. Jesse M. Halling

Killed in Action June 7, 2003

PFC Halling was a member of the 401st Military Police Company, attached to 1-22 Infantry.
He was killed by a rocket propelled grenade
while defending the Civilian Military Operations Center in Tikrit, Iraq.

He was 19 years old and his home town was listed as Indianapolis, Indiana.

Halling was praised by other soldiers for his actions during the battle, ordering others in his unit to take cover
while he remained at his post and returning fire until he was hit by shrapnel.

Halling, a Ben Davis High School graduate, was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart
and has been nominated for a Silver Star Medal, the Army's third-highest medal for valor
behind the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross.

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The following was entered into the Public Record on June 11, 2003

Speaker: Senator B. Evan Bayh (IN)
Title: Honoring Our Armed Forces
Location: Washington, D.C.
Date: 06/11/2003

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

Mr. BAYH:

Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart and deep sense of gratitude to honor the life of a brave young man
from Indianapolis, IN. Private Jesse M. Halling, 19 years old, was killed in Tikrit, Iraq on June 7, 2003
when his military police station came under grenade and small-arms fire.
Jesse joined the Army with his entire life before him. He chose to risk everything to fight for the values Americans hold close to our hearts, in a land halfway around the world from home.

Jesse was the sixth Hoosier soldier to be killed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Today, I join Jesse's family, his friends, and the entire Indianapolis community in mourning his death.
While we struggle to bear our sorrow over his death, we can also take pride in the example he set,
bravely fighting to make the world a safer place. It is this courage and strength of character
that people will remember when they think of Jesse, a memory that will burn brightly
during these continuing days of conflict and grief.

Jesse Halling was a hard-working student, admired by all who knew him for his strong work ethic
and remembered by both friends and teachers as a well-liked young man.
Friends recall that Jesse always wanted to be a soldier, to follow in the footsteps of his father,
who had served for 4 years in the Air Force.

Jesse graduated from Ben Davis High School in 2002, where he was a member of the weighlifting and Spanish clubs. After graduating high school, where he served as part of his school's ROTC unit, Jesse joined the Army
in the military police division.

Jesse leaves behind his father, Alma Halling, and his mother, Pamela Halling.
As I search for words to do justice in honoring Jesse Halling's sacrifice, I am reminded of President Lincoln's remarks as he addressed the families of the fallen soldiers in Gettysburg: “We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate,
we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it,
far above our poor ability to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here,
but it can never forget what they did here.” This statement is just as true today as it was nearly 150 years ago,
as I am certain that the impact of Jesse Halling's actions will live on far longer than any record of these words.

It is my sad duty to enter the name of Jesse M. Halling in the official record of the Senate
for his service to this country and for his profound commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.
When I think about this just cause in which we are engaged, and the unfortunate pain that comes
with the loss of our heroes, I hope that families like Jesse's can find comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah
who said, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears form off all faces.”

May God grant strength and peace to those who mourn, and may God bless the United States of America.

Public Statement, June 11, 2003

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