WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) today took to the Senate Floor to deliver a speech honoring five Arkansans that have been in killed in action in Afghanistan this year.

Boozman, who started his speech calling for remembrance of those lives taken in the September 11^th terror attacks, as well as those who helped save their fellow Americans during attacks, said each service member killed in the Global War on Terror since then “is a portrait of bravery.”

Boozman noted that 102 service members with Arkansas roots have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In his speech, Boozman singled out the following service members from Arkansas who were killed in action in Afghanistan this year: 

• Sgt. Ethan Hardin, 25, of Fayetteville, AR who was killed when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in the Logar Province of Afghanistan.
• Sgt. Zainah C. Creamer, 28, of Texarkana, AR who was killed when insurgents attacked her unit with an improvised explosive device in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.  
• Cpl. Loren M. Buffalo, 20, of Mountain Pine, AR who was killed when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.
• Navy Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, AR who was killed when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down by insurgents in the Wardak province, Afghanistan.
• Air Force Tech Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Siloam Springs, AR who was killed when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down by insurgents in the Wardak province, Afghanistan.