{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=D7DCD163-E37A-4E01-A80A-E40BE8CDC63B", "Fischer Honors Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Deb Fischer", "F000463", "www.fischer.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, honored the life of Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha, Nebraska on the floor of the U.S. Senate.\u00a0\r\nWhile stationed in Iraq in 2006, Sergeant Debro was driving a Humvee providing advanced security for a convoy. He was killed when the vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.\r\nToday\u2019s speech marks Senator Fischer\u2019s eighth tribute this year to Nebraska service members who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. \u00a0\r\nThe full text of Fischer\u2019s tribute to Sergeant Germaine Debro of Omaha, Nebraska, as prepared for delivery, is below.\u00a0\r\nM. President, I rise today to continue my tribute to this generation of Nebraska heroes.\r\nThey are the men and women who have given their lives defending our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.\r\nEach one has a different story; each Gold Star Family has the same request:\r\nThat we remember the sacrifice of their loved one.\r\nBy telling the stories of these service members, here on the Senate floor, we can honor that request.\r\nToday, I honor the life and service of Germaine Debro, a man who seemed destined for military service.\r\nGermaine\u2019s father, Alvin Debro, was a career Air Force Technical Sergeant.\u00a0\r\nAt a young age, Germaine even picked up a nick name: \u201cG.I. Joe Maine.\u201d \u00a0\r\nEven then, family and friends saw qualities that would make him a great soldier.\r\nBecause of his military service, Alvin and his wife, Priscilla, and their three boys moved often.\u00a0\r\nGermaine attended Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska, for a year before his family moved to Arkansas.\r\nThere, Germaine graduated high school in 1991.\r\nLater, he and his family returned to Nebraska.\r\nFor a time, Germaine worked as a manager at a local Burger King.\u00a0\r\nBut, in 1994, \u201cG.I. Joe Maine\u201d followed his calling and enlisted in the Army.\r\nIn 1997, he joined the Nebraska Army National Guard.\r\nDuring these years, Germaine became known for his genuine personality and developing a great camaraderie with his fellow soldiers.\u00a0\r\nAccording to Specialist Shawn O\u2019Neil, Germaine was the \u201cnicest guy you could ever meet.\u201d\r\nHe would walk into a room and it would light up.\r\nTo his \u201cbattle buddies,\u201d Specialist Germaine Debro was affectionately known as \u201cDB.\u201d\r\nHis dedication to his fellow soldiers was obvious.\u00a0\r\nBeing single, Germaine volunteered for assignments so that married soldiers might remain at home with their families. \u00a0\r\nGermaine deployed to Kuwait in 2001 and to Bosnia in 2002.\u00a0\r\nIn 2005, Germaine learned his unit, the First of the 167th Cavalry of the Nebraska Army National Guard, would deploy to Iraq. Germaine would be assigned to Troop B. \u00a0\r\nGermaine\u2019s family was anxious about him deploying again, but Germaine would not let his Army brothers go without him. \u00a0\r\nIn the end, his family supported his decision.\r\nIn explaining how his fellow soldiers felt about Germaine, Sergeant Josh Graft put it simply:\u00a0\r\n\u201cHe was like a dad to all of us.\u201d \u00a0\r\nAfter a year of training, the First of the 167th Cavalry arrived in Iraq in early 2006.\r\nThat\u2019s when the Sunni-Shia civil war erupted. \u00a0\r\nIn February, the al-Askari mosque was bombed and Iraq was plunged ever deeper into sectarian violence. \u00a0\r\nAmerican forces had come to enforce peace; they found themselves engaged in intense wartime operations.\r\nGermaine\u2019s unit was right in the thick of it.\r\nEnemy attacks were frequent.\r\nTensions were high.\r\nOn September 4, 2006, a 20-truck convoy headed out from a site 30 miles north of Baghdad. \u00a0\r\nIn the United States, Americans were celebrating Labor Day with barbeques, sporting events, and family gatherings. \u00a0\r\nIn Iraq, Germaine was driving a Humvee providing advance security for the convoy.\r\nThirty miles outside Baghdad, Germaine\u2019s Humvee struck an improvised explosive device. \u00a0\r\nThe vehicle was spun several times before erupting into flames. \u00a0\r\nSergeant Josiah Warren, riding in the right seat, tried unsuccessfully to pull Germaine free.\r\nGermaine Debro died on September 4, 2006.\u00a0\r\nAt Iraq\u2019s Camp Anaconda, members of the Nebraska Army National Guard assembled to honor the man who had cared so deeply for them.\u00a0\r\nOn September 18, 2006, the Morning Star Baptist Church near downtown Omaha was filled with people paying a final tribute to Germaine Debro.\u00a0\r\nOutside, 110 patriot riders stood guard. \u00a0\r\nGermaine\u2019s brother, Maurice, read from a letter Germaine had written him.\u00a0\r\nIn it, he shared some advice his brother had offered him:\u00a0\r\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t take a risk, then you\u2019ll never know what happened.\u201d \u00a0\r\n\u201cThat was my brother,\u201d said Maurice, \u201cHe was a loving, caring person.\u201d\r\nGermaine Debro was promoted posthumously to the rank of sergeant.\r\nHis military decorations include a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.\r\nSergeant Germaine Debro is survived by his father, Alvin; his mother, Priscilla; and brothers Alvin Jr. and Maurice.\r\nHe is a true Nebraska hero, and I am honored to tell his story.\u00a0\r\nThank you, M. President.\u00a0\r\nI yield the floor.\u00a0\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=D7DCD163-E37A-4E01-A80A-E40BE8CDC63B"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.232632901519537, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}