Iowa Senators want post office named after Iowa guardsman killed in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are introducing legislation to name a Cedar Rapids post office in honor of Sergeant First Class (SFC) Terryl L. Pasker, an Iowa National Guardsman who was killed in action in Afghanistan on July 9, 2011. Specifically, the bill would designate the facility of the United States Postal Services located at 615 6th Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the “Sergeant First Class Terryl L. Pasker Post Office Building”.

“When our country called on him to serve, Sergeant First Class Terryl Pasker made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms,” said Senator Ernst. “While we will never be able to say ‘thank you’ enough to SFC Pasker and his family, this post office would honor his legacy and serve as a symbol throughout the community of his unwavering heroism.”

“Sergeant First Class Terryl Pasker served our country and lost his life on our behalf,” said Senator Grassley. “In turn, we should honor his service in every possible way, including the recognition of a community fixture named for him.”

This is the Senate companion to Representative Rod Blum’s (R-IA) bill, cosponsored alongside Iowa Representatives Dave Loebsack (D-IA), David Young (R-IA) and Steve King (R-IA).

SFC Terryl L. Pasker was born in Anamosa, Iowa, enlisted in the US Army in 1990, and joined the Iowa National Guard in 1995. While serving in the Guard, he deployed to Afghanistan from 2004, and again in 2011 with the 334th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. SFC Pasker gave the ultimate sacrifice to his county when he was killed in a green-on-blue attack in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan on July 9, 2011, near the end of his tour. SFC Pasker was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He is survived by his wife, Erica; parents, Mary and David; brother, Andrew, and two sisters, Christine and Rebecca.