Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Gainesville Times:

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed bills to honor two area soldiers who were killed in separate incidents in Iraq.

U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson announced the passage of the legislation to rename the post offices in Lula and Cleveland. The bill now goes to the White House for President Bush’s signature.

The Lula post office will be renamed in honor of Pfc. Johnathon Millican, who served in the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment from Fort Richardson, Alaska. Millican, a Hall County native, was killed by terrorists in Iraq while conducting an operation in Karbala on Jan. 20, 2007.

Millican was off duty in a communications room talking with his wife when the attackers fired several rounds into the room with an AK-47 and tossed in a concussion grenade. Millican covered the grenade with his body, attempting to protect his comrades from the enemy intrusion.

Millican was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his courage, valor and dedication to his fellow soldiers. Millican is survived by his wife, Shannon, his parents and sisters.

The Cleveland post office will be renamed in honor of Sgt. Jason Harkins, who served in the Army’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

Harkins, a Clarkesville native, was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq when he died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device that detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Baqubah on March 6, 2007. Harkins served more than three years in the U.S. Army Reserves and received a Bronze Star of Valor and the Purple Heart. Harkins is survived by his wife, Emily Renee Cook Harkins, his parents, his brothers and sisters.

The designations were introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Gainesville.

The resolutions honoring Millican and Harkins were passed along with a third resolution to honor Spc. Jamaal R. Addison of Lithonia.

“These men are true heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and democracy,” said Chambliss. “This is such a special way to honor their service and sacrifice to our country.”

His sentiments were echoed by Isakson.

“These men served without desire for credit, but on behalf of their country and everything that we stand for,” Isakson said. “Naming this post office after them is one small way to honor the sacrifices they made to make the United States and Georgia a better place.”