[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 24 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                         SGT RANDY S. ROSENBERG

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a special 
person, SGT Randy S. Rosenberg of Berlin, NH.
  Tragically, on January 24, 2004, this courageous young soldier, only 
23 years of age, gave his last full measure for our Nation when a 
vehicle-based explosive device detonated near his military vehicle in 
Khalidiyah, Iraq, located in the Sunni Triangle, about 70 miles west of 
Baghdad. Randy and two of his comrades lost their lives in the 
explosion and six other American soldiers were wounded in the attack 
near the Euphrates River. At the time of the hostile action SGT 
Rosenberg was serving as an infantryman in Company B, 1st Squadron, 9th 
Cavalry, a component of Task Force ``All American'' which was 
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Randy joined the United States Army in September 1998, after 
graduating from Berlin High School, where he played hockey and 
baseball. He completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training 
at Fort Benning, GA, and was assigned to Fort Hood, TX, since March 
1999. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct 
Medal, National Defense Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional 
Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple 
Heart, posthumous, and Bronze Star, posthumous. This was his second 
tour of duty in the Middle East, having served previously in Kuwait.
  His wife, Misty, is from Goffstown, NH. His mother and stepfather are 
Rick and Sandy Fournier. Sandy works in the Berlin City Hall. His 
sister, Tanya, 15, is a student at Berlin High School. SGT Rosenberg 
also leaves his maternal grandfather, Saul Rosenberg, and his maternal 
grandmother, Shirley Gemitti, and her husband, William Gemitti, a 
veteran of the Korean war.
  Patriots from the State of New Hampshire have served our Nation with 
honor and distinction from Bunker Hill to Iraq--and Randy served in 
that fine tradition. Daniel Webster said:

       God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are 
     always ready to guard and defend it.

  Randy was one of those proud and dedicated volunteers who chose to 
serve our Nation, and guard our precious liberty, and for that we will 
always owe our sincere gratitude.
  The sudden death of a young person is especially difficult for family 
and friends. In November 1864, President Abraham Lincoln was informed 
by the War Department of a mother who had lost five sons in the Civil 
War. He wrote the mother:

       I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine 
     which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss 
     so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the 
     consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic 
     they died to save.
       I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of 
     your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of 
     the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours 
     to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

  Family, friends, and fellow soldiers will no longer be able to enjoy 
the company of SGT Randy S. Rosenberg. Strangers will never have the 
opportunity to know his friendship. Yet memories of this young patriot 
will last forever with those who were fortunate enough to have had the 
opportunity to know him. May God bless Randy Rosenberg.

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