[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                     STAFF SERGEANT ZACHARY TOMCZAK

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to SSG Zachary 
Tomczak and his heroic service to our country. As a member of the 
Army's 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division 
based in North Carolina, Staff Sergeant Tomczak was serving in support 
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On September 25, 2007, he was killed in 
action in Baghdad.
  A Huron native, Zachary joined the Army in June 2002 and took great 
pride in serving his country. His graduation from Ranger School at Fort 
Benning, GA, in May is described by his father as ``one of the proudest 
moments for him and for me.'' His captain remembers him as ``a leader, 
mentor, warrior, Ranger, hero.'' Zachary was on his fourth tour of duty 
in Iraq and had earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal, among 
other awards.
  A hard worker, Zachary enjoyed hands-on projects and worked for a 
construction company during high school. He also enjoyed spending time 
four-wheeling, pheasant hunting, and deer hunting. Friends and family 
will remember Zachary's love for life and easygoing personality.
  Sergeant Tomczak gave his all for his soldiers and his country. Our 
Nation owes him a debt of gratitude, and the best way to honor his life 
is to emulate his commitment to our country. Mr. President, I join with 
all South Dakotans in expressing my deepest sympathy to the family of 
Staff Sergeant Tomczak. He will be missed, but his service to our 
Nation will never be forgotten.


                Private First Class Christopher Pfeifer

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to express my sympathy over the loss 
of United States Army PFC Christopher Pfeifer of Nebraska. Private 
First Class Pfeifer died on September 25 from injuries he sustained 
near Kamu, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit on August 17. 
He was 21 years old.
  Private First Class Pfeifer grew up in the small town of Spalding, 
NE, where he played eight-man football at Spalding Academy, as well as 
the drums in the band. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st 
Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in 
Schweinfurt, Germany. All the flags in Spalding, a town of about 600 
people, are at half-mast in honor of Private First Class Pfeifer.
  Private First Class Pfeifer is remembered as a devoted husband, son, 
and brother. Sadly, he was denied the chance to become a proud father; 
his wife Karen gave birth to a baby girl the day after his death.
  All of Nebraska is proud of Private First Class Pfeifer's service to 
our country, as well as the thousands of other brave Americans serving 
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  In addition to his wife and newborn daughter, he is survived by his 
parents, Mike and Dar, his brother Aaron, and his sister Nicki.
  I ask my colleagues to join me and all Americans in honoring PFC 
Christopher Pfeifer.

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