[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E163-E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT FRANCIS J. SEYFRIED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor an American hero and Purple Heart recipient, Mr. Francis J. 
Seyfried. A proud member of our Nation's military during World War II, 
Staff Sergeant Seyfried was killed over the North Atlantic when his 
plane evaded enemy fire, crashed into another aircraft, and his 
parachute landed in the frigid Atlantic waters below.
  Born on November 22, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Seyfried joined 
the Army Air Corps on January 30, 1943. Stationed in Europe, he and his 
fellow soldiers were assigned to perform bombing runs over enemy lines. 
It was during his 43rd such attack on December 31, 1944 that Mr. 
Seyfried lost his life in battle.
  Commonly known as the Piggyback incident, the midair collision of two 
military planes caused a sensation amongst military members at the 
time. Returning from a bombing run over Hamburg, Germany, Staff 
Sergeant Seyfried's aircraft was evading enemy fire when his plane 
collided with another Allied aircraft. The two planes stuck together, 
with the engine of one plane dug completely into the engine of the 
other. Instead of separating and crashing separately, the two planes 
continued flying together in piggyback fashion. While ten of the crew 
members from the two planes did manage to escape safely, Staff Sergeant 
Seyfried was lost in the frigid North Atlantic waters off the German 
coast.
  Madam Speaker, soldiers like Francis J. Seyfried should be recognized 
for their service to our Nation and for their commitment and sacrifices 
in battle. I am honored to present Mr. Seyfried's family with his long 
overdue Purple Heart. While he has passed on from this life, his 
family, friends and loved ones should know that we truly consider him 
one of America's heroes.

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