[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E634-E635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT JOSEPH F. GIANETTO II
______
HON. ANN MARIE BUERKLE
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Senior
Master Sergeant Joseph F. Gianetto II. Originally from Oswego, NY,
Sergeant Gianetto enlisted in 1971 and subsequently has spent over
39\1/2\ years with United States Air Force and the New York Air
National Guard. Sergeant Gianetto has been decorated with numerous
medals, awards and service distinctions. It is my honor to recognize
such a distinguished citizen and airman.
Sergeant Gianetto began his military career in the Air Force on the
delayed enlistment program in June 1971 and was called to active duty
in October 1971. Upon completion of basic training at Lackland Air
Force Base, Texas, in November 1971, Sergeant Gianetto began technical
school training as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist at Sheppard Air
Force Base, Texas. In March 1972, he was assigned to 314th Tactical
Airlift Wing, Organizational Maintenance Branch, Flight-line
Maintenance, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and began on-the-job
training for his five-skill level on the C-130E Hercules aircraft. He
remained in that position until May 1973.
In May 1973, Sergeant Gianetto was reassigned to the 56th Special
Operations Wing, Organizational Maintenance Squadron, Flight-line
Branch, Nahkon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in support
of combat operations in Southeast Asia. While assigned with the 56th
Organizational Maintenance Squadron he performed duties as Aircraft
Crew Chief on the OV-10A Bronco aircraft and deployed to forward
operating locations at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Takhli Royal
Thai Air Force Base, and Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.
After completion of his tour of duty in Southeast Asia, Sergeant
Gianetto was reassigned to 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Field
Maintenance Branch, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, where he worked in the
Repair and Reclamation Shop as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician
performing heavy maintenance on the C-130E aircraft. He was
subsequently reassigned to the 314th Headquarters Squadron as an
Aircraft Job Controller coordinating the maintenance efforts on a fleet
of over 100 C-130E Hercules aircraft.
Sergeant Gianetto applied for a release from active duty under the
Palace Chase Program. His release from active duty was granted in
September 1979. He became a member of the 107th Fighter Interceptor
Group, Organizational Maintenance Branch, Flight-line Maintenance, New
York Air National Guard, Niagara Falls, New York, and was assigned as a
Crew Chief on the RF-101 Voodoo aircraft. In January 1980, Sergeant
Gianetto transferred to the 174th Fighter Wing, assigned to the 174th
Maintenance Squadron as Crew Chief on the A-10A Thunderbolt aircraft,
and subsequently held assignments in the 174th Maintenance Operations
Flight, and the 174th Operations Group, supporting F-16C Fighting
Falcon Maintenance Operations, and RC-26 Counterdrug Operations.
The 174th Fighter Wing was called mobilized and called to active duty
on 29 December 1990. On 2 January 1991, Sergeant Gianetto deployed to
Al Kharj Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation
Desert Shield/Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War. He returned
from the Persian Gulf on 20 May 1991 and was released from active duty
on 13 June 1991. He also served in Operation Northern Watch from 23
August to 16 September 1997, and Operation Southern Watch from 28
February to 8 April 2000 and again from 28 July to 28 August 2001, all
in support of contingency operations against Iraq. After the September
11th terrorist attacks, he performed over 40 days of active duty
supporting Combat Air Patrol sorties in support of Operation Noble
Eagle.
On 14 October 2003, Sergeant Gianetto volunteered for his forth Air
Expeditionary Force deployment in Support of the Global War on
Terrorism. He deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Emirate of Qatar, and was
attached to the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Operations Squadron,
from 17 October 2003 to 5 December 2003, in support of combat
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom
and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On 28 November 2006, Sergeant Gianetto was again called to active
duty deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom, where he was assigned to the 332d Expeditionary Maintenance
Group. While there he worked as a Senior Weapon Systems Controller and
Shift Supervisor, coordinating maintenance operations for three
different active duty and Air National Guard assigned aircraft
supporting contingency operations throughout the Iraqi theater of
operations. Sergeant Gianetto redeployed after 96 days in-theater and
was released from active duty on 1 April 2007.
Sergeant Gianetto had been employed as an Air National Guard
Technician since June 1980, working as an A-10 Aircraft Mechanic;
Aircraft Production Controller; Aircraft Production Control Supervisor;
Aircraft Production Control Superintendent; and a Logistics Management
Technician. He retired from his full-time technician position on 1
March 2008.
Militarily, he was assigned as the NCOIC for the 174th Fighter Wing
RC-26 Counterdrug office on 23 June 2008, and is a former Maintenance
Squadron First Sergeant. He has over 39\1/2\ years combined service,
eight years of active duty in the United States Air Force, and the
remainder with the New York Air National Guard.
During these times and throughout his career, Sergeant has displayed
honorable character and service to the United States Air Force and
174th Fighter Wing, and our country. His military decorations include
the Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal, with one
oak leaf cluster; and Air Force Achievement Medal; five oak leaf
clusters. His military unit and achievement awards include the Joint
Service Meritorious Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Award, with two oak
leaf clusters; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat ``V''
device and nine oak leaf clusters; Air Force Good Conduct Medal, with
one oak leaf cluster; Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal,
with nine oak leaf clusters. His military campaign and service awards
include the National Defense Service Medal, with two bronze service
stars; Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal with one bronze service
star; Viet Nam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star; Southwest
Asia Service Medal, with three bronze campaign stars; Iraq Campaign
Medal, with two bronze campaign stars; Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Military
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal; Air
Force Overseas Service Ribbon, with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force
Expeditionary Service Ribbon, with gold combat frame and two oak leaf
clusters; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, with eight oak leaf
clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass device,
mobilization ``M'' device, and numeral ``7''; Noncommissioned Officer
Professional Military Education Ribbon, with two oak leaf clusters;
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; and Air Force Training Ribbon.
Sergeant Gianetto's Foreign Service awards include the Republic of Viet
Nam Gallantry Cross with palm device; Republic of Viet Nam Campaign
Medal with date bar; Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia; and the
Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait.
Sergeant Gianetto also holds the following New York State awards and
decorations: New York State Military Commendation Medal; New York State
Long and Faithful Service Award, with one gold and one silver device;
New York State Desert Storm Service Medal; New York State Defense of
Liberty Medal; New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, with one
silver device; New York State Conspicuous Service Star, with one gold
and two silver devices; New York State Recruiting Medal; New York State
Counterdrug Ribbon; New York State Exercise Support Ribbon, with three
``E'' devices; and the Medal for Humane Service to New York State; and
the New York State Air Guard First Sergeant Ribbon.
He is also the recipient of the Air National Guard Noncommissioned
Officer Academy Graduate Association, Outstanding Graduate of the Year
Award for 1995; the 1999 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5885, All-State
Commanders Award; and the 174th Fighter Wing Senior Noncommissioned
Officer of the Year Award for 2001. In May 2004, Sergeant Gianetto
received the American Red Cross Veterans award. He was also named the
174th Fighter Wing Base Honor Guard Senior Noncommissioned Officer of
the Year for 2005.
His effective dates of promotion are: Airman--16 November 1971;
Airman First Class--1 April 1972; Sergeant--1 November 1973; Staff
Sergeant--1 November 1976; Technical Sergeant--1 October 1980; Master
Sergeant--1 February 1986; Senior Master Sergeant--13 February 1990.
Sergeant Gianetto is a Past Post Commander and ``Life'' of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Quatrini-Dehm Post No. 5885, located in
Oswego, New York. He is also member the American Legion, James Harvey
Spire Post No. 787, Cicero, New York. He is a member of the Air Force
Association; the Air Force Sergeants Association; the Enlisted
Association of the National Guard of the United
[[Page E635]]
States; the Enlisted Association of the New York National Guard; and
the 174th Alumni Association. He is a member of the Air National Guard
Noncommissioned Officer Academy Graduates Association; and the American
Veterans (AmVets). He is also an active member of the 174th Fighter
Wing Base Honor Guard, and a member of Bugles Across America.
Without question, Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Gianetto is a very special
person. He willingly served his nation, exuding loyalty and pride. For
his unrelenting service, Sergeant Gianetto can retire knowing he has
earned such a status. I would like to wish him well in his retirement
years, as he will now be able to spend more free time with his wife
Dale, his three daughters, Christina Gianetto, Jennifer (Gianetto)
Rowan, Brynn Leigh (Shattuck) Shamp, sons Ryan and Kegan Shattuck, and
grandson Nehemiah Shamp. Sergeant Gianetto, thank you for all your
years of hard work, dedication and service to our country.
____________________