[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 80 (Friday, June 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S4019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING LIEUTENANT PAUL MICHEL DEMEO

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I rise to honor the life and service 
of 1LT Paul Michel DeMeo, who died on May 14 while stationed at Fort 
Bragg in North Carolina. Lieutenant DeMeo was a rifle platoon leader 
assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry 
Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division.
  Born at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands on 
October 1, 1989, the son of an American physicist at the base, Paul 
grew up around service members and knew that he wanted to join the 
military from a very young age. After his family moved to Derry, NH, 
when he was 13 years old, Paul attended high school at Pinkerton 
Academy, where he eventually became the school's first Air Force Junior 
Reserve Officer Training Corps participant to attend a military 
academy.
  Paul completed his undergraduate education at West Point in 2011 and 
went on to graduate from the infantry officer leadership basic course, 
the U.S. Army Ranger School, and the U.S. Army Airborne School. As a 
rifle platoon leader, Paul was responsible for training, material 
support, and readiness of 38 paratroopers. He was awarded a number of 
honors for his service, including the Army Commendation Medal, the 
National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge, the Parachutist 
Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
  Paul was an avid swimmer who joined the swim team in Kwajalein at the 
age of 4. He also showed tremendous promise on the tennis court at a 
very early age. In fact, when he was only 8 years old, the Government 
of the Republic of the Marshall Islands invited him to represent the 
country in tennis at the 2000 Olympic games. However, Paul wisely 
declined the offer, considering himself just a bit too young for the 
competition.
  Paul will be remembered for his exceptional leadership ability, his 
confident smile, and his strong loyalty to his fellow soldiers, 
especially paratroopers under his command. Paul dedicated his life to 
the service and protection of our country. He worked to make himself 
the best he could be and to answer the call of duty to defend our way 
of life. For this, we are forever grateful.
  Paul is survived by his parents, Paul and Lucienne DeMeo; his 
brothers, Nathen A. and Pascal J. DeMeo; his sister, Danya Aleesa 
DeMeo; and his maternal grandmother, Amonia Valbrun. He also leaves 
behind his girlfriend, Hannah Farmer of Charlotte, NC and his paternal 
grandfather, Paul J. DeMeo. I ask my colleagues and all Americans to 
join me in honoring the life and service of Lieutenant Paul Michel 
DeMeo.

                          ____________________