[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E676-E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF ROBERT DANIELI

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 2014

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of 
Mr. Robert Danieli, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 76. Bob 
served the United States of America honorably in northern Africa and 
Italy during World War II and was a leader in the Central Valley.
  Bob was born in Hollister, California. His family later moved to a 
farm near Chowchilla, where Bob attended local schools and worked 
alongside his father and brothers on the family farm and dairy. When 
his father was hospitalized, Bob ran the farm alongside his mother and 
two younger brothers.
  In July 1942, Bob set aside his farming duties and reported for 
service with the United States Army. He completed basic training at 
Camp Roberts and joined the Western Task Force for Operation Torch, the 
allied invasion of northern Africa in November 1942 commanded by 
General George Patton.
  Bob was assigned as rifleman to the scout platoon of the headquarters 
unit where he

[[Page E677]]

helped conduct reconnaissance patrols and targeted enemy troops and 
armor and gun emplacements in Tunisia and Libya.
  When General Patton assumed command of the U.S. II Corps, he had key 
elements of his former command transferred to his new command, 
including Bob and most of the scout platoon. Under the command of 
General Patton, the U.S. II Corps took on Rommel's famed Afrika Korps 
and defeated the Germans in two key battles.
  In November 1943, Bob was injured in the line of duty. He was sent 
for recuperation to an Army hospital in Palm Springs, California. 
Following his recuperation, Bob returned to serve on limited duty and 
was transferred to the 9025th Technical Service Unit at Fort MacArthur, 
where he served until his discharge in October 1945.
  During his time in the Army, Bob rose to the rank of staff sergeant 
and served in campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy. He was awarded 
the Combat Infantry's Badge, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, 
the European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II 
Victory Medal.
  Bob spent the rest of his life serving his community with the same 
tenacity and devotion with which he served in the Army. He was elected 
to the Chowchilla Union High School (CUHS) Board of Education and the 
Chowchilla Water District. He also served as a Director for the Federal 
Land Bank and was a member of the Chowchilla Spring Festival and the 
CUHS Ag Advisory. He was a Past Commander and Life Member of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9896 and American Legion Post 148 in 
Chowchilla. He and his wife Lillian had four children, six 
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the 
life and service of Mr. Robert Danieli, who was a shining example of 
the tenacity, courage, and dedication embodied by a serviceman.

                          ____________________