[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 139 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF AIR FORCE LT. HANK SCIARONI, MR. GIOVANNI 
      SILVIERO, MR. FRANCESCO MONTEVANI AND MR. SERGIO MONTEVANI.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 14, 2014

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and courage of 
my distinguished constituent, Air Force Lieutenant Hank Sciaroni, a 
recipient of the Bronze Star for bravery during World War II.
   In 1944, Lt. Sciaroni had to crash-land his B-24 Liberator bomber on 
an enemy-held beach in Italy. Were it not for the bravery of three 
Italian fishermen, he and his three Sergeants, Leonard Meton, Olin 
Houghton and Al Doerwald, would have been captured. Mr. Giovanni 
Silviero, Mr. Francesco Montevani and his son, Sergio Montevani, 
endangered their own lives to save our servicemen who they also housed 
and fed for nearly two weeks. They put themselves at even greater risk 
in procuring a small boat which the servicemen used to make their 
escape.
   On November 1, 1944, Lt. Sciaroni and his men successfully escaped 
from enemy territory, setting sail for the Ally-controlled port of 
Cesenatico, where they would finally receive medical attention. 
Although he has often thought of the three Italian fishermen, Mr. 
Sciaroni has not seen the men to whom he and his three sergeants owe 
their lives since.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring 
Lieutenant Hank Sciaroni who represents the great courage of American 
soldiers during World War II; his men, Sergeants Meton, Houghton and 
Doerwald; and equally important, the brave Italians who selflessly 
protected our countrymen from certain capture by enemy forces, Giovanni 
Silviero, Francesco Montevani and Sergio Montevani. I ask the entire 
House of Representatives to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude 
for their remarkable service to our great nation.

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