[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 149 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MR. TONY ROACH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 9, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable American Soldier, Sergeant First Class Tony Roach, a 
resident of Shaw, Mississippi.
  Sergeant First Class Roach entered the Army Reserves on February 9, 
1990, and completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training as an armor 
crewman at Fort Knox, Kentucky directly after graduating from Shaw High 
School. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and Camp Shelby, 
Mississippi. His overseas assignment include Log Base Seitz in Iraq.
  SFC Roach was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, OIF 
2004-2005, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and Camp Shelby in 
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, OEF 2006-2014. Most recently, he served eight 
years as an Observer Controller Team Leader at Camp Shelby in 
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
  SFC Roach has served with overwhelming admiration at every level 
within a Tank Platoon to include: Tank Gunner, Tank Commander, Squad 
Leader and Platoon Sergeant. He has served as an Interim Observer 
Controller Team Leader, Battalion Operations Sergeant, and Observer 
Controller Group Leader.
  His military education includes 19K (Tanker) OSUT, 88M (Truck 
Driver), Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned 
Officer Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic 
Instructor Course, Recruiting and Retention School, Driver Training 
Course, Mind Resistant AP Instructor Course.
  He furthered his civilian education at Coahoma Community College in 
Clarksdale, Mississippi where he graduated in 1999 with a technical 
certification in Barbering.
  His awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal, Army 
Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3RD Award), National Defense 
Service Medal With Bronze Star (2ND Award), Iraqi campaign Medal with 
Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal with Campaign 
Star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, 
Overseas Service Ribbon, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device 
(2nd Award).
  Sergeant First Class Roach has two daughters: Laliya and Brianna; and 
one son, Tony Cordale. Sergeant First Class Roach is the son of Freddy 
Bryant and Gloria Roach and has 6 siblings: Gloria, Dellia, Nicole, 
Lee, James, and Isaac.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing 
American Soldier.

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