[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 7, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SAMUEL LOMBARDO

 Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I recognize Samuel Lombardo 
of Fort Walton Beach, FL, who served his nation in the U.S. Army during 
World War II and the Korean war. He will turn 100 years old on July 13, 
2019.
  Born in Italy, Samuel immigrated as a young boy to the United States. 
He enlisted with the U.S. Army in November 1939 in Pennsylvania. He 
served as the battalion topographical sergeant in the 11th Infantry, 
28th Infantry Division and graduated from officer candidate school at 
Fort Benning as an infantry officer in July 1942.
  After serving as an infantry basic training Instructor at Camp 
Fannin, TX, he was deployed to Europe as a platoon leader and company 
executive officer in Company I, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Division 
during the Battle of the Bulge. Following the battle, he made an 
American Flag for his platoon to carry across the Danube River from red 
pillows, blue curtains, and white surrender cloths. He served in the 
U.S. Army occupation in Germany and was the building officer in charge 
of the Palace of Justice in Nuremburg and as the officer in charge of a 
POW camp in Hammelburg with 350 Political POWs.
  Upon returning to the U.S., he attended school in Los Angeles, CA, 
becoming a Japanese linguist. He served as the operations officer, 
commanding officer, and assistant special agent-in-charge of the 441st 
CIC Aomori, Japan, and was a field operations intelligence officer in 
both South Korea and Japan after a tour as inspector general and deputy 
chief of staff at Fort Ord, CA. Samuel then served as an intelligence 
officer in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam, before the U.S. formally 
entered the conflict. He returned to Fort Ord after becoming ill with 
typhoid and retired as a lieutenant colonel in March 1, 1962.
  After his service, Samuel wrote a book, ``O'er the Land of the 
Free,'' about his World War II experiences. He has received several 
awards and decorations for his service to our country.
  I extend my best wishes to Samuel in celebration of his upcoming 
100th birthday and for his service to our Nation. It is my hope that 
the coming year is filled with good health and happiness.

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