[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 4, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING PRIVATE SECOND CLASS ROBERT HAROLD SUDBRINK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS JACOBS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2021

  Mr. JACOBS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
accomplishments of an extraordinary man and hero, Private Second Class 
Robert Harold Sudbrink of Youngstown, New York.
  Robert was born and raised in Astoria, New York, the son of William 
Sudbrink, an electrician who worked on the World Trade Center, and Mary 
Normoyle Sudbrink, a homemaker. He is the sixth of seven children. Two 
of his older brothers, William and Thomas, worked as New York City 
firefighters.
  Robert was named after his uncle, Robert J. Sudbrink, who also had a 
decorated military career--he received the Silver Star from General 
John ``Blackjack'' Pershing for his service in World War I.
  Continuing his family's history of decorated military service, Robert 
enlisted in the Army after graduating from Valley Stream South High 
School in 1968 at age seventeen. He completed basic training at Fort 
Jackson, South Carolina. He went on to complete his Airborne infantry 
training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, Airborne School at Fort Benning, 
Georgia, and Special Forces training at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, 
North Carolina.
  On July 4, 1969, Robert was deployed to the Central Highlands of 
Vietnam as part of the 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade. There, he 
worked closely with the South Vietnamese Army.
  On March 13, 1970, Robert distinguished himself in the village of Loc 
Thai. There, he encountered a home in flames and acted on his instincts 
to assist the family inside. Instead of waiting for help, he entered 
the home multiple times to save a child's life, the family's food 
supply, and their personal belongings. He also helped the village 
extinguish the fire before it could spread to the rest of the village. 
For his heroic efforts, Robert was awarded the Soldier's Medal two 
months later.
  After the war, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and 
returned home to New York City. In 1982, he met his wife, Bonnie 
Sudbrink. Together, they moved to Western New York and eventually built 
a home in Alden, New York.
  In Alden, Robert worked as a mail handler for the United States 
Postal Service for twenty-two years. Now retired, Robert enjoys 
traveling, playing the banjo, and creating artwork in his free time.
  He and his wife Bonnie have two daughters, both residing in New York: 
Courtney Lennon, an author and historian; and Maggie Matullo, an 
artisan. He also has two granddaughters: Gia and Olivia.
  Our country could not be prouder of Private Second Class Robert 
Harold Sudbrink, a fellow New Yorker and true American hero. Madam 
Speaker, please join me in honoring Robert for his heroism, in thanking 
him for service, and recognizing him as the New York 27th Congressional 
District's Veteran of the Month of May 2021.

                          ____________________