[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E453-E454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING SERGEANT MICHAEL ``MIKE'' McLOONE

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DONALD NORCROSS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2026

  Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend Sergeant 
Michael ``Mike'' McLoone. Today, Friday, May 15, 2026, family, friends, 
and members of the community will gather in the gymnasium of 
Merchantville School in the Borough of Merchantville, New Jersey, to 
honor and recognize Sergeant Mike McLoone for his service to both his 
community and the United States of America.
  Mike McLoone is a first generation American, born to Irish immigrants 
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1945. After graduating from LaSalle 
College, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was stationed 
at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Still, Oklahoma for his 
training. By May 1968, he was serving active duty in Vietnam, where he 
was deployed in the Delta Region with the 1st Battalion, 11th 
Artillery, 9th Infantry. Sergeant Mike McLoone served as an artillery 
crewman, specifically as the gunner of the cannon.
  In August of 1969, Sergeant Mike McLoone was among the first that 
President Nixon removed from Vietnam. He achieved the rank of Sergeant 
before he was honorably discharged in May of 1970. For his time in the 
armed services, he was the recipient of the National Defense Service 
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Good 
Conduct Medal.

[[Page E454]]

  Upon returning to the United States, Sergeant Mike McLoone married 
his wife of 55 years, Maureen McLoone and bought their first home in 
the Borough of Merchantville in 1974 at the corner of Centre Street and 
Chestnut Avenue. He became a certified public accountant and briefly 
moved out of Merchantville until returning once again in 1979 and has 
now lived for 47 years on Chestnut Avenue. There, Maureen and him 
raised their sons Andrew and Peter, who now both reside with their 
families in the Borough of Merchantville.
  Today, we recognize both Sergeant Mike McLoone's service to his 
country and his community. He has served on the Railroad Planning 
Committee in years past and served as both a coach and officer for the 
Merchantville Bambino Baseball League throughout the 1990's. Mike also 
has served on the Merchantville School Board for 7 years, including two 
years as president of the board. He is a member of American Legion Post 
68 in Merchantville, VFW Post No. 6650 in Ocean City, and a member of 
the Merchantville Historical Society. He and Maureen have worked 
diligently to restore and preserve their home, the Centennial House, 
which has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 
1991. He and his family have supported businesses and organizations 
throughout Merchantville, buying a lifetime supply of chocolate 
nonpareils from Aunt Charlotte's.

                          ____________________