[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11345]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         PAYING TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL THOMAS L. PIROZZI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 25, 2002

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas L. Pirozzi and offer heartfelt 
congratulations for a successful Battalion Command. Lieutenant Colonel 
Pirozzi is the commanding officer of the 626th Forward Support 
Battalion, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and currently on duty 
near Kandahar, Afghanistan. On July 8, 2002, Lieutenant Colonel Pirozzi 
will be changing command in Afghanistan and will subsequently return to 
the United States for his next assignment, in Washington, D.C.
  Lieutenant Colonel Pirozzi was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on 
November 6, 1961 to Eli and Elaine Pirozzi. He graduated from Bayonne 
High School and was commissioned into the Quartermaster Corps through 
the Rutgers University ROTC program, where he earned a Bachelors degree 
in Business Administration and American Literature. Lieutenant Colonel 
Pirozzi also holds a Masters of Military Science Degree from the Marine 
Corps University at Quantico, Virginia.
  Prior to taking command of the 626th Forward Support Battalion, 
Lieutenant Colonel Pirozzi served in a number of positions around the 
world, including Chief of Logistics Information Systems for the U.S. 
European Command in Stuttgart, Germany; Executive Officer, 82nd Forward 
Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps 
Airdrop Officer at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Forward Area Support 
Coordination Officer (FASCO), 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air 
Assault), and Commander, 53rd Quartermaster (Airdrop Support), Fort 
Campbell, Kentucky, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
  Lieutenant Colonel Pirozzi's awards and decorations are as impressive 
as his service around the world. They include, the Bronze Star Medal 
(with Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious 
Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement 
Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the 
Humanitarian Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Campaign Medal (with two 
Bronze Star Devices), Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Liberation Medals, the 
Air Assault Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Parachute Rigger 
badge.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear through his numerous assignments and awards 
that Lieutenant Colonel Pirozzi has served his country with honor and 
pride. Therefore, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking him for 
his service to our country and to the cause of Freedom, not only here 
at home, but abroad. I would also ask my colleagues to join me in 
welcoming Lieutenant Colonel Pirozzi home from Afghanistan and wishing 
him good fortune in his new assignment in Washington, D.C.

                          ____________________