[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16530]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN MEMORY OF STAFF SGT. ROBERT J. CHIOMENTO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great 
sadness and tremendous gratitude to honor the life of a brave young 
man, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Chiomento. He died fighting the Taliban on 
July 17, 2006 in Khwaya Ahmad, Afghanistan, when his patrol encountered 
enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. Staff Sgt. 
Chiomento was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th 
Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana. He 
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Every soldier that passes away has a story behind him, and has a 
family. The news of Staff Sgt. Chiomento's death was relayed to me by 
his cousin, Thomas Chiomento, my good friend and constituent. Thom 
remembers his hero cousin as a third-generation who has fought in 
combat. Their grandfather served as a Marine in the Pacific during 
World War II and his father served in Vietnam. We must not forget the 
individual stories of these soldiers who have served our country with 
courage and honor. Staff Sgt. Chiomento was a brave and gifted soldier 
who was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and the Combat 
Infantrymen's Badge. He was the kind of soldier that boosted our pride 
in being an American.
  Mr. Speaker, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Chiomento exemplified the spirit of 
service that has made this country great. It is proper to remember and 
honor a man of such worth and character with great respect for what he 
stood for. Our pride in Robert shall certainly live on--his life, his 
courage, his sacrifice and strength of character. The example of his 
citizenship and dedication to duty will be his enduring legacy. We will 
not forget his sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask you and my 
other distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring the memory, life 
and service of Staff Sgt. Robert J. Chiomento--``an American hero,'' 
and in sending our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Staci, his two 
daughters, Ambre and Syleste, his entire family, his friends, and 
community.

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