[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9108-9109]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                  Lance Corporal Robert Louis Moscillo

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Marine 
Corps LCpl Robert Louis Moscillo of Salem, NH, for his service and his 
supreme sacrifice for his country.
  Robert, also called Bobby by family and friends, was a 2003 graduate 
of Salem High School where he played baseball and was on the wrestling 
team. On January 22, 2005, he answered a call to serve our country 
during these tense and turbulent times by enlisting in the U.S. Marine 
Corps. He successfully completed recruit training, marine combat 
training, combat engineer school, and the Martial Arts Program with a 
Tan Belt and was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA, 
where he served as a combat engineer. In February 2006, Bobby deployed 
to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the following month 
was promoted to the rank of lance corporal.
  Tragically, on May 1, 2006, this brave 21-year-old marine was killed 
in action by an improvised explosive device explosion while conducting 
combat operations against enemy forces in the vicinity of Fallujah in 
the Al Anbar province of Iraq. His awards and decorations include the 
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Purple Heart, 
Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the 
National Defense Service Medal.
  Patriots from the State of New Hampshire have served our Nation with 
honor and distinction from Bunker Hill to Baghdad--and Bobby served in 
that fine tradition. Daniel Webster said, ``God grants liberty only to 
those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.'' Bobby 
was one of those proud and dedicated volunteers who believed in 
fighting for our country and

[[Page 9109]]

guarding our precious liberty, and for that we will always owe our 
sincere gratitude. His service and sacrifice are a shining example of 
the highest caliber of person this country can produce. This athletic 
and spiritual young man realized a calling and chose to employ his 
youthful energy and considerable talents for his country. He understood 
that the freedoms and opportunities provided by this Nation need 
continuous defense and that they are among the most precious gifts he 
can give to his family and loved ones.
  My heartfelt sympathy, condolences, and prayers go out to Robert's 
parents, Frank and Donna, and his family and friends who have suffered 
this grievous loss. Robert was, and forever will be, a strong and 
integral part of his family and will be missed by all. Because of his 
devotion and sense of duty, the safety and liberty of each and every 
American is more secure. May God bless LCpl Robert Louis Moscillo.


                  Army Master Sergeant Robert H. West

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to commemorate the life of a 
fellow Coloradoan: Army MSG Robert H. West. Master Sergeant West was 
killed last week near Baghdad in service to this Nation. He was 37 
years old, and lived with his wife and daughter in Arvada, CO.
  Master Sergeant West arrived for his second tour of duty in Iraq just 
3 months ago. He was there to train Iraqi police officers, shouldering 
the difficult burden of helping to build lasting peace and democracy in 
Iraq at a very personal level. Master Sergeant West felt that his 
firsthand experience as a drill instructor made him a better fit to 
train Iraqis than many of the young U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq with 
him. Master Sergeant West's family was not happy about his decision to 
return to Iraq, but he did so with confidence and courage, telling his 
aunt, ``I'm a trained professional, it'll be all right.''
  One of the hallmarks of Master Sergeant West's life was his 
commitment to excellence in everything he did. As a high school 
football player he spent countless hours in the weight room, and helped 
lead Elyria Catholic High School's football team to back-to-back Ohio 
State championships in the mid 1980s.
  After graduating high school in 1987, Master Sergeant West joined the 
Army in 1988, eventually rising to become a tank commander and drill 
instructor. In this capacity, Master Sergeant West spent countless 
hours molding wide-eyed, inexperienced young men and women from around 
the country into strong, confident soldiers. It was this experience 
that gave him the confidence to return to Iraq to work with that 
country's growing police force.
  In Iraq, Master Sergeant West was assigned to an armored cavalry 
division, where he conducted house-to-house searches looking for 
insurgents. During one of these patrols, an improvised explosive device 
was detonated near his Humvee, and he was killed.
  Master Sergeant West's wife Jeannie and their daughter Shelby must 
know that Robert's service to this Nation, and his sacrifice on behalf 
of all of us, does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Robert's service 
and sacrifice are a profound reminder that the liberty and freedoms we 
enjoy do not come without a sometimes very personal and terrible cost. 
As a country and community, we are all humbled by his commitment and 
offer our grateful support during his family's time of unimaginable 
grief.

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