[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4799-4800]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                Lieutenant Miroslav ``Steve'' zilberman

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the life and 
military service of Navy LT Miroslav ``Steve'' Zilberman, who died 1 
year ago today, while serving his adopted country with distinction and 
representing his family with honor as a devoted son, husband, and 
father.
  Lieutenant Zilberman immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine 
with his parents when he was 11 years old. The family settled in the 
suburbs of Columbus, OH, where he would graduate from Bexley High 
School and soon thereafter enlist in the U.S. Navy. The grandson of a 
Russian World War II pilot, Lieutenant Zilberman lived and breathed 
naval aviation. While serving in the Navy, Lieutenant Zilberman 
received a world class education, travelled across continents, and flew 
with the most elite fleet in the world.
  After excelling as a naval electronics technician for 2 years, 
Lieutenant Zilberman was selected to become an officer through the 
Navy's Seaman to Admiral Program. His commanding officer and fellow 
sailors recognized the strength of Lieutenant Zilberman's character, 
his officer potential, and his unquestionable loyalty to the United 
States.
  As a naval pilot, Lieutenant Zilberman was chosen to fly the E-2C 
Hawkeye, a crucial component of all U.S. Navy Carrier Air Wings and one 
of two propeller airplanes that operate from aircraft carriers. Always 
embracing new challenges with determination, Lieutenant Zilberman 
understood the requisite hard work and skill needed to become a top-
notch E-2C pilot.

[[Page 4800]]

  He studied his aircraft inside and out, and was particularly proud of 
the nighttime landings he successfully completed. He once landed his E-
2C Hawkeye at night with only one engine functioning--a significant 
feat of balancing skill over nerves, displaying an implicit trust in 
his hours of training and studying. Commander Dave Mundy of the Carrier 
Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121--the VAW-121, also known as the 
``Bluetails''--attests that Lieutenant Zilberman was one of the best 
pilots he had ever flown with.
  On March 31, 2010, Lieutenant Zilberman had been forward deployed for 
nearly 3 months. While returning to the U.S.S. Eisenhower after a 
flight mission over Afghanistan, Lieutenant Zilberman's plane crashed 
into the North Arabian Sea, approximately 5 miles from the aircraft 
carrier. One of the plane's dual engines lost oil and eventually 
failed. When it became clear to Lieutenant Zilberman that there was no 
way to safely land the plane on the flight deck, he ordered his crew to 
bail out. Lieutenant Zilberman fought valiantly to keep his plane 
steady long enough for his crew members to escape. He went down with 
his plane into the North Arabian Sea. Lieutenant Zilberman's crew 
members were rescued shortly after the crash, and the search and rescue 
effort salvaged portions of the aircraft. However, after searching more 
than 5,300 square miles for Lieutenant Zilberman, the search was called 
off and he was pronounced dead.
  Each day our servicemembers, like Lieutenant Zilberman, sacrifice 
their lives defending our Nation. Their acts of heroism are derived 
from a sense of duty, an obligation taken from the belief in the 
greatness of our Nation. But beyond their courage and bravery, our 
servicemembers are also husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and 
friends and neighbors. In addition to being a highly capable and daring 
pilot, Lieutenant Zilberman was known by his family and friends as 
someone with an infectious personality, as Commander Mundy has said, 
someone who could walk into a room and reduce any tension or stress.
  While on board the Ike, Lieutenant Zilberman stayed in touch with his 
family via video chat, where he read and danced for his children. 
Lieutenant Zilberman was a dedicated husband to his wife Katrina, who 
was also his high-school sweetheart. He was a loving father to his son 
Daniel and daughter Sarah. And he was the loving son--and only child--
of devoted parents Anna Sokolov and Boris Zilberman.
  Today marks the 1-year anniversary since Lieutenant Miroslav 
``Steve'' Zilberman's life was taken while serving our Nation. On 
behalf of a grateful State, I thank him for his service--and his family 
and friends for keeping his memory alive through their thoughts and 
actions that remind us of his sacrifice.

                          ____________________