[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5007-5008]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND SELFLESS SACRIFICE OF SERGEANT FIRST 
                        CLASS ROBERT R. BONIFACE

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. MATT GAETZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 28, 2017

  Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with both profound sadness and deep 
gratitude that I rise to pay tribute to a fallen decorated American 
hero. On March 19, 2017, Sergeant First Class Robert R. Boniface of the 
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), located in Florida's First 
Congressional District, tragically lost his life in support of 
Operation Freedom's Sentinel. SFC Boniface was 34 years old, but lived 
a lifetime marked by and full of service.
  SFC Boniface entered the Army in March 2006 as an 18 X-ray. After 
Infantry Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort 
Benning, Georgia, he attended Airborne School before being assigned to 
the Special Warfare Center and School. SFC Boniface completed the 
Special Forces Qualification Course, earning his Green Beret in 2010 
and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort 
Bragg, North Carolina, as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant.
  Boniface's military education includes the Special Operations 
Jumpmaster Course, Senior Leader Course, Combat Diver Qualification 
Course, Special Forces Diving Medical Technician Course, Special Forces 
Qualification Course, Special Operations Combat Medic Course, Advanced 
Leaders Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course, Basic 
Leaders Course, and the U.S. Army Static Line Airborne Course.
  SFC Boniface's awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, 
the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National 
Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign 
Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Noncommissioned 
Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, NATO 
Medal, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces 
Combat Diver Badge, and Parachutist Badge.
  Mr. Speaker, there are no words I, this body of Congress, or the 
Nation can say that might assuage the bereavement of the Boniface 
family. All I can say is on behalf of a humble and grateful Nation, we 
thank them for the love, counsel, and support given to Robert, which 
helped make him the hero he became both in uniform and as a father. His 
life stands as a testament that freedom is not free, and his legacy 
will echo in time as an example of the ultimate sacrifice for all free 
people. I pray that God will be with Robert's wife, Rebekah; his 
daughter, Mia Elia, and all their family and friends during this time 
of great mourning, and may God continue to bless the United States of 
America.

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