In Honor of Army Specialist John W. Odierno of Farmingdale

Floor Speech

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Mr. ZELDIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Army Specialist 4th Class John W. Odierno of Farmingdale, New York. Even at a young age, Specialist Odierno was compelled to defend others, protecting his family, friends and even his little brother in the school yard. However, when Specialist Odierno was drafted during the Vietnam War, his call to defend others transitioned from the schoolyard to the battlefield.

On March 21 , 1967, while serving as squad leader during a search and destroy mission in the central highlands of Kon Tum Province, Specialist Odierno and his company were met with intense machine gun and rifle fire from an entrenched North Vietnamese battalion. Specialist Odierno and his company found themselves trapped and outnumbered.

Despite being wounded, Specialist Odierno defended his position for twenty minutes, allowing his fellow soldiers to reload their weapons. While this action saved the lives of many soldiers, it cost Specialist Odierno his own.

At only twenty years old; Specialist Odierno made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his fellow soldiers and our great nation, but his spirit and grit did not fall on the battlefield that day. The men who witnessed his heroic actions continue to tell the story of selflessness and bravery, including Lieutenant Toby Alvaro, who believes Specialist Odierno should not only have received the Silver Star, but the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Specialist Odierno's service and sacrifice, ensuring that when a servicemember falls in defense of our great country, our entire nation stands in honor.

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