PRINTER'S NO. 317
No. 57 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY RAMALEY, WALKO, KOTIK, PETRONE, GOODMAN, ADOLPH,
BAKER, BARRAR, BASTIAN, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER,
BIANCUCCI, BISHOP, BLACKWELL, BOYD, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE,
CAPPELLI, CARROLL, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, COSTA,
COX, CREIGHTON, DALLY, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DONATUCCI, EACHUS,
D. EVANS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN,
GABIG, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GERGELY, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH,
GODSHALL, GRELL, GRUCELA, HANNA, HARHAI, HARPER, HENNESSEY,
HERSHEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN,
M. KELLER, W. KELLER, KILLION, KULA, LENTZ, LONGIETTI,
MACKERETH, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McGEEHAN,
McILHATTAN, MELIO, METCALFE, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, R. MILLER,
MOYER, MUNDY, NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE,
PEIFER, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, RAPP, READSHAW,
REICHLEY, ROAE, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO,
SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SHIMKUS, M. SMITH,
SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STEIL, STERN, R. STEVENSON, STURLA,
SURRA, TANGRETTI, R. TAYLOR, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ,
WATERS, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND
YUDICHAK, FEBRUARY 7, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 7, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the life and extending condolences for the supreme
2 sacrifice of Army Sergeant Thomas Edward Vandling, Jr., a
3 specialist assigned to the 303rd Psychological Operations
4 Company, who tragically lost his life in Iraq on January 1,
5 2007, during his service to our country in Operation Iraqi
6 Freedom.
7 WHEREAS, Sgt. Thomas E. Vandling, Jr., 26 years of age, was a
8 resident of Bellevue, Allegheny County; and
9 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling graduated in 1998 from Northgate High
10 School in Bellevue, where he was a solid student and a center
1 and defensive end on the football team; and
2 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling was a member of Northgate's 1995 team
3 which won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and he played
4 on the 1996, 1997 and 1998 teams; and
5 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling studied at the University of
6 Pittsburgh, majoring in psychology and philosophy; and
7 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling was assigned to the 303rd
8 Psychological Operations Company, Oakdale, Pennsylvania, a
9 subordinate unit of the United States Army Civil Affairs and
10 Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North
11 Carolina; and
12 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling was deployed to Iraq in the spring of
13 2006 and was promoted to a noncommissioned officer in September
14 2006; and
15 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling was on his second tour of duty, loved
16 being a soldier and believed his first priority was to protect
17 and serve the United States of America, ensuring everyone's
18 safety before his own; and
19 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling exhibited a caring and giving,
20 generous spirit and especially enjoyed interacting with Iraqi
21 children, saying that he received the most satisfaction from
22 their smiles and accepting hearts; and
23 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling received numerous military awards and
24 medals, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Navy
25 Achievement Medal; and
26 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling was killed on New Year's Day while on
27 combat patrol when an improvised explosive devise detonated near
28 his vehicle near Babil Province in southwestern Baghdad; and
29 WHEREAS, Sgt. Vandling is survived by his parents, Thomas and
30 Dianne, and his siblings, James, Michael and Elizabeth; and
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1 WHEREAS, Family and friends mourn the tragic loss of this
2 fine young man who served his country with valor, professional
3 skill and discipline in keeping with true patriotism and
4 recognize his exemplary record of service; therefore be it
5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life
6 and extend condolences for the supreme sacrifice of Sgt. Thomas
7 E. Vandling, Jr., who tragically lost his life in service to our
8 country in Iraq on January 1, 2007; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
10 the family of Sgt. Thomas E. Vandling, Jr.
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