HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN JOSE A. FERNANDEZ-PAOLI, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.)

On 2026-05-14, Representative Pablo José Hernández (D-PR) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN JOSE A. FERNANDEZ-PAOLI, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.)" in the House.

HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN JOSE A. FERNANDEZ-PAOLI, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.)

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E449] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN JOSE A. FERNANDEZ-PAOLI, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.) ______ HON. PABLO JOSE HERNANDEZ of puerto rico in the house of representatives Thursday, May 14, 2026 Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep respect and reverence to honor the life and extraordinary service of Captain Jose A. Fernandez-Paoli, United States Army (Ret.), a distinguished son of Puerto Rico, a Bronze Star recipient, and a Vietnam War veteran whose name will be forever enshrined at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Born in Puerto Rico in 1940, Jose Fernandez-Paoli embodied the values that have long defined our Island: devotion to family, commitment to education, and an unshakeable sense of duty. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1961, and his law degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 1964, before answering the call to serve in uniform. Commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army, Captain Fernandez-Paoli served as an Intelligence and Security Officer and was appointed Chief of the Interrogation Section of the 541st Military Intelligence Detachment, operating as part of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. From September 1966 through February 1967, he was deployed to Xuan Loc, where he displayed extraordinary judgment, courage, and devotion alongside his fellow soldiers. In recognition of his bravery and meritorious service in military operations against a hostile force, Captain Fernandez-Paoli was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the President of the United States, a permanent testament to his selfless sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the ideals of liberty and democracy. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, Captain Fernandez-Paoli channeled the discipline of his military service into a distinguished legal career spanning nearly six decades. He served as Senior Counsel at Delgado and Fernandez, LLC, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart University, member of the Puerto Rico Board of Bar Examiners, and General Counsel to the Associated General Contractors of America, Puerto Rico Chapter. In every courtroom, he carried the same honor with which he had served his country. Puerto Rico lost one of its finest sons on June 16, 2024. Captain Fernandez-Paoli passed from this world, leaving behind an enduring legacy of service, integrity, and devotion to his Nation, to the island that formed him, and to the pursuit of justice. June 20, 2026, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will honor Captain Fernandez-Paoli by inscribing his name in the ``In Memory'' plaque adjacent to The Wall on the National Mall, a solemn recognition for veterans whose deaths are linked to the lasting wounds of that war. He will be among 768 veterans honored at this year's ceremony. It is a moment of recognition long deserved. Mr. Speaker, since 1917, generation after generation of Puerto Ricans have answered the call of duty with full patriotic devotion, defending a democracy that has not always fully extended its promise to them. Captain Fernandez-Paoli was one of those patriots. He carried the flag of the United States through the jungles of Vietnam, earned one of the highest military honors, returned home, and spent his life and his profession in service to his community. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico, I extend the eternal gratitude and enduring pride of our island for the life and legacy of Captain Jose A. Fernandez-Paoli. May his memory be a blessing to his family. May the Nation he served with such distinction, honor the full measure of what Puerto Rico has always given to this great country. ____________________