WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today released the following statement regarding the death of Staff Sergeant Thomas Vitagliano of West Haven, Connecticut. Staff Sergeant Vitagliano, a member of the U.S. Army was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea. According to initial reports, he died when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Vitagliano family at this time of great loss. As they mourn the death of their son Thomas, I hope they can take solace in the fact that he served his country honorably and died in an effort to make Iraq a safer and more democratic country.”