Politics & Government

Army on Track to Name Newport's New Reserve Center After Sgt. Michael Paranzino

Army officials said they're in the final approval stages to memorialize the new Army Reserve Center to be located off Coddington Highway after the fallen soldier from Middletown.

The U.S. military plans to name the newly constructed Army Reserve Center off Coddington Highway in Newport after fallen soldier of Middletown, who was killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Nov. 5 by an improvised explosives device while conducting a patrol with his platoon.

As they work to obtain final approval from the U.S. Army, representatives from the 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion based out of Warwick appeared before the Middletown Town Council Monday night and received Middletown's unanimous support by resolution to name the new military facility after Paranzino, who was a 2006 graduate of prior to serving in the U.S. Army for 3 1/2 years. The military officials said they are nearly complete in getting final approvals from the U.S. Army to memorialize the facility in honor of Paranzino and were obtaining letters of support from elected and government officials, as well as Paranzino's family in Middletown.

"He was killed when this building was under construction and he lived in this community," Lt. Col. John C. Anderson said during a slide presentation to the council, which showed images of the nearly completed facility, which also will be made available for certain community and charitable uses, such as the annual Toys for Tots drive at Christmas.

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At the time of his death by IED, Paranzino — known as "Zino" by his fellow soldiers and the village children of Kandahar alike  — was serving as a cavalry scout in the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based out of Fort Drum, N.Y., reportedly the only division within the U.S. Army trained for specialized fighting under harsh terrain and weather conditions.

At the Town Council meeting Monday night, military officials showed a slide presentation of the partially completed facility located just inside Gate 10 off Coddington Highway inside the Navy base and explained how Paranzino would be memorialized there. Paranzino’s name would be identified on the main monument sign outside the front of the building, and his likeness would be displayed in the front lobby inside the main building, Lt. Col. Anderson said.

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Paranzino is among 25 Rhode Island soldiers who have died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan since the attacks on Sept. 11, according to the 443rd Battalion officials. They said that Sgt. Paranzino is the only name nominated to be memorialized at the new facility.

"Sgt. Michael Paranzino will represent all soldiers from Rhode Island," CSM Marissa Lopes said. "It would be such an honor, more than you can imagine, for the 443rd to have the name of Sgt. Michael Paranzino on our building."

Paranzino has been honored by the U.S. military with a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart and a NATO Medal, according to military officials.

According to Lt. Col. Anderson, recommendations of support have been submitted to the U.S. Army in Washington from Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as Congressman David Cicilline. In the Rhode Island General Assembly, state Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Sen. Lou DiPalma have also supported the proposal.

Within the military itself, the memorial has received support from Brigadier General High Van Roosen, who serves as Commanding General of the 353rd Civil Affairs, and Col. William Barriage, Commander of the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, according to Lt. Col. Anderson, who has championed the proposal on behalf of the 443rd. The military has also received the approval of Paranzino’s parents and family in Middletown, according to Anderson.

The memorialization approval process through the U.S. Army is about 80 percent completed, SFC William W. Kepler said.

The 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion is in the process of permanently relocating its Army Reserve Center facilities from Warwick to Naval Station Newport, just inside Gate 10 off Coddington Highway just over the Middletown border. Plans for the new facility show that the project is to include an Army Reserve Training Center,  organization maintenance shop, a storage building and parking.


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