SGT Robert C. Sisson

‘Raider’ Brigade remembers Task Force 1-22’s Sgt. Robert Curtis Sisson Jr.
by 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 4:37am.KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -

'Raider' Brigade mourns the loss of one of our own, who died of non-combat related circumastances
Monday, 21 Feb. in Kandahar City. An investigation into the cause of Sisson's death is currently
being conducted by medical personnel.

Sgt. Robert Curtis Sisson Jr., a 29-year-old native of Aliquippa, Pa., was assigned to
Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

"Sgt. Sisson was a dedicated soldier, a friend to those with whom he served and a credit to the US Army,"
said 1st Lt. Matthew Sleadd, platoon leader, assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. "His straight forward approach to mentorship with the new soldiers
of 2nd Platoon directly led to the unit's success; both in training and while deployed to a remote outpost of Afghanistan."

Sisson enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in Sept. 2004. He attended One Station Unit Training
at Fort Benning, Ga. and upon completion of his training, reported to Fort Hood, Texas.

Sisson was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment in Jan., 2005 and was reassigned
to Company A, 1-22IN, 1BCT, 4th Inf. Div. in June, 2007. He deployed to Iraq for 12 months with the
'Regulars' in March, 2008. In 2009, 1-22IN relocated to Fort Carson, Colo. One year after arriving
at Fort Carson, Sisson deployed to Afghanistan with Task Force 1-22.

"Sgt. Sisson was an inspiration to his soldiers and peers, both on and off duty," said Staff Sgt. Jason Boyd,
platoon sergeant, assigned to Company A, 1st Battaltion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division. "He embraced every challenge with a sense of competence and purpose that emulated down to his soldiers."

"Every day, I could see the efforts Sgt. Sisson went through for the welfare of the soldiers in his charge,"
said Sleadd. "He had a firm handed compassion as an older brother, never wavering and always beside his men.
He ensured each soldier within his team was prepared for whatever was to come their way."

"Robert had a glowing smile and a personality that could list any man's spirits on the worst of days,"
said Staff Sgt. James Waeltz, squad leader, assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. "He had incredibly protective instincts regarding his soldiers
and will never be forgotten."

"Sisson was a strong, dedicated leader whom I counted upon daily; his loss is felt across the Battalion
as we all take a moment to remember the 'Regular' who embodied our credo: 'deeds, silent symbols,
more potent than words'," said Sleadd.

Sisson is survived by his wife, Brittany Faye Sisson, his father, Robert C. Sisson Sr. and his mother, Maryann Storch.

A memorial in Sgt. Robert Curtis Sisson Jr.'s honor will be held in Afghanistan.

Army Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr. loved serving his country and was committed to his mission in Afghanistan, but was looking forward
to spending time with his wife and raising a family.

Sisson, 29, of Aliquippa died Monday in what the Defense Department termed "a non-combat-related incident" in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan.

"They said he died in his sleep, but they really don't know why," Raymond Lucente of Center Township, Sisson's maternal grandfather, said Tuesday.

"He had been complaining about stomach problems. They were deployed in a village with no water and deplorable conditions.
He said they had to put their own waste into a bag and burn it. It's hard to believe they would be subjected to live in that kind of squalor."

Despite the conditions, Sisson -- who was known as "Bobby" to family and friends -- never complained, said Lucente and Ronald Sisson
of Aliquippa, the soldier's paternal grandfather.

"He was an extraordinary soldier in so many ways," Sisson said. "They looked to my grandson for leadership. He was a brave and fearless soldier.
I know this for a fact because of the many commendations and ribbons and leadership awards he won. He was just a super, super soldier."

Army records show that Robert Sisson, who enlisted Sept. 1, 2004, served in Iraq from March 14, 2008, through March 13, 2009,
and had been in Afghanistan since July 15. He was awarded two Army Commendation medals, two Army Achievement medals
and a combat infantry badge in addition to other awards, ribbons and stars.

"I would say he was a pretty complete soldier," Lucente said. "He was concerned for his fellow man, he demanded respect for his soldiers
and he was always willing to serve his country."

Ronald Sisson, who served in the Army during the Korean War, was not thrilled when his grandson told him he was going to enlist.

"I did my very best to talk him out of it, but that's what he wanted to do. He loved the Army and was committed to it, notwithstanding the dangers.
He wanted to go into combat infantry and did a superlative job."

Sisson got married last year to a woman he met while stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.

"He was thinking about coming out in July and really looking forward to the future and having a family. His goal was to get a good education
and become a good family man," Lucente said.

The men said Sisson, a 2000 graduate of Center High School, was an infielder on the school baseball team.

"He was a kidder; he liked to joke around. He always enjoyed our family get-togethers at Christmas and our annual Valentine's party.
He was very sociable, a very likeable young fellow and very compassionate young man," Lucente said.

Sisson's father, Robert Sisson Sr. of Aliquippa, and his mother, Mary Ann Storch of Raccoon, Beaver County, flew to Dover Air Force Base
in Delaware to bring their son home.

Sisson also is survived by his wife, Brittany Sisson; sister, Christina Baker of Aliquippa; and grandmothers, Aledy Sisson and Dolores Lucente.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Read more: Aliquippa man dies in Afghan village - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_724221.html#ixzz1EpcIFosm

Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:21 pm | Updated: 1:41 pm, Thu Feb 24, 2011.

Aliquippa soldier was looking forward to return home

Jenny Wagner and Kristen Doerschner Timesonline.com

Posted on February 23, 2011
by Larry Howsare

Army Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr. was looking forward to returning home from Afghanistan in July to start his education and a life
with his new wife, his maternal grandfather, Raymond Lucente, said Wednesday.

The Monaca resident said his grandson, who died Monday in a "non-combat-related incident" in Afghanistan, was very compassionate
and loved to spend time with his family.

During his last trip home, Sisson, 29, of Aliquippa, spent several weeks with his family in Aliquippa in December. He got a chance
to see his baby niece baptized before he had to return to combat just days before Christmas.

This week, his parents, Robert C. Sisson of Aliquippa and Mary Ann Storch of Raccoon Township, traveled to Dover Air Force Base
in Delaware to bring their son home for the final time.

"I can't think of anybody who disliked him," Ronald Sisson, his paternal grandfather, said. "He was a joy to have around.
He really was. He had a disarming personality. He was courteous to his elders."

After graduating from Center Area School District in 2000, where he was a varsity baseball player, Sisson worked various jobs
from retail to landscaping. Then he decided he wanted to enter the service.

"I couldn't talk him out of it," Ronald Sisson said. "I tried. But he said, ‘Grandpa, I have to do this.' " A veteran himself, Ronald Sisson said
he realized the Army was his grandson's niche in life. "There was something in him that said, ‘This is what I want to do,' " he said.

Sisson "was the first to volunteer and risk his life," Ronald Sisson said. "The commendations that Bob won prove that he was an
outstanding solider. He was fearless. If there was something to be done, it was he that volunteered. ... He did the dangerous stuff
and was always the first one to stick his neck out."

Though the Army was important, family was also important to Sisson.

Lucente said Sisson enjoyed getting together with family members for holidays and for their annual Valentine's Day bowling party.
Sisson's wife, Brittany, also would come to Aliquippa from the couple's home in Colorado for the visits, Lucente said.

Ronald Sisson said his son and grandson enjoyed fishing together. "Bobby would fish all day," he said.

While Sisson was away, the family sent packages and kept in touch through e-mail, and they occasionally would hear from him by phone, Lucente said.

According to a release from Fort Carson, Colo., public affairs spokesman Randy Tisor, Sisson enlisted in Sept. 2004 and was assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson.
He was deployed to Iraq from March 2008 to March 2009 and to Afghanistan in July 2005.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the unit was "policing an area north of the city of Kandahar, including the Arghandab River valley
that has long been known as a Taliban stronghold."

Ronald Sisson said his grandson was the leader of a small squad of men who had been stationed on a mountaintop to keep the area safe from insurgents.
His squad was brought down from the mountain just a day or two before his death because another member of the squad had been killed by enemy fire,
Ronald Sisson said.

Lucente said Sisson had complained of stomach pains last week, and medics suspected he had the flu or something similar.

"They went in to check on him in the infirmary on Monday morning, and he had died in his sleep," he said.

Tisor said no new information was available Wednesday about the circumstances surrounding Sisson's death.

According to a note posted Wednesday morning on a Facebook page for the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, medical personnel
are investigating the cause of death.

The Raiders Brigade Facebook post also mentioned that a memorial will take place in Afghanistan in Sisson's honor.

His family did not know the status of an autopsy or funeral arrangements as of Wednesday afternoon.

Sisson, who was married in Colorado last year, planned to make the Army his career, Lucente said, but recently decided
to be discharged at the end of his deployment.

Copyright 2011 Timesonline.com. All rights reserved.

Beaver County Times

http://www.timesonline.com/news/article_33333aec-3fb5-11e0-aa8f-00127992bc8b.html

The Pall Bearer Team from the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command of Coraopolis escort the casket
of Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr. to his final resting place Tuesday in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil.
The former Beaver County resident died while serving in Afghanistan.
Members of the Patriot Guard stand by with American flags.
Keith Hodan | Tribune-Review

Members of the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Army Reserve Unit based in Moon Township
salute the casket of Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr. after the funeral mass at St. Frances Cabrini in Center Township Tuesday morning.
Members of the Patriot Guard stand by with American flags.
Timesonline

Burial:
National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Cecil
Washington County
Pennsylvania, USA
Plot: Section 1 Site 122

Grave marker for
Robert C. Sisson Jr.

Photo by LAB
from the Find A Grave website