2021 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 40 - PETTY OFFICER STEPHEN "TURBO" TOBOZ, JR., BRIDGE - DESIGNATION
An Act
Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 12275, carrying State Route 1002 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Castanea Township, Clinton County, as the Petty Officer Stephen "Turbo" Toboz, Jr., Bridge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Petty Officer Stephen "Turbo" Toboz, Jr., Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Stephen "Turbo" Toboz, Jr., was born April 24, 1969, in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
(2) "Turbo" served in the United States Navy as a Navy SEAL.
(3) On March 3 and 4, 2002, SEAL Team DEVGRU was inserted in support of operation Anaconda in the Shahi-Kot Valley at Takur Ghar.
(4) As the team was being inserted, its MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hit by multiple rocket propelled grenades, forcing the helicopter to make evasive moves in which SEAL Neil "Fifi" Roberts fell off the rear deck of the MH-47 onto the ground.
(5) The helicopter was able to control crash land several clicks away.
(6) Immediate reports indicated that SEAL Roberts was alive, so another MH-47 was dispatched to pick up the downed team and form a rescue of its team member Roberts.
(7) The team quickly reinserted on Takur Ghar where it immediately came under withering enemy fire.
(8) The SEALS fought up the mountain, with total disregard for their own safety, to several bunker locations near where SEAL Roberts was last reported to be.
(9) During this fight, three team members were wounded, including Petty Officer Stephen "Turbo" Toboz, Jr., who was shot in the leg, shattering the bone and making a fist-sized hole in his calf.
(10) Battling for their lives in three feet of snow in temperatures that were 20 degrees below zero and against an overwhelming entrenched enemy force estimated at over 200, the team was forced down over the sheer cliffs to a safer location.
(11) The battle continued for a total of 18 hours and "Turbo" refused morphine so he could stay in the fight.
(12) "Turbo" lost three liters of blood but somehow managed to keep fighting alongside his teammates until later being exfiltrated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, "The Army's Nightstalkers."
(13) This battle will forever be known as the "Battle of Roberts Ridge." This very small six-man team received the following awards for its valor:
(i) Two Medals of Honor, our nation's highest medal for valor.
(ii) One Navy Cross, the second-highest medal for valor.
(iii) One Silver Star, the third-highest medal for valor.
(iv) One Bronze Star, the fourth-highest medal for valor.
(v) Four Purple Hearts, which have been awarded for wounds received in battle going back to the Revolutionary War.
(14) In total, with all American forces engaged in this battle, seven Americans were killed, twelve were wounded and two MH-47 helicopters were destroyed.
(15) Petty Officer Toboz's actions during this battle reflect the highest traditions of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group upon himself and his true courage under overwhelming fire while carrying forward the warrior's sworn creed that no man will ever be left behind no matter the cost to one's self.
(16) Petty Officer Toboz's actions are in keeping with the nation's highest honors. A true modern naval warrior, he reflects great honor as a son of this Commonwealth, Clinton County, Lock Haven, and the community he represented during that fatal battle.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 12275, carrying State Route 1002 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Castanea Township, Clinton County, is designated the Petty Officer Stephen "Turbo" Toboz, Jr., Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
