[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
TRIBUTE TO STANLEY BENDER--WORLD WAR II HERO AND CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF 
                            HONOR RECIPIENT

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 1994

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to pay tribute to 
Stanley Bender of Fayetteville, WV, who recently passed away at the age 
of 84. Mr. Bender was a staff sergeant with Company E, 7th Infantry 
during the Second World War. He was one of only five West Virginians to 
be distinguished with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  On August 17, 1944, Staff Sergeant Bender and his men were pinned 
down under the fire of two machine gun nests outside of the French town 
of La Londa. Valiantly, he jumped out of his fortified position and ran 
for a disabled tank, dodging sniper bullets along the way. Once he got 
to the tank he was able to locate the two German machine gun nests and 
form a plan for taking them out. While his squad laid down cover fire 
for him, Staff Sergeant Bender raced down an irrigation ditch. Dodging 
grenades and an ever-thickening hail of bullets, Staff Sergeant Bender 
was able to get behind the machine-gun nests. Singlehandedly, he 
eliminated both of the machine-gun nests, one right after the other. 
After accomplishing this heroic feat, Staff Sergeant Bender then led 
his men on a charge to liberate the town in front of them.
  At the end of the day, his unit had destroyed 2 anti-tank guns, 
killed 37 enemy soldiers, and had taken another 26 captive. Not only 
did he receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, but he was also 
awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, seven battle stars and 
France's highest military honor--the Croix de Guerre.
  When he returned home after the war, he was very humble of his great 
achievements. Bender was so modest that he did not even tell his wife 
about what he had done in World War II until sometime after they had 
been married. When anyone asked him what he did to deserve the 
Congressional Medal of Honor, Bender would quietly say he did what 
anyone else would have done under the circumstances.
  It is always sad when we lose a hero. Yet it also brings us hope when 
we remember the great men like Stanley Bender who have walked among us. 
I am honored to remember Stanley Bender as a soldier of great military 
achievements, an honorable West Virginian, a true patriot, and a loving 
father and husband.

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