[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S4757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             COL. JOSEPH MARM, JR.: TRUE PROFILE IN COURAGE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, a little more than a month from now, on 
April 30, 1995, in Willow Grove, PA, a gallant American will formally 
retire from the Army after nearly 31 years of extraordinary service to 
his country.
  His name is Walter Joseph Marm, but everyone knows him as Joe. For my 
part, I know and respect him for his willingness to lay down his life 
for his country. Many times, he almost did.
  Joe Marm is a part of the Helms Senate family due to his having had 
the good fortune to be married to the former Deborah Yelverton of North 
Carolina who served in our Washington office for 9 years. We were sad 
for us but glad for Debbie when she departed in 1987 to become the 
bride of Colonel Marm and move to Pennsylvania to be with him.
  Mr. President, Colonel Marm has earned so many medals and awards that 
it takes awhile to identify all of them. I'll start with the 
Congressional Medal of Honor and then return to it after I have 
identified some of the others in the chronological order in which Joe 
was awarded them:
  The Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the National 
Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal 
with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak 
Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Ranger Tab, the 
Parachute Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Department of the 
Army Staff Officers Badge, the Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Cross 
of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Ground 
Campaign Unit Citation, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of 
Vietnam Campaign Unit Citation, the Army Service Ribbon and the Vietnam 
Service Medal.
  And then, Mr. President, on December 19, 1966, Joe Marm was awarded 
the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  Needless to say, Mr. President, all of us are proud of Col. Walter 
Joseph Marm. And I am personally delighted that he and Debbie may 
shortly move to North Carolina.
  His present responsibility with the Army is in Willow Grove, PA, 
where he serves as the Senior Army Adviser for the 79th Army Reserve 
Command.
  Mr. President, in honor of our friend, Col. Joe Marm, and as a matter 
of interest to all who peruse the Congressional Record, let me now read 
into the Record the text of the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to 
Joe:

       The President of the United States in the name of the 
     Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to 
     MARM, Walter Joseph, Jr.
       Rank and organization: First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.), U.S. 
     Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry 
     Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Vicinity of Ia Drang 
     Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965. Entered 
     service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born: 20 November 1941, 
     Washington, Pa. G.O. No.: 7, 15 February 1967. Citation: For 
     conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life 
     above and beyond the call of duty. As a platoon leader in the 
     1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated 
     indomitable courage during a combat operation. His company 
     was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit 
     surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 
     1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until 
     they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his 
     platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy 
     soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under 
     heavy fire and annihilated all 4. Then, seeing that his 
     platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed 
     machinegun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. 
     Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with 
     an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the 
     weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding 
     the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 
     30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the 
     enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it. 
     Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, 
     armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his 
     assault on the position and killed the remainder of the 
     enemy. 1st Lt. Marm's selfless actions reduced the fire on 
     his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to 
     continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. 
     Marm's gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary 
     intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest 
     traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon 
     himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
     

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