[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF NEAL WHITENER HAHN, JR., AND THE CHARLES GRAY MORGAN 
                        VFW POST, GREENVILLE, NC

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Jones] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, on April 25, 1996, the Charles Gray Morgan 
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, in Greenville, NC, will celebrate their 
50th anniversary by recognizing their charter members. They, like all 
of our veterans, have made great sacrifices to protect the American way 
of life.
  Mr. Speaker, what stands out in my mind, is that this generation of 
veterans, gave so much for their country and asked for so little in 
return. They answered their country's call to arms, fought bravely on 
foreign battlefields, and returned home to work hard, and build strong 
families. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize one of these selfless 
individuals in particular, Neal Whitener Hahn, Jr., of Greenville, NC.
  Mr. Hahn was born in Kinston, NC, on September 7, 1919. Raised with 
his two brothers and one sister, Mr. Hahn lived most of his younger 
life in Wilmington, NC. He is married to his wife of 50 years, Helen, 
and together they have raised four children.
  In 1938, as WW II loomed in the horizon, Mr. Hahn joined the North 
Carolina National Guard, Company A, 105th Medical Battalion. He was 
trained as a medic. On September 16, 1940, he was inducted into the 
U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Jackson, SC. He spent the next 4 years 
training new troops. On February 12, 1944, Mr. Hahn was ordered 
overseas. Ten days later he landed in Scotland, where he trained for 
several months. On June 10, 1944, his unit landed at Omaha and Red 
Beach as part of the Allied invasion of France.
  Mr. Hahn spent the next 337 days on the front lines, as a combat 
medic. He received five battle stars during that time. On January 10, 
1945, he was wounded in Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge, and 
was awarded the Purple Heart. Then, on April 12, 1945, Mr. Hahn was 
awarded the Silver Star for Valor, the military's second highest award 
for bravery. The following is an excerpt of the official citation:

       Neil W. Hahn, Jr., Medical Department, United States Army, 
     for gallantry in action on 21 December, 1944, in Belgium. 
     When they learned that men were lying seriously wounded in an 
     open field, across a river, Private Hahn waded through icy 
     currents of the river, and crawled for one hundred yards 
     through intense enemy fire to the casualties. Finding that 
     the wounded men were unable to move, Private Hahn and his 
     comrade gave first aid and made three trips to evacuate them 
     through the enemy fire and across the river. Their great 
     heroism and unselfish devotion to duty, saved the wounded 
     men, from death through wounds or exposure.

  Mr. Speaker, what is even more remarkable, is that Mr. Hahn never 
actually received some of his military decorations and awards. For 50 
years, this humble man kept quiet, never asking our Government for his 
medals. To Mr. Hahn, the medals were not important. What is important 
is that he served his country with courage and honor. Now, in 
conjunction with their 50th anniversary, the VFW Post in Greenville 
will conduct a special ceremony to finally present to Mr. Hahn all of 
the medals he has earned and so clearly deserves.
  Mr. Speaker, Neal Hahn is certainly not alone, in deserving our 
recognition. I stand here today and salute all of our veterans, for 
their dedication to duty, for risking their lives to protect our 
families, and for their continued commitment to our way of life. Mr. 
Hahn, you, and men and women like yourself are the real heroes in our 
Nation. To Neal Hahn and veterans everywhere, I say, thank you for your 
dedication to our Nation.

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