[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF HAROLD F. OGDEN

                                 ______


                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I have the sad duty to report the passing last 
month of a remarkable American patriot, Harold F. Ogden, of Fairfax, 
VA, who died on March 14 at the age of 98.
  Harold Ogden, a retired colonel in the Army reserve, was a native of 
Melrose, MA and had lived in the Washington, DC., area since 1946. He 
began his military career with the 1st Calvary of the Massachusetts 
Volunteer Militia in 1916. The following year, he took part in the 
punitive expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico. He was called to 
active Army duty for World War I service in Europe as a motorcycle 
courier, then served in the army of occupation in Germany.
  He retired from the Army as a captain in 1926 and worked as a 
construction engineer in Melrose before being recalled to active duty 
as a major near the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he served 
in the United States, Europe and the Middle East before retiring in 
1946. He retired from the reserves in 1955.
  I will always remember Colonel Ogden for his devoted service to the 
American Legion, which he served for 74 years, and the opportunities I 
had to participate with him in wreath laying ceremonies in the 10th 
District of Virginia to honor our Nation's veterans on Veterans Day. He 
never aspired to high office in the American Legion, but he served when 
called and was a past commander and chaplain emeritus of Unknown 
Soldier Post 44 in Arlington, VA; chaplain emeritus of the Virginia 
Department of American Legion's 17th District. He also held and 
committee posts for the department of Virginia including serving on the 
finance committee and chairing a Legion beautification project in 
Arlington.
  He was a member of the La Societe of the Forty & Eight and served 
Voiture Locale 934 offices up to and including Chef de Gare, and was 
chaplain emeritus of both Voiture 934 and the Grande du Virginia.
  In 1991, Colonel Ogden was among the World War I veterans that took 
part in special memorial services in France in rememberance of the 
American Expeditionary Force. He had been decorated with the Silver 
Star during the War and received the French Croix de Guerre at the 
memorial service.
  Mr. Speaker, we honor the memory of Harold Ogden and the devoted 
service he gave to this Nation and send our sympathies to his wife Ruth 
Ogden of Fairfax, his children and grandchildren.

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