[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOHN R. FOX

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, as we near the honoring of all our Nation's 
veterans through the celebration of Memorial Day, I would like to bring 
special attention to a World War II Army veteran from Boston, MA. On 
Christmas Day, 1944, 1st Lt. John R. Fox volunteered to serve as an 
artillery forward observer in the village of Sommocolonia, in the 
Serchio Valley, Italy. The following morning, trapped in a church 
steeple, Fox radioed his command to ask for artillery fire on his own 
position. No one at the artillery battalion command had ever heard such 
a request. They radioed back for clarification. John Fox answered, 
``There are hundreds of them coming. Put everything you've got on my 
observation post.''
  Mr. President, this is one of the most incredible acts of heroism 
about which I have ever heard. John Fox literally made the decision to 
sacrifice his life for his country. He has, along with six other 
African American soldiers from World War II, been nominated for our 
Nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor. I would like to pay tribute 
here not only to Lieutenant Fox, but to all black veterans from all 
American wars. Our great country will always be in debt to all the men 
and women who have given or risked their lives for the preservation of 
freedom. It is long past time that we properly honor those whose 
remarkable patriotism and sacrifices have not previously received the 
respect and attention they deserve. I am thankful that on this Memorial 
Day the proper steps finally are being taken to accomplish that.

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