[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO LOUIS TRAVIS AMVETS POST 14 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

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                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 1996

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Louis 
Travis Amvets Post 14 as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 
post charter on Saturday, October 26, 1996.
  After the end of World War II, thousands of veterans throughout our 
country had the need for an organization which would bring them 
together under a common bond. In Bay View, a World War II veteran by 
the name of Edward Cialdini understood this need and sought to find 
such an organization. Ed came into contact with an organizer for the 
American Veterans of World War II, also known as AMVETS, and on March 
27, 1946 they met with 14 other Bay View veterans to create an AMVET 
post.
  Once the new post was created, the founders decided it should be 
named in the memory of a local veteran, Louis Travis of Bay View. He 
was the sixth child of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Travis, born in January 20, 
1925. In 1943 Louis joined the Navy and participated in many Pacific 
campaigns aboard the U.S.S. Minneapolis and U.S.S. Pensacola where he 
saw combat in the Iwo Jima operation. During this bombardment, his ship 
was struck by enemy shells and he was killed on February 17, 1945. He 
was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, 
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and three bronze stars, 
and the World War II Victory Medal. The organizers were proud to name 
their new post after this true American hero.
  For several years, the Travis Post held its meetings at the local 
club where it was formed. However, as the organization grew, so did the 
need for their own clubhouse. After the war ended, the Travis Post 
purchased a messhall from the German prisoner-of-war stockade built at 
Mitchell Field. After many years of hard labor by its members and 
several local community volunteers, and financial troubles, the post 
was finally completed and operational by 1952. That building served Bay 
View area veterans for 43 years. In 1995, the building was sold, and 
Travis Post meetings are now being held at the same club where it was 
formed.
  Over the past 50 years, the Travis Post has met the needs of all Bay 
View veterans. The Louis Travis AMVET Post has a history filled with 
sacrifice, hard labor, and ultimately success. I applaud all of the 
veterans who helped to organize, build, and sustain the Travis Post 
over these past 50 years.

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