[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 135 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H9637-H9638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF SAMUEL C. GRASHIO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 5 minutes.

[[Page H9638]]

  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment today to 
recognize the life of Samuel C. Grashio, who died this past Sunday in 
Spokane, Washington, my hometown, and a major part of the Fifth 
Congressional District of Washington.
  Samuel Grashio was a retired Air Force Colonel and was a highly 
decorated World War II veteran. While many years have passed since that 
great struggle for peace, we still remember Samuel Grashio's escape 
from a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Bataan Death March. He, 
along with many others, made that very difficult trek and survived. 
America's spirit was lifted by the courage that Sam and nine other 
soldiers showed by escaping the prison camp and for evading their 
captors in enemy territory for so long.
  They continued their struggle for many months, alongside friendly 
Filipino guerillas who fought bravely to make sure that this group of 
Americans was able to survive.
  Family and friends of Samuel Grashio remember him to be a man of 
great faith, great courage, and great patriotism. America will remember 
him for being our hero and our strength during World War II.
  An article appeared in the Spokesman Review newspaper in Spokane 
after the death of Sam, and quoted in that article was a very close 
friend of mine, Seaton Daly, Senior, who has been a longtime Spokane 
lawyer and a great, great friend whose son and I, whose late son and I, 
were very, very close friends. We went through law school together and 
practiced law together for years.
  Seaton said at the time of Sam's death that this was a great man of 
faith, Samuel Grashio, and he had as his priorities in life three 
influences: God, family, and country, in that order. He was a great man 
of stature in eastern Washington and nationally for his service in 
World War II, and he cultivated friends like Seaton Daly, Senior, who 
were lifelong friends, and who grieve as Sam passed away.
  Sam Grashio led a wonderful life in service to our country. We 
certainly wish all of Sam's family well, and all of God's blessings in 
this time of reflection and mourning for them.
  I must say, too often we do not recognize deeply enough those heroes 
who fought for freedom in World War II and have survived, many in this 
country, to this day as veterans and as proud veterans, and proud 
supporters of the freedom that this country so much enjoys.
  Sam Grashio was one of those people. It is sad that he has passed 
away, but it is an honor for our community that he lived as long as he 
did and was able to enjoy not only the freedom he fought for, but the 
great, great benefits that this country offers to all of its citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I join many others in paying tribute and offering deep 
sympathy at the death of Samuel Grashio, as do many, many, in Spokane 
Washington and the State of Washington.

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