[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 111 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE HEROES OF THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2000

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the brave 
Americans of the 44th Infantry Division. From September 21 to September 
24, 2000, the 44th Infantry Division Association will be celebrating 
the 55th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Midway Hotel 
near Chicago, Illinois. This venue is very appropriate, as the State of 
Illinois contributed over eleven hundred soldiers to the 44th Division. 
Today, it certainly gives me great honor to remind my colleagues and 
the American public of the sacrifice these great men gave for the 
freedom and prosperity that is enjoyed by so many.
  Maj. General William F. Dean commanded the 44th Infantry Division of 
roughly fifteen thousand men, comprising about one-fifth of the 7th 
Army. On September 15, 1944, the 44th Infantry landed at Cherbourg, 
France, to relieve the 79th Division that invaded Normandy on D-Day.
  Forty days later, the 44th received their first attack from axis 
forces east of Luneville, France. In midwinter 1944, the 44th Division 
fought through the Maginot line, as well as the Vosges Mountains in 
northern France. In fact, the first United States soldiers to reach the 
Rhine River between France and Germany were members of the 44th 
Infantry Division. Along the way, the 44th held off several savage 
assaults from German Panzer divisions. In addition, the 44th was called 
to relieve two divisions of allied forces that were to be employed in 
the Ardennes Forest counteroffensive.
  In the beginning of 1945, the 44th Infantry Division was forced into 
a defensive posture, as three German divisions, including the elite 17 
SS Panzer Grenadier Division, conducted an all-out attack on United 
States forces. Amazingly, the brave Americans held off the brutal 
attack that would have cut off the allied forces in Alsace, as well as 
the Vosges and Hardt Mountains. In mid-March 1945, the division earned 
a well-deserved 2-day rest after other allied divisions passed through 
their fortification for the final assault on Germany. I should note 
that the 44th had undergone 144 days of continuous commitment.
  On March 27, 1945, the 44th finally crossed the Rhine and provided 
for the capture of Mannheim and Heidelberg. Soon later, the 44th 
reached the Danube River and joined with the 10th Armored Division. On 
April 25, 1945, these joint forces captured the ancient German city of 
Ulm. Finally, the 44th swept into the Austrian Alps, after which 
Victory in Europe was gratefully won.
  Mr. Speaker, the 44th Infantry Division fought for 203 incredible 
days. They captured over 44,000 enemy prisoners, and destroyed 
thousands more. During the European campaign, the 44th lost roughly 
2,000 men in combat. Since the end of World War II, another 6,000 have 
passed on. Today, our country is graced with over 5,000 survivors of 
the 44th Infantry Division. With roughly 1,000 World War II veterans 
leaving us each day, I am very pleased to see these veterans enjoying 
the years that they earned so courageously. Mr. Speaker, I hope these 
brave Americans will continue to relate their incredible experiences 
gained during the greatest, most noble war ever fought by man.

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