[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING WORLD WAR II VETERAN HAROLD EMICK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to rise today to honor 
a very special man--World War II Veteran Harold Emick, a resident of 
Olathe, Colorado. Harold spent three years in the Army, fighting the 
Germans in Europe. Because of what Harold saw and what he went through 
in WWII, I would like to thank him for his bravery and courage on 
behalf of this Congress.
  Harold joined the Army in 1943 at the age of 18. In December of 1944 
Harold was assigned to the Army's 70th Infantry Division under General 
Alexander Patch. The 7th Army traveled north through a wintry France. 
``They Killed us, we killed them. In the end, we won because we killed 
more of them,'' Harold said. Harold's first battle was at a farmhouse 
near Nancy, France. ``It was about 3 o'clock in the morning when the 
German Panzer tank opened up on our sleeping platoon at point-blank 
range. There was death and chaos everywhere, and when it was finally 
over, those of us who had survived had gone from green kids in uniform 
to soldiers.''
  The 70th Infantry Division fought its way through more death and 
according to Harold, it grew more personal, as the division lost men to 
snipers, land mines and armed women and children. In May of 1945 after 
the Germans had surrendered, Harold's unit was sent back to the States 
to prepare for the possible invasion of Japan. After the war had ended 
Harold left the military and attended the University of Tennessee where 
he received his degree in engineering and business.
  Harold spent 38 years with the Burough Corporation in a number of 
positions until he retired in 1983. He then moved to the Uncompahgre 
Plateau about 17 miles outside of Olathe. Harold received the World War 
II Victory Medal, the American Service Medal, and the European African 
Middle Eastern Service Medal with bronze stars for the Rhineland, 
Central Europe and Ardennes campaign. The 70th Infantry Division earned 
the Presidential Citation with two stars for its valor.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation that I ask Congress to 
recognize and honor Harold Emick for all that he did for this country 
in World War II. Harold was just a boy when he was thrust into battle, 
but his bravery and the bravery of those who fought and died for this 
country will forever be etched in our minds.

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