[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 133 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF CHARLES G. OFIESH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of Pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2001

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring this great chamber's 
attention to a distinguished decorated military veteran recently 
elected state commander of the Department of Pennsylvania Disabled 
American Veterans (PADAV). Mr. Charles G. Ofiesh, a resident of 
Altoona, Pennsylvania, located in the 9th Congressional District, 
served honorably during WWII and the Korean War. After his return from 
the Korean War, Mr. Ofiesh enlisted with the 341st Medical Company, 
Army Reserve, Altoona, and quickly rose to the rank of first sergeant--
a position to held for years. Mr. Ofiesh was then transferred to the 
99th Army Command where he was soon promoted to command sergeant major 
where he served until his retirement in November 1984.
  During his distinguished military career, Mr. Ofiesh received over 24 
awards and decorations, most notably the Legion of Merit and the 
Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. Mr. Ofiesh is a 
member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, has served 
as a member of the Altoona City Zoning Appeals Board for over 24 years 
and is very active in the Civil Air Patrol program.
  The tragic incident of September 11th reminds all of us to honor our 
military, both past and present. Mr. Ofiesh is a person who believes in 
America and fought admirably to protect our country. Mr. Ofiesh 
deserves the recognition from Congress and we should take notice and 
acknowledge all of heroes like Mr. Ofiesh. I look forward to working 
with him in his new role as state commander of PADAV and joining the 
fight to ensure that all veterans and their families receive the 
respect and benefits that they have earned.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place a copy of the article from the 
Altoona Mirror into the Record.

               [From the Altonna Mirror, Sept. 30, 2001]

        Local Man Elected To Head Pa. Disabled American Veterans

                         (By Mark Leberfinger)

       Charles G. Ofiesh has worn many hats over the years: 
     government official, parade marshal, businessman and 
     decorated military veteran.
       Now he has a new hat to wear as state commander of the 
     Department of Pennsylvania Disabled American Veterans.
       ``He's a guy whose feet never stop,'' department adjutant 
     John W. Neeves said. ``He's always on the go. ``He has all 
     the attributes a leader should possess.''
       Ofiesh was elected to his new role during the Disabled 
     American Veterans' Pennsylvania convention in June. DAV was 
     founded in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932. It is the 
     official voice of America's service-connected disabled 
     veterans.
       Ofiesh said he joined the organization because he felt he 
     could do more directly helping veterans than he could in 
     other organizations.
       ``The DAV takes care of members of the Legion and VFW, 
     everybody,'' he said. ``You don't have to be a DAV member to 
     be served.
       ``I couldn't do near what I could do in the other 
     organizations what I can do in the DAV,'' Ofiesh said.
       He has been working on several goals for the organization 
     including improving the transportation system that takes 
     veterans to area VA medical centers and doctor appointments 
     and increasing membership in the nearly 53,000-member 
     organization.
       ``The DAV is lobbying all the time for veterans,'' the new 
     state commander said. ``We're trying to tell them `you made 
     promises and you need to keep those promises'--to take care 
     of the veterans for life after they came home.''
       In addition, the state Disabled American Veterans is 
     seeking more grant money from the Commonwealth to purchase 
     more vans for the James E. VanZandt VA Medical Center and the 
     seven other VA centers in the state.
       Before taking the reins of the state DAV, Ofiesh served as 
     the organization's junior vice commander and senior vice 
     commander.
       He already has represented the state organization at 
     various statewide veterans meetings.
       ``There are so many organizations and they're all working 
     toward one goal: to support the veterans,'' he said.
       Ofiesh served in the 24th Infantry Division during World 
     War II and the Korean War. After his return from Korea, he 
     enlisted with the 341st Medical Company, Army Reserve, 
     Altoona. Ofiesh rose to the rank of first sergeant, a rank he 
     held for 16 years.
       He was transferred to the 99th Army Command in Oakdale, 
     where he was promoted to command sergeant major. He retired 
     at that rank in November 1984.
       During his military career Ofiesh received many military 
     awards including the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious 
     Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
       Ofiesh and his wife, Helen, have three children and three 
     grandchildren.
       He is a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of 
     Foreign Wars. Ofiesh has served as a member of the Altoona 
     City Zoning Appeals Board for 42 years. He is also a member 
     of the Altoona Blair County Development Corp. and Blair 
     County Industrial Development Authority.
       Ofiesh has been grand marshal for parades in Altoona during 
     the past 20 years.
       ``I would call the commander's honor the crowning glory, my 
     final salute,'' he said, ``because all the other things I've 
     done aren't of the magnitude of state commander of an 
     organization like the DAV.''

     

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