[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NORMANDY MEDAL OF THE JUBILEE OF LIBERTY 
                                PROGRAM

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                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, last weekend I had the honor of 
recognizing Normandy veterans, who reside in Florida's Fourth 
Congressional District, with the special Jubilee of Liberty medal 
during a ceremony at Naval Station Mayport.
  The Saturday, November 10, 2001 ceremony I hosted carried special 
significance since it was Veterans Day weekend and also in light of the 
fact that we have another set of brave American service members 
fighting the war on terrorism across the globe.
  Mankind has waged many types of war--wars fought for land, wars 
fought for superiority, wars fought for riches, wars fought for 
independence. Most wars only impact the opposing forces and are often 
not remembered long in history. Some wars, however, are of such 
magnitude that they change the course of history. These wars are 
usually fought between good and evil. The heroes, who fought World War 
II, fought such a war. Without victory for the Allies, the world, as we 
know it, would be a much different place.
  There is no doubt that the Normandy Invasion was a turning point in 
World War II. The Normandy veterans from the Fourth Congressional 
District were there, but, perhaps, at the time they did not know they 
were changing the course of history. These heroes were busy fighting, 
watching their brothers perish and surviving to fight another day. And 
like the title of the Stephen Ambrose book, they were ``Citizen 
Soldiers''. Professional soldiers designed the battle plan but it was 
implemented by thousands of citizen soldiers. The Battle of Normandy 
was the ultimate in on-the-job training. It was a simple plan: attack 
and push the Germans back. The how was left up to those soldiers in 
battle. I am sure that each Normandy veteran has a story that speaks 
volumes about bravery, ingenuity and drama.
  It was in honor of these veterans that I was pleased to launch the 
Jubilee of Liberty Program this past summer. Since that time, 
approximately ninety veterans of the 1944 Normandy Invasion have been 
identified to receive this medal and we had the privilege of having 
seventy--nine of these brave men with us for our ceremony.
  The medal we presented honors that courageous effort. The Normandy 
medal was originally minted at the direction of the Regional Council of 
Normandy and the Governor of Normandy, was first presented to D-Day 
veterans who returned to France for the 50th anniversary of the 
Normandy Invasion.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to commend the following men for 
their service to our country during the Battle of Normandy: Joseph J. 
Accardi, Edgar G. Aid, Harold V. Aiken, Frank E. Alexander, Henry A. 
Baughn, Joseph H. Beekers , Ellsworth G. Beer, Richard M. Behan, John 
W. Bier, Edward T. Binns, Jr., Carl Bishop, Louie M. Blocker, Michael 
A. Bondanza, George G. Borcherding, Ian R. Bourdo, Forrest V. Brewer, 
Harry J. Buffone, Santo N. Cascia, Paul W. Caudill, Nicholas M. Celona, 
Ashley D. Clemmons, Robert K. Clifton, James M. Cooper, Jr., Milton A. 
Cunningham, Willie B. Douglass, Raymond Q. Ellis, John J. Field, James 
H. Gaff, Chester F. Galbraith, Edward C. Gandy, Eugene Gaskins, Patrick 
F. Gavin, Howard F. Gottwals, Edward V. Grant, Frank A. Griffen, Jr., 
Herbert E. Griffin, Gilbert J. Grout, Jack R. Guest, Jack Hall, Karlob 
A. Hanson, Charles H. Hardman, Leslie F. Hart, Darrell D. Hilliker, 
Lloyd R. Hoffman, Raymond D. Hoffman, Forrest W. Howell, Henry H. Hull, 
Robert L. Jennings, Chester E. Johns, John W. Johnson, LeGrand K. 
Johnson, Martin L. Johnson, John J. Kelly, Raymond J. Kotchkowski, 
Charles B. Lane, Warden S. Lee, Esse E. Lewis, L.V. Lewis, Wilmer E. 
Mann, Harold E. McFee, John Milko, William H. Miller, Hubert C. Mott, 
John W. Nichols, Morton H. Parks, Annest Partozes, John C. Posluszny, 
William B. Pou, Sr., Ralph L. Powers, Richard B. Rayl, Henry T. 
Richardson, Robert L. Richardson, Teaford R. Roebuck, Chapman S. Root, 
Harold Routzong, Gilmer D. Sadler, Angus S. Schmelz, Donald J. 
Schneider, Lawrence E. Sellers, Eli Seplowitz, Robert W. Sheffield, 
Joseph A. Shelley, Svend T. Simonsen, Raymond L. Simpson, Donald G. 
Smith, John I. Smith, Wilbert H. Snively, Frank D. Snyder, Phil 
Spivack, Ellwood P. Stake, Earl N. Steinmetz, William H. Stewart, John 
R. Stokes, Sr., James H. Trott, Thomas H. Ursry, Theodore H. Voll, 
Charles L. Webster, Thomas F. Wilson, Harold W. Wright, Linville F. 
Young.

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