[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 37 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO RETIRED LT. COLONEL JOHN V. AZEVEDO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2003

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Retired Lt. 
Colonel John V. Azevedo for his service to our Nation and to his 
community.
  John was born in Patterson, California to Joe and Maria Faustino 
Azevedo on December 21, 1919. He attended school in Patterson, then 
attended college in Modesto and Salinas. He then completed his 
education in Tokyo, Japan at Sophia University.
  John joined the Army in May 1941, where he held the rank of Sergeant 
in the Infantry. In 1942, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and 
served in England. John was in Normandy, France, crossing the beach 20 
days after the first landings. While in France, John crossed Cherbourg, 
LeMans and Paris. He also served in Belgium as well as Holland. 
Following World War II, John was assigned to the Occupation Forces in 
Japan where he became Special Staff to General Douglas MacArthur.
  During the Korean War, John served in both North and South Korea. 
Following his assignment in Korea, John served Stateside where he was 
stationed as an instructor at the Adjutant General's School in Indiana. 
When that assignment was up, John was sent once again to Japan for 3 
years. He returned to the United States where his assignment landed him 
at the Pentagon with promotion to Major. When his assignment was 
complete at the Pentagon, John was sent back overseas where he was 
stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. John again returned to the United 
States and spent time in San Francisco where he served at the Reserve 
Forces Headquarters. John was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 
Colonel and returned to the Pentagon where he served as Director of the 
Army and Air Force Postal Service.
  John served his country admirably for 25 years. John retired as a 
Lieutenant Colonel from the Army in 1966 and returned to his roots once 
again in Patterson, California. Once back in Patterson, he was elected 
to serve on the Patterson City Council where he also served as Vice 
Mayor.
  John has served his community well. He is one of the founding members 
of the Patterson Historical Society where he served as a volunteer 
curator for over 20 years. The Patterson Apricot Festival honored John 
in 1997 by naming him Grand Marshal to preside over the Festival that 
year. John organized the Patterson Beautification Committee.
  John has not only been honored by his community, but by his state as 
well. John was introduced on the California State Assembly floor where 
he was presented with an Assembly Resolution recognizing his volunteer 
work for the City of Patterson as well as Stanislaus County.
  It is my pleasure to join the Patterson community in recognizing John 
V. Azevedo for his commitment to his community. It is an honor to call 
John my friend and represent him in the 18th Congressional District.

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