[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             FALLEN HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, James Vincent DePierri was a soldier of the 
greatest generation and one of my constituents. He passed away on 
August 7, 2000. The following eulogy was written by his son-in-law, 
Dalton Smith, and delivered at the funeral by his son, Jim DePierri.

               James Vincent Depierri--Soldier, Survivor

       He was only 21 years old that cloudy overcast day. It was 
     the 6th of June, 1944. He had been anxiously waiting just 
     offshore for hours that seemed like days. Men beside him were 
     saying prayers and writing their last letters to their loved 
     ones, for they knew what lay before them that fateful day, D-
     Day--the Allied Invasion of Normandy. Thousands of American 
     soldiers died that day on the beaches of Normandy, the worst 
     casualties having been inflicted on Omaha Beach. As luck 
     would have it, that is where a young soldier named James 
     Vincent DePierri would be going ashore.
       Young Jim DePierri would be lucky that day. He survived one 
     of the worst battles and the greatest infliction of 
     casualties the United States Armed Forces has ever endured. 
     Jim DePierri was a survivor.
       It no doubt comes as news to even his closest friends that 
     Jim was even in World War II, much less that he was one of 
     those brave souls who stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day. Jim was 
     not the kind to brag of his exploits or for that matter even 
     mention his experience. It would probably also be news that 
     Jim DePierri participated in 4 other of the major battles of 
     World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge. Jim DePierri 
     was a survivor.
       It may be that having seen so many of his fellow soldiers 
     die all around him that Jim considered every day he had on 
     earth thereafter to be a blessing. His service to the church 
     may have been his way of trying to silently repay what I am 
     sure he believed to be a gift from God, the gift of life.
       The real benefactors of that gift are here today embodied 
     in his children, Carol, Patty, Jim and Sharon along with the 
     love of his life, his wife, Rose, and their grandchildren.
       His first grandson, my son Jordan Vincent Smith, asked me 
     one day if Papa Jim had been in the war. When we inquired, we 
     were astonished to learn of how much Jim, who never spoke of 
     the war, was involved in World War II. That was many years 
     ago, but I had read of soldiers who had never received their 
     medals, so I gave the information to Jim and he wrote off to 
     the Army. What came back was a box full of medals, that 
     would have filled the chest of any soldier's uniform, 
     including a medal for 114 days of duty on the front lines. 
     But you would have never known from Jim that he had even 
     been in the Army.
       It has been said that his was the greatest generation. With 
     quiet heroes like Jim DePierri, a man of character, 
     determination and forthrightness, there is no doubt in my 
     mind that his was the greatest generation.
       Those of my generation can only read about or see the film 
     of those great battles. To have been there was clearly a 
     privilege. They considered it their duty. A duty owed to 
     one's country that those of us who were not there can only 
     imagine. That is not to say that we should forget or let pass 
     into distant memory, the heroes of this country. Soon they 
     will all be gone, but to those of you who knew Jim DePierri, 
     who know a silent hero like Jim, or who may have been one of 
     those fortunate souls to have been afforded the honor of 
     fighting for their country and the freedom that we now enjoy, 
     please do not let another day go by without thanking them and 
     their generation of heroes or knowing how much you are 
     appreciated.
       Luckily, we had the opportunity to thank Jim. On the 50th 
     anniversary of D-Day, we took Jim and Rose out to dinner, 
     without saying why (I am not sure I even told his daughter, 
     Patty, my wife). The Italian restaurant was full that 
     evening, but I took it upon myself to stand up, get the 
     attention of the whole restaurant and propose a toast to Jim 
     DePierri and all of the soldiers who risked their lives for 
     us on that 6th day of June 1944. Jim was embarrassed, but 
     glad someone cared.
       In subsequent years, I would send Jim clippings of 
     editorials on Veterans Day and subsequent anniversaries of D-
     Day. He would not say anything to anyone else, except maybe 
     Rose, but he always appreciated someone remembering.
       Today we are here to remember Jim DePierri, a soldier, a 
     survivor, that most never heard of, but without whom we may 
     not be here today enjoying the freedom he helped to preserve.
       Thank you Jim DePierri and I will assure you that your 
     grandchildren and all future generations will remember their 
     grandfather and great grandfather and his service to his 
     country.
       Jim DePierri, a hero, of the greatest generation.

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