[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING ADANTO D'AMORE FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to 
rise today in recognition of Adanto D'Amore, a patriot who served his 
country with distinction.
  Born in Italy, Dr. D'Amore came to the United States in 1919 as a 
young child knowing no English. Realizing the importance of education, 
Adanto went on to graduate from Ohio State Medical School at the age of 
23.
  Adanto joined the U.S. Army in 1938 and shortly thereafter became the 
second U.S. doctor to earn his parachute wings in the First Provisional 
Parachute Battalion. Transferring to the Army Air Corps in 1940, he 
became a flight surgeon and went on to serve his country during time of 
war in the Philippines.
  In 1942, Dr. D'Amore was taken prisoner by Japanese troops and forced 
to participate in the infamous Bataan Death March. Nearly 25 percent of 
the allied troops did not survive. Many of these soldiers that were 
fortunate enough to live were then forced onto death ships to Japan. A 
great number more of the allied troops died on these ships, some from 
oppressive living conditions and some from ships that sunk during the 
voyage.
  Beaten by his captors like so many others, Dr. D'Amore was also 
forced to use his medical skills to treat the same captors who 
tormented him and his fellow prisoners-of war. He used his skills as 
best as he could to obtain provisions for the other prisoners. His help 
no doubt helped many to survive a long and miserable time in the POW 
camp. Over three years later, Dr. D'Amore was liberated from a work 
camp near Mount Fuji at the end of World War II.
  Adanto's service to the medical community continues today. He met his 
wife Helen, an army flight nurse, upon his return home to the United 
States, and together they raised three children through many military 
postings. In 1964, he and his family arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in 
Northwest Florida, where he retired several years later. Retirement 
from the military did not mean retirement from medical service, 
however. Dr. D'Amore went on to work for a county health department, 
run an entire county hospital system, and open up a private practice.
  Today, Dr. D'Amore works with the Bridgeway Center, Inc., Crisis 
Stabilization Unit and the Detoxification Unit. Despite being over 70 
years old, he still arrives at work seven days a week, rain or shine, 
to provide care to those who might not otherwise receive proper care. 
People who feel shunned by society can take comfort in the fact that 
Dr. Adanto D'Amore brings compassion to them and provides hope for 
their future.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to 
commend Dr. Adanto D'Amore for heroically living a patriotic duty, 
risking his own life to help those who believed like he did in the 
beauty of freedom.

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