[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2525-E2526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO EDWARD A. ``ED'' PENICHE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, 
Edward A. ``Ed'' Peniche, of Houston, Texas. He has made an 
immeasurable contribution to America through two outstanding careers--
first with the U.S. Army as an airborne soldier, and following his 
military retirement--achieving advanced degrees that enabled him to 
embark on a second career as a college professor. This career has been 
the fulfillment of Ed's childhood dreams for a better life.
  Ed was born on June 25, 1925 in Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico. He was the 
oldest of eight children. His parents were not highly educated, but 
they instilled in their son the value of an education. To that end, he 
immigrated to the United States on December 7, 1942 on a student visa 
to pursue education that was what was not available to him in Mexico.
  Ed arrived in Paducah, Kentucky with four dollars in his pocket and 
stayed with an aunt and uncle while attending high school. During this 
time, World War II was being fought, and on September 27, 1943, Ed 
entered active duty with the U.S. Army. He was trained as an 
airborne infantryman, and served with valor in combat from shortly 
after D-Day to VE-Day (Victory in Europe. )

  Ed is very proud of his airborne training, which instilled in him a 
``can do'' attitude despite all adversities. He served proudly and 
heroically with the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the 
Bulge, which started on

[[Page E2526]]

December 16, 1944. This was the greatest battle in the European Theater 
of World War II. Victory came with ferocious fighting at a cost of 
thousands of American casualties, but it provided a opening for General 
Patton's Third Army to march into the heart of Germany, which 
ultimately led to the unconditional surrender of the Nazi regime on May 
8, 1945.
  Ed was in Bastogne for eight days to hold the town despite repeated 
German ground assaults, continuous artillery and rocket bombardment, 
sub-zero temperatures, and bad weather conditions that prevented Allied 
air power from supporting the surrounded Americans. Despite these 
conditions, the 101st Airborne Division courageously held their ground 
and General McAuliffe famously replied ``Nuts!'' to the German 
Commanding General's offer to accept surrender or face immediate 
annihilation.
  Ed was wounded in combat action on January 3, 1945 at Longchamps, 
Belgium, for which he received the Purple Heart Medal. He was assigned 
to a 57 mm anti-tank gun that was credited with knocking out three 
German tanks, and supported the destruction of seven other enemy tanks 
before an exploding German shell destroyed Ed's gun. Despite his own 
wounds, Ed voluntarily exposed himself to enemy fire to report the 
situation and guide medical aid men to the casualties in his unit. For 
his heroism on that day, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with 
``V'' device indicating his personal valor in the engagement. Ed was 
also awarded a second Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in 
ground combat against enemy forces in the European Theater of 
Operations.

  After the war, Ed served a brief stint in the Mexican Army and was 
co-founder of their Parachute School. He returned to the U.S. in 1952, 
and re-enlisted in the U.S. Army. Ed became a U.S. citizen on February 
25, 1953, and on October 6 married Lois Dean ``Deanie'' Baggett of 
Paducah, KY. They had three sons, John, Carlos and Frank, six 
grandchildren to complete Ed and Deanie's family circle.
  Ed completed his undergraduate degree by taking night courses while 
he served on active duty. He was awarded an AA degree in Liberal Arts 
from George Washington University in 1966, and a BGS degree in 
Political Science and History from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 
1969. An extended tour of duty in Vietnam lasted from January, 1959 to 
July, 1962. He was awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army 
Commendation Medal, and Good Conduct Medals prior to his retirement 
from active duty as a U.S. Army Sergeant First Class in 1970.
  Retirement allowed Ed to pursue graduate work full time at Murray 
State University in Kentucky. He was awarded a MA degree in Spanish-
American Literature in 1971. Additional graduate work was done at the 
University of Virginia and the University of Texas.
  Ed was a college professor at Central Virginia Community College in 
Lynchburg, Virginia for 22 years, and was awarded the title of 
``Professor Emeritus'' on May 14, 1996. He was also a professor at 
Kingwood College, Texas until he retired from active teaching at the 
age of 74. He keeps busy by speaking at veterans' events and attending 
memorial commemorations honoring his fallen comrades at the Battle of 
the Bulge in Longchamps, Belgium.
  Edward A. Peniche is the embodiment of the ``American Dream.'' He 
achieved his ambitions through hard work and self-motivation, and the 
tireless support of his wife Deanie. Ed has said on more than one 
occasion ``I am most proud that I lived the American dream. This is the 
greatest country on earth!''
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to honor Ed Peniche's many lifetime 
achievements, and wish him and his beloved Deanie much happiness and 
good health in the years to come.

                          ____________________