[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO AMOS PACHECO FOR HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

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                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today 
to honor Amos Pacheco, a World War II veteran who recently celebrated 
his 80th birthday.
  Mr. Pacheco enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1944. After basic 
training, he joined General George S. Patton's Third Army as it raced 
into Germany. Serving in Company I, 358th Infantry, 90th Division of 
the 3rd Army, Corporal Pacheco participated in some of the fiercest 
battles on the Western front. While the Germans were retreating, 
resistance was stiff. American soldiers were fighting an enemy that 
might have been beaten but wasn't ready to surrender.
  In April 1945, as Allied forces were making the final push towards 
Berlin, Mr. Pacheco was wounded in action on the Rhine River. A grenade 
exploded and wounded him, which left shrapnel in his hip. After a 
period of convalescence, he returned to active duty and was stationed 
in Europe until 1946.
  Unfortunately, as each year passes, we have fewer World War II 
veterans among us. Men like Amos Pacheco witnessed and participated in 
the events that changed the world for the better.
  This Greatest Generation led our Nation into the American century. 
They lifted America out of the Great Depression and committed our 
Nation anew to our founding ideals of liberty. Brave Americans like Mr. 
Pacheco fought and defeated the Nazi and Japanese regimes, and in the 
process, secured freedom for millions here and abroad. But their work 
was not done.
  Even after winning World War II, the Greatest Generation had another 
war to fight: the Cold War. An Iron Curtain descended across Europe, 
and President Truman articulated a policy of containment to make sure 
the sacrifices we had made during World War II were not in vain.
  Ultimately, freedom and liberty triumphed again, and it was thanks to 
people like Amos Pacheco, who had returned to San Antonio in 1946 and 
started working at Kelly Air Force Base. There, thousands of civilian 
employees worked long hours to repair and equip the planes our Air 
Force used to safeguard our nation.
  I was honored to have attended the celebration of Mr. Pacheco's 80th 
birthday, where his granddaughter, Chriselda, presented him with 
replicas of the medals he earned for his service.
  Mr. Pacheco has been a father figure to Chriselda, whom he adopted 
when she was just five years old. Out of love and appreciation for her 
grandfather, she purchased and presented to him replicas of the medals 
that were lost over the years. Chriselda gave her grandfather a Purple 
Heart for the wounds he received and a Bronze Star, which had been 
awarded to all World War II veterans. It was touching to watch 
Chriselda and the entire family honor and show their love for Mr. 
Pacheco. It still humbles me to think they wanted me to be present.
  And to my great surprise and pleasure, Mr. Pacheco's 80th birthday 
party was the second time our two families had crossed paths. After the 
presentation of the medals, Chriselda showed me a photo of her and my 
father, Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez. More than 20 years ago, Dad had 
attended a tree planting ceremony at Sarah S. King Elementary School 
where he met Chriselda, who was a student. Someone snapped a picture of 
Dad and Chriselda standing next to the tree, and Chriselda still had 
the photo. I know Dad would have been honored that she had kept this 
picture all these years.
  It was an honor to help celebrate this signal moment in Mr. Amos 
Pacheco's life. He is one of San Antonio's heroes, a beloved husband, 
father and grandfather.

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