[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN HONOR OF HAROLD HURVERS AND THE 194TH LIGHT TANK BATTALION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
bravery and determination of Minnesota men who served in the U.S. Armed 
Forces in the Philippines during World War II. In particular, I want to 
note the contributions of the 194th Light Tank Battalion.
  On Easter Monday, 1941, 83 St. Paulites reported for induction into 
the U.S. Army, joining 163 men from Hennepin County. Seventy-seven of 
these men joined the 194th stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. They 
were trained and deployed to the Philippine Islands.
  At 12:30 p.m. on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl 
Harbor, the Philippine Islands were attacked by Japanese planes, 
placing U.S. Armed Forces on wartime status. The air strikes destroyed 
U.S. airplanes stationed at Clark Field, leaving U.S. forces and 
Philippine Scouts trapped and with few supplies. Despite these great 
hardships, the 194th Light Tank Battalion fought on bravely for the 
next four months, delaying the Japanese offensive. Ultimately, U.S. 
forces were forced to evacuate to the Bataan Peninsula after relentless 
attacks by Japanese forces. April 9, 1942 marked the beginning of the 
notorious Bataan Death March.
  Following heavy land attacks and after withstanding hundreds of raids 
from the air by Japanese forces, the Fall of Corregidor, forced 
American forces to surrender on May 6, 1942. Courageous American forces 
held out in spite of supply shortages, hunger, disease, and exhaustion. 
In the days that followed, many Minnesota military personnel from the 
Army, Navy, Marines, Air Corps, and the Nurse Corps were added to the 
rolls of prisoners of war. More than 75 percent of the men who were in 
service December 8, 1941 perished.
  Those who survived faced 3\1/2\ years of imprisonment until they were 
liberated in August and September, 1945.
  Many veterans of the Philippine Campaign, the Bataan Death March and 
Japanese Prisoners of War are known only to history, their individual 
identities lost in the aftermath of war, but I want to recognize Harold 
Hurvers of St. Paul, the last survivor of the draftees. Through his 
stories of this horrific ordeal, Americans can learn volumes about the 
great sacrifices made by our veterans. All Minnesotans, indeed, all 
Americans owe Mr. Hurvers and all veterans a debt of gratitude for 
their service.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Mr. Hurvers and the Minnesota 
Draftees of the 194th Light Tank Battalion.

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