[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO RECOGNIZE MR. NORRIS O. CHANDLER

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                           HON. Wm. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Norris O. 
Chandler, former WWI and WWII veteran who has demonstrated an 
unyielding commitment to the service of others through 60 years of 
civilian service.
  Chandler enlisted in United States Army at Jefferson Barracks and was 
soon assigned to a special amphibious engineering unit activated for 
World War II--the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion. As a Demolition 
Specialist for the 149th, he joined the invasion of France on Omaha 
Beach in 1944.
  The 149th was responsible for destroying enemy bridges, probing and 
destroying mines and other obstacles, both on land and underwater, and 
for building Bailey Bridges.
  Following World War II, Mr. Chandler returned to Fort Polk, Louisiana 
to await discharge. His unit was deactivated in December of 1945 and he 
became part of the newly activated Organized Reserve Corps (Individual 
Stand-By) until 1951.
  In 1951, Mr. Chandler entered the Civilian Service with the Missouri 
Military District (MMD), 11th Army Corps, St. Louis, and Missouri as a 
warehouseman. During this time the MMD was renamed the U.S. Army 
Support Center. Mr. Chandler continued his services at the center, 
holding various positions including stock control clerk, general supply 
clerk, and Publications Supply officer among other things before the 
agency moved to Fort Sheridan, Ill.
  Mr. Chandler opposed relocating to Fort Sheridan and joined the staff 
at the U.S. Army Adjutant General Publications Center as a packer, for 
over 40 years, turning down General Schedule (GS) opportunities in 
favor of his Wage Grade (WG) packer position.
  Chandlers WWII unit received four campaign ribbons: Normandy (with 
bronze arrowhead), Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Mr. 
Chandler's civilian awards include the Achievement Medal for Civilian 
Service in September 1996. In addition, he currently has over 3300 
hours of sick leave and usually forfeits almost all of his annual 
leave, except when he generously donates to other employees through the 
leave donation program.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Chandler, an 
American hero, for 60 years as a civil servant and for his noble 
sacrifice and courage to the United States Armed Services. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Norris O. Chandler for his 
service and commitment to put country first.

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