[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10366-S10367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLONEL GEORGE JUSKALIAN POST OFFICE BUILDING
The bill (H.R. 6392) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 5003 Westfields Boulevard in Centreville,
Virginia, as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building,'' was
ordered to a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I rise today to express my support for
the passage of H.R. 6392, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S.
Postal Service located at 5003 Westfields Boulevard in Centreville, VA,
as the Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building.
Colonel Juskalian passed away this past Fourth of July, at the age of
96, having served our nation for nearly 30 years on active duty,
including campaigns during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. After
growing up in Massachusetts, he joined the U.S. Army in 1939 and was
called to active duty as a first lieutenant in 1940. He served with
distinction in World War II, during which time he was captured by the
Germans in Tunisia and spent 27 months in prisoner of war camps in
Italy, Germany and Poland.
Upon his return home, Colonel Juskalian served in General
Eisenhower's secretariat in the Pentagon between 1945 and 1948, and
continued to serve our nation with distinction until his retirement
with the rank of colonel in 1967. He received the Army's highest award
for noncombat service, the Legion of Merit, as well as four Silver
Stars, three Bronze Stars, and the Army Commendation Medal, among
others.
Apart from his military service, the colonel was a longtime resident
of Centreville and was actively involved in his community. He was an
active participant in organizations such as the Armenian Assembly of
America, American Legion Post 1995, and the Blue and Grey Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 8469 up until his death earlier this year. Many knew
the colonel through his volunteer work at local schools, where he
shared his strong belief in giving back to our communities and our
nation, through military service or otherwise.
By passing this bill and naming the Centreville Post Office facility
after Colonel George Juskalian, we will be honoring both Colonel
Juskalian's many years of service as well as the sacrifices made by all
members of the United States Armed Services. H.R. 6392 has the strong
support of the Virginia American Legion, Post 1995, as well as the
local division of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8469. I have letters
of support from both organizations and, without objection, would like
to submit them for the record.
I applaud the efforts of my friend and colleague in the House,
Congressman Frank Wolf, who united the Virginia delegation as co-
sponsors of this bill and effectively ushered it through the House of
Representatives by a unanimous vote. Now it is time for the Senate to
act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting swift passage of
this bill to honor such a courageous, admirable veteran and proud
Virginian.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record as follows:
American Legion Post 1995,
Centreville, VA, August 16, 2010.
Hon. Mark R. Warner,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
U.S. Congress,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Warner/Congressman Wolf, It is with great
honor and privilege, and on behalf of American Legion Post
1995, Centreville, Virginia that I submit to you a proposal
for designating the United States Postal Facility located at
5003 Westfields Boulevard, Centreville, VA as the ``Colonel
George Juskalian Post Office.'' Sadly, Col Juskalian passed
away on 4 July 2010.
As Congressman Wolf so eloquently stated in the chambers of
the House of Representatives on 26 July, Col Juskalian, U.S.
Army (Ret.), served the United States with high distinction
for nearly 30 years, including service in WWII, Korea, and
Vietnam.
Colonel Juskalian survived the hardships of being a German
Prisoner of War, enduring nearly three years harsh treatment
in Nazi POW camps. Throughout his ordeal, and in later
service in our nation's wars, he upheld the highest ideals of
American servicemen. In so doing; he earned two Silver Stars
and four Bronze Stars for actions in combat.
Upon leaving the military, he remained a long time resident
of the Commonwealth of Virginia and continued to serve his
community until his death at age 96. He volunteered and
educated our youth in local schools, mainly with a message of
the importance of one's giving back to our community and
nation. He shared a strong belief in serving--in the military
or in other ways--in appreciation for the freedoms and rights
enjoyed by all and paid for by few.
Although Centreville, Virginia has many residents that have
served our nation with distinction, there is no monument,
plaque or memorial dedicated to the men and women of the U.S.
Armed Forces. Naming the Centreville Postal Facility for
Colonel Juskalian would represent a constant reminder to
patrons of the service and sacrifices made by military
veterans in their community.
By placing Colonel Juskalian's name and a small memorial in
the Centreville Post Office, we honor him and all veterans
within our community, past, present, and future.
For God and Country,
Peter F. DeFreece,
Commander.
____
Blue and Gray
Veterans of Foreign War Post 8469,
Fairfax Station, VA, August 16, 2010.
Hon. Mark R. Warner,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
U.S. Congress,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Warner and Congressman Wolf: I am writing on
behalf of our VFW Post, of which the late Colonel George
Juskalian US Army retired was a member, to endorse the
recommendation to designate the United States Post Office at
5003 Westfields Blvd, Centreville, VA as the ``Colonel George
Juskalian Post Office.''
This is what Colonel Juskalian looked like in recent years.
He always sported a smile and he had a quick wit and he was
both an active member of our Post, but he was also the recent
Commander of the local chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of
War. Here is what he looked like after he came home as a hero
of World War II. On 28 January 1943, George rushed forward of
friendly lines to help rescue a reconnaissance patrol which
had been discovered by an overwhelming German force. Although
George was captured and spent the next 27 months in various
prison camps, his valor was recognized by the Army and he was
awarded the Silver Star Medal, our nation's third highest
battlefield award for heroism. While imprisoned with the
British for 3 of his 27 months of captivity, George overcame
continuing claustrophobia and helped dig an escape tunnel but
was transferred to a camp of only US prisoners in Poland
before he could escape. During the bleak late winter of 1945
George and his fellow prisoners were force marched westward
to Hammelburg, Germany just in time to see the ill-fated Baum
rescue force enter their POW camp without enough force to
make it back. George forced an escape anyway and was
ultimately recaptured. He was bombed by US planes near
Nuremburg and watched as 40 of his comrades died, but he was
ultimately liberated by the US 45th Infantry Division.
Upon return to the United States, the scrappy little
officer volunteered to undergo refresher infantry training
and join in the invasion of Japan but the war ended first.
After the war George worked for General of the Army
Eisenhower in the Pentagon and must have done an impressive
job because he was offered a Regular Army commission during a
period when the Army was reduced in size dramatically. During
the Korean conflict, George was offered a plum assignment
away from the fighting but asked instead to be assigned to
Korea. There, George was assigned to command the 1st
Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry
Division, then in combat as part of X Corps. George was
ordered to re-take a key hilltop which had just been captured
by the Chinese, called ``Old Baldy.'' Because high explosives
had denuded the peak, the only covered approach to the
objective was across a minefield, through which a path was
cleared at the point of a bayonet. The battalion's attack was
pressed with such ferocity that much of the hill was re-
taken, but the battalion was decimated and withdrawn under
[[Page S10367]]
orders from higher headquarters. George was awarded a Silver
Star for heroism during the action.
After Korea, George had assignments literally around the
world but not surprisingly, fate found George, now a full
Colonel, in Vietnam during 1963-4 assigned initially as a
deputy Corps Advisor in the Mekong Delta, and later as the
Inspector General of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam,
working directly under General William Westmoreland. George
was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations and Training for the Military District of
Washington and retired on 30 April 1967. George's awards
include: the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of
Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters,
the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the POW Medal,
numerous campaign medals; the Combat Infantryman Badge with
star, the War Department General Staff Device, and the
Parachutist Badge.
Following retirement, George did volunteer work with
numerous benevolent and veterans groups. From 1974-80, George
was the Director of Graduate Admissions at Southeastern
University while he concurrently studied for his Masters in
Business and Public Administration. He served a three year
appointment to the Veterans Administration Advisory Committee
for Former Prisoners of War. He was active with the scouts
and served in Armenian community relief and religious
organizations and was most recently the Commander of the
local chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War.
In 1838 a young Abraham Lincoln spoke of ``the generation
just gone to rest,'' and the War for Independence by saying:
``At the close of that struggle, nearly every adult male
had been a participator in some of its scenes. The
consequence was, that of those scenes, in the form of a
husband, a father, a son or a brother, a living history was
to be found in every family--a history bearing the
indubitable testimonies of its own authenticity, in the limbs
mangled, in the scars of wounds received, in the midst of the
very scenes related--a history, too, that could be read and
understood alike by all, the wise and the ignorant, the
learned and the unlearned. But those histories are gone. They
can be read no more forever. They were a fortress of
strength; but what invading foemen could never do the silent
artillery of time has done; the leveling of its walls. They
are gone. . . .''
Thousands of our World War II heroes are leaving us every
day. Centreville needs a lasting reminder of their service
and sacrifice for all the generations to come. Please lend
your support to designate the United States Post Office at
5003 Westfields Blvd, Centreville, VA as the ``Colonel George
Juskalian Post Office.'' Thank you for your consideration.
Very respectfully submitted,
Floyd D. Houston,
Commander.
____________________