[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 130 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND DEUTSCHER

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I honor the military service 
of Raymond Deutscher.
  Raymond enlisted in the Army in his home State of North Dakota in the 
spring of 1942. He was a born leader who became a combat infantry 
squadron leader. And he led his troops to the beaches of Normandy, June 
of 1944.
  When Raymond and his troops arrived, he said the water and sand was 
already stained with blood. In Normandy, on June 11, 1944, Raymond was 
shot and severely wounded by German forces. His recovery took 7 months 
at a hospital in England and further hospital stays at home.
  Through the long trauma and his long recovery from enemy fire, 
Raymond Deutscher never received the medals he earned as a hero of 
World War II.
  His military records were destroyed by a 1973 fire in St. Louis. And 
he passed away on January 10, 2001.
  His family reached out to me and started asking questions about 
Raymond's service and the due recognition he never received.
  Last month I had the honor of presenting to his family Raymond 
Deutscher's Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American 
Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Combat 
Infantryman Badge First Award with Rifle Bar, World War Two Victory 
Medal, and Honorable Service Lapel Button
  These eight medals may be small tokens, but they are powerful symbols 
of true heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service. These medals are 
presented on behalf of a grateful nation.

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