[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING RETIRED MASTER SERGEANT NATHAN WEISER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge 
Retired Master Sergeant Nathan Weiser, on this the 70th anniversary of 
the attack on Pearl Harbor, a horror which by the grace of our Almighty 
God, Mr. Weiser survived.
  After graduating from Albion College with a teaching degree in 1939, 
Nate Weiser enlisted in the newly formed United States Army Air Corps 
along with two of his friends in October 1940. All three men were sent 
to Hawaii as part of the 15th Fighter Group, 45th Fighter Squadron and 
were stationed at Pearl Harbor on the horrific day of December 7, 1941.
  Retired Master Sergeant Weiser and his two friends were in the mess 
hall waiting in line for breakfast when the attack began. He recalls 
the planes flying low enough to be able to see the red scarves and 
goggles of the pilots hell-bent on destruction. After surviving the 
initial wave and the smaller second wave of enemy planes, it began to 
rain. Having lost the friends he enlisted with to the Japanese fury, 
Weiser and his unit headed toward a mountain foxhole and spent some 
very uncomfortable nights in the flooded dugout.
  In 1943, Staff Sergeant Nate Weiser was sent back to the mainland to 
attend special schooling. He was asked to serve as an Army officer and 
declined. Weiser requested to be sent back to the Army Air Corps and 
was assigned to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. From there he was 
detailed to the 365th Fighter Bomber Group, 386th Squadron based out of 
Richmond, Virginia. Nate Weiser arrived in Normandy, France on June 13, 
1944, a mere seven days after the initial invasion. As 1944 gave way to 
1945, Weiser served in the grueling 40 day Battle of the Bulge. Master 
Sergeant Nate Weiser undoubtedly saw some of the fiercest combat in the 
history of these great United States and was released from service in 
August, 1945.
  Mr. Speaker, Nathan Weiser has faithfully served and dutifully 
protected the citizens of the United States. Our nation owes him a deep 
debt of gratitude. He has been retired since 1996 after 55 years as a 
small business owner. He is blessed to enjoy life with his beloved wife 
of 65 years, Norma, their daughters Karen and Kendra and two 
granddaughters. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and 
acknowledging Master Sergeant Nathan Weiser for his years of loyal 
service to our community and country.

                          ____________________