[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRATULATING MARION GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE STIVERS

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2012

  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Marion Gray on 
being named Knight of the Legion of Honor by France. In the course of 
his service in World War II Marion Gray became the first Franklin 
County man to be wounded on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.
  Throughout our nation's history, courageous men and women have 
selflessly fought time and again to secure our liberty. Marion Gray is 
one of those courageous men.
  A true patriot, Sergeant Gray enlisted one day after the attack on 
Pearl Harbor. Gray then was sent to Camp Roberts to learn Combat 
Intelligence. He later transferred into the Medical Corps which allowed 
him to serve his country with the education in pharmacology and pre-
medicine that he gained at The Ohio State University.
  As a combat medic, Sergeant Gray travelled as part of the 29th 
Division of the 116th Regiment to the beaches of Normandy, where he was 
part of the first wave to land on D-Day.
  Sergeant Gray's regiment was one of the hardest hit and during the 
course of that day Gray was injured twice. Thankfully, he survived but 
had to spend 30 days recovering in a hospital in South Hampton, England 
before being returned to his original company. He later went on to help 
liberate St. Lo, France, and served admirably until the end of the war 
in Europe.
  It is because of the sacrifices made by Marion Gray and those he 
served with, that we continue to enjoy the freedoms that we do today. I 
am deeply thankful for Sergeant Marion Gray's heroism and sacrifice, 
and I congratulate him on earning the Knight of the Legion of Honor.

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