[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2387-S2388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING MARY PHYLIS MACK CALLAN

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Mary Mack, a 
veteran of World War II.
  Mary was born in Butte, MT and graduated from Girls Central High 
School before attending Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane, WA.
  Sixty-eight years ago, Mary enlisted in the Army as a registered 
nurse. She was assigned to the 203rd General Field Hospital. Her 
mission was to provide medical support for troops staged in England as 
they prepared for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe in Operation 
Overlord on June 6, 1944. One month after the invasion, Mary, along 
with the 203rd Field Hospital, crossed the English Channel and arrived 
at Utah Beach in Normandy, France. From there they traveled on foot 
past scenes of war and destruction to set up a hospital for troops as 
they continued on into Europe. After the liberation of Paris in late 
August 1944, the 203rd established the largest general hospital in the 
European Theater of Operations in the French capital. There they 
treated over 65,000 patients.
  While stationed in Paris, Mary achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. 
She later served in Africa and the Middle East.
  Mary was honorably discharged from the Army on January 7, 1946. 
Because honors were made known toward the end of the war, many members 
of the 203rd may not have been aware of their eligibility or received 
their awards.
  After the war, she returned to Montana where she committed herself to 
raising a family and serving her community.

[[Page S2388]]

  Mary passed away last month on March 15. I had the honor of 
presenting Mary's family with a European-African-Middle Eastern 
Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars. This decoration represents 
the gratitude of the Nation she served and the wish that her family 
continues to share the memories of this courageous woman.

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