[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E273-E274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING JAMES H. DRUMWRIGHT, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2013

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very 
special World War II veteran, Mr. James H. Drumwright, Jr. of 
Richardson, Texas. Recently, Mr. Drumwright, along with three other 
North Texas veterans, received France's highest distinction, the Legion 
of Honor, for their extraordinary service on the French battlefield. 
During the ceremony, Frederic Bontems, consul general of France in 
Houston, pinned the Knight in the French Order of Legion of Honor on 
these four

[[Page E274]]

men for their notable actions to combat tyranny across the globe.
   Mr. Drumwright, born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, made the 
courageous decision to serve his country at the early age of 17. In 
1939, he volunteered into the National Guard, and in February 1941 he 
joined the 29th Signal Company of the Army's 29th Infantry Division. 
With his companions and approximately 160,000 other Allied forces, he 
stormed the beaches of Normandy, France on D-day. At Omaha Beach, 
Drumwright courageously fought to liberate St. Lo, a key city to 
opening the Falaise Gap, which allowed the Allied forces to expel the 
Nazi Germans from northern France. Early in the invasion, Drumwright 
was injured and evacuated to England for treatment, but only a short 
five months later, he was back in the thick of battle with the 29th 
company.
   At the end of World War II, he returned to Norfolk, Virginia where 
he received his graduate degree in Architecture in 1949. Throughout his 
studies, he remained in the Army Reserve until 1953 when he was called 
back into active duty during the Korean War. After retiring from the 
military, Mr. Drumwright began the next phase of his life working at 
DuPont, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. At Dupont, 
he met his wife, Amy Wright, and they now have two children, James and 
Kelley. Throughout recent years, Mr. Drumwright has remained active in 
various organizations recognizing veterans, such as Veterans of Foreign 
Wars and Boy Scout Troops of America, and has enjoyed traveling with 
his wife all across the globe.
   Mr. Drumright served our country with distinction, and I thank him 
for his sacrifice. Our country is blessed to have men like Mr. 
Drumwright who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and 
democracy across the world. His courage is a testament to the American 
spirit: a spirit of bravery, selflessness, and commitment to freedom.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an 
American patriot, Mr. James H. Drumwright, Jr. We honor your 
achievements and sincerely thank you for your service. God Bless you 
and God Bless America.

                          ____________________