[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 83 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN L. ``JACK'' STITZER, RECIPIENT OF THE FRENCH 
                         LEGION OF HONOR MEDAL

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 30, 2014

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John L. 
``Jack'' Stitzer, who was honored on May 8 as a Chevalier (Knight) of 
the Legion of Honor at the French Embassy in Washington, DC by Olivier 
Serot Almeras, the Consul General of France. Napoleon Bonaparte created 
the Legion of Honor in 1802 when he was first consul of France. Those 
who qualify for this award aided in the liberation of France during 
World War II.
  Mr. Stitzer, resident of Gordon, Pennsylvania, entered the U.S. Army 
on May 24, 1943, and served with the 159th Engineer Combat Battalion. 
He was stationed in the United States, unaware his unit was preparing 
to leave for the D-Day invasion in Normandy. Mr. Stitzer served in the 
Third Army, which was commanded by General George S. Patton. Mr. 
Stitzer remained in Normandy for a few weeks before his unit of 
engineers travelled up the coast to clean the mines off the beaches, 
and ultimately fought as infantry. He and his unit travelled from Brest 
to Luxembourg and were stationed there until the Battle of the Bulge, 
where Mr. Stitzer was wounded.
  Mr. Stitzer aided in the relief of the 101st Airborne Division, which 
defended the Belgian town of Bastogne against the Nazis by cindering 
the roads for the tanks throughout the day and night. He also witnessed 
the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany.
  Mr. Stitzer was also honored on May 26, 2014 as the grand marshal of 
the Gordon Memorial Day parade. Mr. Stitzer has received the Good 
Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, American Service Ribbon, 
Eastern Theater Offensive Ribbon with five Battle Stars, the Purple 
Heart and World War II Victory Medal. He served in Scotland, England, 
France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Holland and Czechoslovakia until 
he was discharged on December 19, 1945.
  Mr. Stitzer and his wife live in Gordon, Pennsylvania, and have three 
children. After his service in World War II, he ran his father's lumber 
yard and hardware store, and also was a salesman for Ajax Building 
Materials for 20 years.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Stitzer for his 
outstanding service for our country, and for risking his life during 
World War II to fight in France. He serves as a role model and 
inspiration to all, and I offer my sincere congratulations to him on 
this momentous occasion.

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