[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. THOMAS A. MASSARONE

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. ANDY BARR

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2015

  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life, and mark 
the passing, of an outstanding individual and a decorated World War II 
veteran, Mr. Thomas A. Massarone of Lexington, Kentucky.
  As a young man, Mr. Massarone began his service in the United States 
Navy and quickly rose to the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. Mr. 
Massarone entered the war in 1944 by fighting within the U.S. Pacific 
fleet and did not stop until the Allies achieved victory.
  Mr. Massarone participated in combat operations while assigned to the 
Navy's Southern Attack Force `ship-to-shore' detail, within the III 
Amphibious Corps (MA), in order to help liberate Guam. He was assigned 
a dangerous mission to search for and capture Japanese soldiers still 
at large on the island and then to guard the captured Japanese 
prisoners of war.
  In addition, Mr. Massarone was assigned the task of securing the 
Japanese Type C submarines located on the island of Guam.
  After helping the Allies achieve victory, he was honorably discharged 
from military service in 1948 and returned home to begin a successful 
40-year career with IBM. Mr. Massarone became one of the original 
members of IBM's electric typewriter division and was instrumental in 
creating the ``Selectric'' typewriter, which helped pave the way for 
the use of typewriter keyboards as the primary method for people to 
interact with computers.
  Mr. Massarone spent his life giving back to his community. He helped 
form the first Little League baseball teams to play at the IBM Park in 
Lexington. He was particularly active with his parish, St. Paul 
Catholic Church, where he served as council president, chairman of the 
school board, and later became the oldest serving member of his church.
  Rising to the leadership position of Grand Knight within the Knights 
of Columbus in Lexington, Mr. Massarone devoted much of his time 
raising money for charities and helping others in need. As a member of 
the American Legion, Mr. Massarone committed himself to supporting 
local programs to mentor youth and provide support for service members 
and fellow veterans.
  Mr. Massarone embodied the best of America's ideals, values, and 
ingenuity. His bravery and that of his fellow men and women in uniform 
liberated the world from tyranny and secured our American freedoms for 
future generations. He was truly an outstanding American and an 
inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________