[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E705-E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF NORMAND DRAPEAU FOR BEING AWARDED THE CHEVALIER OF 
                       THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2015

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
Normand Drapeau for being awarded the chevalier (knighthood) of the 
French Legion of Honor by the French Government for his courageous 
actions while serving in the United States Navy during World War II.
  Normand was born on May 1, 1925 in Holyoke, Massachusetts into a 
large Catholic family as the oldest boy of twelve children. He attended 
the Immaculate Conception School for his primary education as well as 
spent a year at LaSalette Seminary in New Hampshire before ultimately 
deciding to work as a butcher at his family's business, Drapeau's 
Market. In 1942 on Holy Thursday when he was only seventeen, Normand 
enlisted in the United

[[Page E706]]

States Navy and was shipped off to boot camp the next day on Good 
Friday. After he completed amphibious training in Little Creek, 
Virginia and Fort Pierce, Florida, he was sent off to Dartmouth, 
England in preparation for the invasion of France.
  However, Normand did not have to wait until D-Day to see some action. 
On April 27, 1944, German gunboats attacked Normand's flotilla while 
they were on an exercise in the English Channel. One of the blasts 
threw Normand into the channel but he was not seriously injured. A 
month later, when General Eisenhower postponed the invasion of Normandy 
due to poor weather conditions, Normand's Landing Craft Mechanized 
(LCM) flotilla decided to embark across the 120-mile channel when their 
tow got cancelled. Once the flotilla reached Omaha Beach, Normand faced 
the brutal fighting and harsh reality that the beach is infamous for in 
order to liberate France. Normand was slightly injured during the 
battle but was able to be treated on the battlefield.
  On June 16, 1944, Normand was hit by a landmine and was seriously 
wounded. This led to a difficult and dangerous journey back to the 
United States. He was put on a Landing Ship Tank (LST) to be brought 
back to a hospital in England. While on board, the ship was hit by a 
German torpedo and was disabled, forcing it to be towed back to 
England. Once in the hospital in England receiving treatment, he still 
had to deal with a series of German attacks. The hospital was hit by 
German V1 and V2 rockets, causing severe damage to the building. 
Normand was then moved to Scotland to await a cargo plane to take him 
back to the U.S. His original plane was overbooked, forcing him to fly 
to Newfoundland first. This last minute change ended up saving 
Normand's life because his original plane was shot down. He eventually 
got back to the United States and was treated at a naval hospital. 
Normand was discharged from the Navy in June 1945 and received two 
Purple Hearts for being wounded on the battlefield.
  Mr. Speaker, Normand Drapeau is the epitome for our quiet American 
heroes. This very humble man does not seek any recognition or special 
attention for his bravery. He simply wanted to serve his country and to 
defend the enduring cause for freedom around the world. As the French 
government awards Normand with one of its highest honors, I want to 
take a moment to thank Normand on behalf of the United States House of 
Representatives and the American people for his service to our nation 
and congratulate him on receiving this prestigious honor.

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