[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING MAINE VETERAN SAMUEL ALDERETE FOR HEROIC SERVICE IN WWII

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                          HON. CHELLIE PINGREE

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2015

  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of my 
constituents--94-year-old Samuel Alderete of Topsham, Maine--on 
receiving the prestigious French Legion of Honour and to applaud the 
courageous actions for which it is being awarded.
  As a young Army warrant officer in WWII, Mr. Alderete fought his way 
across France, Belgium, and Germany with the 980th Field Artillery 
Battalion. He fought in and survived the infamous Battle of the Bulge. 
The actions of Mr. Alderete and his brothers in arms, many of whom 
didn't make it home, directly contributed to the liberation of France. 
I sincerely thank the French Government for recognizing Mr. Alderete 
and other American veterans who fought to save the French people.
  I am deeply grateful for Mr. Alderete's brave service--both in WWII 
and his later combat experience in Korea--and also admire him for 
exhibiting the kind of humility that characterizes the Maine veterans 
I've had the pleasure of meeting. When asked for any heroic actions or 
battles he participated in, Mr. Alderete simply replies, ``Nothing 
heroic. Just soldiered in combat.''
  Despite Mr. Alderete's assertion, Mr. Speaker, I find his actions to 
be quite heroic. He fought with courage and honor at great personal 
danger, in terrible conditions, far from home. The 70 years that have 
passed since then have done nothing to diminish his distinguished 
service. I wholeheartedly congratulate him on receiving this well-
deserved honor from the French people.

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