[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 173 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING JAMES JOSEPH MARSHALL

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor James Joseph 
Marshall, a third generation Montanan and a veteran of World War II.
  On behalf of all Montanans and Americans, I stand to say thank you to 
Jim's family for his service to our Nation.
  It is my honor to share the story of Jim's life and service, a story 
that most certainly will not be forgotten, and a story he perhaps 
wouldn't have told himself.
  In fact, it wasn't until his oldest daughter, Vicki, was in eighth 
grade that she even noticed her father's limp. She asked her mother, 
``Why does daddy limp?''
  Ruth told her that he limped because of his war wound. He never 
talked about his experience during the war, and it wasn't until he 
wrote about his injury for a presentation to middle schoolers that his 
family heard the full story.
  Jim was shot in the leg while fighting in the Ruhr Pocket, in 
Germany, near the border of Czechoslovakia on April 25, 1945.
  After sweeping the countryside searching for any remaining 
resistance, his platoon butted up against German troops on a 
mountainside. It wasn't long until the platoon was pinned down by the 
automatic weapon fire.
  The platoon made a dash for cover but to no avail. Every man was hit. 
Jim described the shot to his leg like being hit by a sledgehammer.
  German troops came to confirm they were all dead and to gather any 
rifles and ammo. Jim, with his orders shoved underneath him and the 
sole survivor, played dead. They passed on.
  Not long after, German medics came through.
  Surprisingly, a young German, whom Jim identified by the swastika on 
his arm, put a compress on his leg and a jacket over top of him before 
moving on.
  Shortly after, an American Jeep rolled up and rescued him.
  Jim always said he never would have made it out alive had that young 
German not stopped to show him some compassion.
  Once home from the war in 1946, Jim enrolled at Montana State 
University at Bozeman.
  It was there that he met his future wife Ruth Officer, a nurse who 
tended to some residual issues with Jim's hip. They married on March 
15, 1947.
  Jim was always a man who took care of his family, and that devotion 
took them to Livingston, Ruth's hometown. There, he began work as a 
carpenter's apprentice, eventually becoming a journeyman.
  After returning to MSU to get his industrial art degree, he began 
teaching shop at Emerson Junior High in Bozeman. Eventually, he became 
a purchasing agent for Missoula School District No. 1.
  Jim and Ruth had three children: Vicki, Leann, and Jim. They remember 
him as a humble man who cared deeply for his family and frequently 
demonstrated that devotion.
  The fondness with which Jim is remembered is reflective of the life 
he lived. Folks will remember his willingness to help out a friend and 
his love of photography, especially bald eagles. He was passionate 
about making Montana better for future generations.
  In September of 2012, Jim had the pleasure of participating in one of 
the earliest Honor Flights to Washington, DC, to see the World War II 
Memorial there.
  His daughter, Leann, helped him register himself as a World War II 
veteran at the memorial, and his name will remain in the kiosks there 
for anyone to see.
  In fact, I had the honor of greeting that particular Honor Flight 
back to Montana afterward and am happy to hear that Jim immensely 
enjoyed that experience.
  Jim died on April 8, 2014, surrounded by family.
  It was my honor to recognize James Joseph Marshall's bravery and 
service to the United States by presenting his family with the Bronze 
Star Medal for meritorious achievement based on his prior award of the 
combat infantryman badge and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany 
Clasp.
  Our Nation is forever grateful for Jim's service.

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