[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 83 (Monday, May 15, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 RECOGNIZING MR. ROBERT ``BOB'' MAXWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 15, 2017

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Robert ``Bob'' 
Maxwell of Bend, Oregon for his outstanding military and civilian 
service to Oregon and our nation.
  Mr. Maxwell is well known in veterans circles mostly as a WWII Medal 
of Honor recipient. He served with the famed 3rd Infantry Division in 
North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France. During the invasion of Anzio, 
Italy, he was wounded and acted bravely to earn his first Silver Star 
and Purple Heart. Shortly after being released from the Army hospital 
in Naples, he participated in ``Operation Dragoon''--the invasion of 
Southern France during late August, 1944. While protecting his 
Battalion Headquarters with 3 other soldiers in Besancon, France on 
September 7, 1944, a German Infantry unit outnumbering his unit 10 to 1 
attacked the outpost. Mr. Maxwell hurled his unprotected body on a 
German hand grenade thrown into their midst. The grenade exploded under 
Mr. Maxwell, saving the lives of 3 comrades and severely wounding Mr. 
Maxwell. For his unhesitating valor above and beyond the call of duty, 
he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, a second Silver Star, 
a second Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and French Croix de Guerre.
  Mr. Maxwell was discharged from the U.S. Army and used the ``GI 
Bill'' to earn his credentials in Automotive Technology. He worked in 
that profession for 32 years, teaching at Bend High School, Central 
Oregon College and Lane Community College. In 1970, he was named one of 
5,000 outstanding educators in our nation.
  Since his retirement from teaching, ``Bob'' has served as a Director 
of the Bend Heroes Foundation, and has co-chaired several veterans 
projects including the Bend Parade of Flags, Bend Heroes Memorial, the 
first-of-its-kind WWII Veterans Historic Highway, and the Oregon Medal 
of Honor Exhibit.
  Mr. Maxwell is a passionate promoter of the Congressional Medal of 
Honor Foundation's ``Character Development Program'' now being adopted 
in Central Oregon schools. As devoted Christians and proponents of 
higher education, Mr. Maxwell and his late wife Bea initiated the Bob 
and Bea Maxwell Medal of Honor Scholarship program at Boise Bible 
College many years ago.
  Mr. Maxwell celebrated his 96th birthday on October 26, 2016. He is 
the oldest surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor, our nation's 
highest military award. It has been my privilege and honor to know and 
have worked with Bob Maxwell for many years.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful state and country, I wish to 
honor Mr. Robert D. ``Bob'' Maxwell for his grand accomplishments over 
many years.

                          ____________________