[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 14, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF WILLIAM TOMKA

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                        HON. JOHN H. RUTHERFORD

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2018

  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor World War II 
Veteran, William John Tomka, with whom I had the recent pleasure of 
joining to celebrate his 100th birthday on January 27, 2018.
  Born in Dover, New Jersey to immigrant parents, William spent his 
formative years in New Jersey, developing a love of music. This 
resulted in him becoming a music teacher until he was drafted into the 
United States Army on July 11, 1941. He left a successful teaching job 
in New Jersey to defend our great nation. After completing his radio 
operations training at Fort Dix and Fort Bragg, he was deployed to 
Iceland as part of the 50th Signal Battalion, in which he served as a 
Technical Sergeant, leading a group of 8 men who were also trained 
radio operators. His team was responsible for code, receiving and 
transmitting from the field, as well as in command cars. This group was 
part of the first American Army personnel to be sent into the European 
Theatre of Operations. After 22 months in Iceland, he was sent to 
England to be a part of the invasion force of France on D-Day. He was 
dropped on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944 and bravely fought through the 
campaign of Europe, including the American bombardment of the German 
forces at Saint-Lo. He and his fellow soldiers proceeded to serve at 
the Battle of the Bulge.
  When accounting his most memorable times in the Army, Mr. Tomka will 
tell you about his time in Europe after D-day. He told me about his 
time in France where he witnessed American fighter pilots bomb the 
German forces and of his time served in joint force with the Russians 
at the river of Elbe. Mr. Tomka was discharged after three and a half 
years of foreign duty on June 22, 1945.
  After his years of service, Mr. Tomka went back to his passion of 
teaching music. He started an instrumental music program in the 
Flidgefield school system of New Jersey. During his years of music 
education, Mr. Tomka obtained his master's degree from NYU in 
Supervision and Administration, and while he was at NYU, he played 
violin in the orchestra. Even at 100, his talents are still impressive. 
At his recent birthday celebration, Mr. Tomka expertly played the 
clarinet, violin, piano, and sang for his family and friends.
  I salute William John Tomka on his years of faithful service to our 
country and the public-school system. He has exemplified qualities of a 
true American hero, and I, on behalf of a grateful nation, admire his 
service and sacrifice.

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