[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 173 (Tuesday, October 23, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1445-E1446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE, LEGACY, AND SERVICE OF MR. FIRMAN BALZA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MIKE GALLAGHER

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2018

  Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the life, 
legacy, and service of Green Bay native, Mr. Firman Balza.
  Mr. Firman Balza was one of America's last surviving servicemen from 
the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor. Answering the call from his

[[Page E1446]]

country, Firman joined the 34th division of the U.S. Naval Reserves in 
Green Bay in 1940 at the age of 17. He entered the Navy a few months 
later and was assigned to the USS Maryland in April of 1941. When the 
USS Maryland left for Pearl Harbor in July of 1941, Firman was aboard 
the vessel as a gunner's mate first-class at the time of the attacks.
  The morning of December 7, 1941, Firman was preparing for Mass aboard 
the USS Oklahoma when he saw the first Japanese bombers flying 
overhead. The USS Oklahoma was next to the USS Maryland in the harbor 
when it suffered major damage and capsized. Firman bravely ran into the 
face of danger and took up arms as he defended the base with anti-
aircraft guns. He later helped pull his deceased brothers in arms from 
the sunken ship. On that tragic day, 460 men perished on the USS 
Oklahoma and the USS Maryland lost five brave souls. The 4 days 
following the attacks, Firman and his fellow soldiers rescued 32 men 
from the hull of the USS Oklahoma.
  Firman continued his brave service to the country for three years on 
the USS Maryland participating in Guadalcanal, the Battle of Tarawa, 
and the Battle of Kwajalein Atoll. After the war, Firman was assigned 
to the USS Bayfield APA 33 and was sent to the Marshall Islands for 
atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. On February 7, 1947 he was 
discharged from the Navy after six years and seven days on active duty.
  Firman was one of more than 16 million ordinary people that did 
extraordinary things during World War II. His willingness to share his 
story in 2003 at the age of 80 allowed many across Wisconsin, including 
students throughout Northeast Wisconsin, to hear his account of that 
day. It was in 2003 that he first visited the Punch Bowl Cemetery in 
Hawaii and realized he wanted to be a voice to tell part of the story 
of those 2,335 servicemen and women who perished on that day of infamy. 
With each retelling of his story, Firman shared an important message: 
``Truly, man has got to learn to get along with each other.'' Firman's 
wise words still ring true today.
  Mr. Balza was 95 when he passed away on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. 
He was born September 25, 1923, to Theophile and Mary Balza, the 
youngest of 11 sons. On April 23, 1949, he married Nathalie M. 
Larscheid. He was a true lover of the outdoors, he enjoyed camping with 
his family and hunting and fishing with his brother-in-law, Carlton 
Larscheid. He was very proud of becoming a licensed pilot at the age of 
63.
  Words cannot justly thank Mr. Balza for his many years of service to 
our country. A treasure for a community and nation, Mr. Balza cannot be 
replaced. May his service, dedication, and sacrifice be remembered by 
all.

                          ____________________