[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 87 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ALVIN H. PERRY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today it is my high honor to pay 
tribute to a genuine Kentucky hero. As a member of the greatest 
generation, Alvin H. Perry of Wilmore, KY, personifies the greatest 
values of our Nation. In the Second World War, he fought with the 
Allied forces of freedom to defeat one of the greatest evils the world 
has ever known. In doing so, Alvin earned the lasting admiration of his 
countrymen and the gratitude of the free world.
  To commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-day, the largest amphibious 
invasion in world history, the French Republic will express its thanks 
and respect to Alvin in a special way. At a ceremony in Wilmore, the 
Consul General of France responsible for Kentucky Guillaume Lacroix 
will present Alvin, now 95, with his nation's highest distinction: the 
Legion of Honor Medal.
  The American and French people share a unique bond of friendship. As 
our consequential ally during the War of Independence, our two 
countries stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the pursuit of liberty and 
equality. Years later, millions of American soldiers would fight in 
France to defend those same principles. More than 100,000 of them would 
make the ultimate sacrifice there, and tens of thousands of our heroic 
fallen rest in French soil forevermore.
  There is perhaps no better display of this brotherhood among nations 
than the events during Operation Overlord. On the beaches of Normandy 
and across the French countryside, American forces once more came to 
the defense of our friends and our shared ideals. It was during the 
Battle of Normandy that PFC Alvin Perry and his 331st Infantry 
Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, took their first steps onto the 
European continent fighting for the liberation of France.
  During the battle, Alvin was wounded, struck with a bullet in his 
shoulder. He was unable to receive proper medical attention and, along 
with other members of his unit, was later captured by the enemy. Alvin 
spent the following 10 months as a prisoner of war near Munich, where 
he endured brutal conditions and forced labor in a Nazi camp. He 
struggled each day, relying upon aid parcels for survival. But through 
all his hardships, Alvin never faltered or resigned to defeat. At long 
last, it was the sight of an Allied tank that finally meant liberation 
for this brave soldier. It also marked the end of his wartime service. 
Like his father and brother who also served in uniform, Alvin bravely 
defended our democracy and our American way of life.
  When Alvin returned home to Kentucky, he was adorned with the 
Prisoner of War Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, 
and the World War II Victory Medal for his intrepid service in France. 
Now, after more than seven decades, Alvin will add another well-
deserved decoration.
  Originally founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order 
of the Legion of Honor is bestowed only on those who render the highest 
levels of service to the French Republic and her people. Receiving the 
honor, Alvin joins a distinguished membership that includes Secretary 
of State Colin Powell, General George C. Patton, and First Lady Eleanor 
Roosevelt.
  Our Nation's veterans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude, and I 
am grateful for the chance to honor this particular hero. So, it is my 
sincere privilege to congratulate Alvin for receiving this impressive 
distinction. Through his service and sacrifice, he has made us all 
quite proud. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me, the people of 
Kentucky, and the French Republic in thanking Alvin Perry for his 
service to the cause of human freedom.

                          ____________________