[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MERRILL'S MARAUDERS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I had 
the honor of meeting Gilbert Howland and Bob Passanisi at a reception 
honoring Merrill's Marauders of World War II.
  During the war, Gilbert and Bob volunteered for a mission that was 
described as only dangerous and hazardous. These brave men, and 
approximately 3,000 others, answered the call of duty and were deployed 
to Northern Burma to fight behind enemy lines.
  Only nine of these selfless volunteers are still alive today, and 
they deserve to be honored for their bravery, their sacrifice, and 
their love of country.
  Pennsylvania had more Marauder volunteers than any other State, and 
one volunteer, Russell Hamler, from Pittsburgh, is still with us today.
  I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 906, the Merrill's Marauders 
Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by Representative Pete King of 
New York. I would like to encourage my colleagues to support this 
bipartisan legislation and honor the legacy of Merrill's Marauders.

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