[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 28, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. PETER KLEIN

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                          HON. TOM MALINOWSKI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2020

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Peter 
Klein, a World War II veteran and beloved member of the VFW Post No. 
335 in Cranford, NJ.
  Mr. Klein is typical of his war time generation. He is soft-spoken, 
and self-effacing, never bringing up his wartime experiences unless you 
broach the subject first. Even then, his humility is an obstacle you 
must overcome to get him to truly discuss his history, and history is 
what he does indeed possess.
  In World War Two, Peter Klein was a military trained medic. He was 
armed in battle with only his modest medical kit and the knowledge he 
was taught on how to give first aid and comfort to those down on the 
battlefield of war. His very first opportunity to put his expertise to 
use was a significant one. Mr. Klein was in the third wave of the D-Day 
invasion at Omaha Beach, on June 6, 1944. Rushing off the landing 
craft, he soon found himself knee deep in sand tending to those boys 
who had fallen while machine gun bursts flew above his head.
  As if D-Day wasn't enough, he went on to see action during the frigid 
Battle of the Bulge and Hurtgen Forest, in Germany as well. These were 
two of most significant events of the latter stages of the war. Mr. 
Klein undoubtedly did his part in fulfilling his obligations to the 
country he loves.
  Coming home after the war, Mr. Klein found work as a mason and 
building inspector, raising a fine family in the town of Cranford, NJ. 
His wife passed a few years ago and he will tell you his life will 
never be the same. He still visits the VFW Post in Cranford on a weekly 
basis, ``shooting the breeze'' with his veteran buddies and enjoying 
his 97th year of life. To the men and women of the VFW post No. 335, he 
has always been and will always be their ``Pete,'' a very special 
veteran.
  Madam Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the extraordinary 
accomplishments of Peter Klein.

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