[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 159 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING MR. WILLIAM BOSHART'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

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                             HON. MO BROOKS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 2020

  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. 
William Harvey Boshart on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
  Mr. Boshart was born in Marshall County, Alabama on September 24, 
1920. As a child during the Great Depression, Harvey is thankful he was 
able to finish his 1933 academic year. The local school system lacked 
funding to keep schools open but Harvey's teacher, Dr. Collins, 
finished the school year without pay. Later, in 1934, Harvey worked to 
support his family at only 14 years old.
  In 1941, Harvey married Nina Hodges, which he considers to be ``the 
best thing that ever happened to him.'' As newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. 
Boshart lived on a family member's farm in Woodville. Alabama. Then in 
1944, Harvey received notice he was drafted to serve in World War II. 
Thankfully, Harvey was able to spend Christmas with his family, but in 
January of 1945, Mr. Boshart was officially sworn into the U.S. Navy 
and began training in California.
  Harvey was first assigned to the USS Menard (APA-201), a Haskell-
class attack transport, on which he sailed to Pearl Harbor to train for 
the invasion of Okinawa, Japan. After months of training and active 
evasion of Japanese submarine screens, on March 16, Seaman First Class 
Boshart and the crew reached the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to begin 
the campaign to retake Okinawa.
  Later in his career, Harvey was assigned to the second USS San 
Jacinto (CVLS-30), on which President George H.W. Bush served. Once the 
war and his service were over, Harvey came home to Nina, and in 1947, 
they bought a farm in Rainsville, Alabama. From 1951 to 1980, Harvey 
served in a different capacity on Redstone Arsenal. Today, Harvey still 
lives in the same home he and Nina purchased in 1955, where he takes 
great pride in cooking and tending to his garden.
  Madam Speaker, the Tennessee valley is fortunate to have such an 
exemplary citizen for 100 years. Harvey Boshart's bright spirit and 
servants' heart are a blessing to us all.
  I wish Harvey and his entire family the very best as they celebrate 
Harvey's centennial birthday

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