[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING GEORGE MILLS' 100TH BIRTHDAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Mills, an 
extraordinary Alabamian I recently met in Decatur at a Kiwanis pancake 
breakfast. George is a former World War II prisoner of war and will 
celebrate his 100th birthday on May 23.
  The youngest of eight children, George graduated from Decatur High 
School in 1939. While in high school, George worked for Western Union, 
delivering telegrams on his bicycle from 5 to 11 every night. After 
high school graduation, George sold pianos for Forbes Piano Company.
  In 1942, at age 21, George Mills enlisted in the Army and was 
assigned to Company E, 109th Division under General Omar Bradley, 
making him a member of one of World War II's best-trained divisions.
  Sergeant Mills arrived on Omaha Beach 25 days after D-day. For 7 
months, he was in combat and engaged in four major battles, including 
the Battle of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the battle at the 
Hurtgen Forest.
  After the Hurtgen Forest battle, George and his company were sent to 
the Germany-Luxembourg border, where, one morning, they were awakened 
by exploding rockets and artillery. His company was surrounded by 
15,000 Axis forces. Despite overwhelming odds, they held their ground 
for several days.

  Eventually, Axis forces blew a hole in the house Mills was sheltered 
in. Bazookas and flamethrowers followed, setting the entire house on 
fire. George was injured by shrapnel.
  On December 18, 1944, after more than 2 years of service, George was 
captured by the Germans. After the fight, the Germans flattened the 
surrounding town, shooting civilians and the mayor.
  The Germans interrogated the soldiers before taking them to a German 
POW camp, where they were fingerprinted, photographed, given dog tags, 
and registered as prisoners of war. They remained there for 2 days 
before the Germans segregated the soldiers, sending officers to 
concentration camps, forcing privates to work, and sending 
noncommissioned officers, including George, on a 5-month walk across 
Europe that broke their souls and their bodies.
  George tells many vivid stories of the cold winter, lack of food and 
sleep, abhorrent treatment by their captors, and the good friends made 
along the way.
  Thankfully, George was liberated on April 14, 1945.
  In October 1945, George was discharged and returned to America. After 
a very long bus ride home, he arrived at his Alabama hometown, where 
his sister was so excited to see him that she forgot to unlatch the 
screen door and his faithful bulldog nearly broke down the door to get 
to him.
  Four years later, George and his wife, Charlie, were married. They 
enjoyed 66 years of marriage before Charlie passed away in December 
2015.
  In 1983, George retired but stayed busy, traveling with his wife 
across America, Canada, and Europe, while looking up George's Army 
buddies along the way.
  One of George's proudest moments came on November 16, 2006, when 
France's President named George Mills a Chevalier for his gallantry 
during the liberation of France.
  Vigorous as ever, George is involved in the Military Order of the 
Purple Heart, The American Legion, the VFW, the Masonic Lodge, the 
Kiwanis Club, and several other community organizations.
  He is a frequent speaker at several local high schools, community 
organizations, and church groups. A true southern gentleman, he is a 
beloved representative of America's Greatest Generation.
  Mr. Speaker, George Mills' exemplary service to America and his local 
community is emblematic of what makes America a great nation.
  I wish George Mills the very best as he and his family celebrate his 
100th birthday.

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