[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E576-E577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING MASTER SERGEANT LOUIS C. GRAZIANO ON HIS DECREE AND 
  MEDAL AS A CHEVALIER IN THE 'ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR'

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JODY B. HICE

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 2021

  Mr. HICE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Master Sergeant Luciano ``Louis'' C. Graziano, a resident of the Tenth 
Congressional District of Georgia and the last known surviving witness 
to the German surrender of World War II. His story is truly incredible, 
and his contribution during his tour of duty with the U.S. Army in 
Europe is worthy of our nation's everlasting gratitude.
  On June 6, 1944, D-Day, Louis was aboard a landing craft with his men 
and landed upon the sands of Omaha Beach in Normandy France. Once 
beached, Louis drove a truck full of gasoline onto the sand. With no 
place to go, he abandoned the vehicle and gathered his weapons to get 
into the fight. He took up a position at the base of a cliff and fired 
a burst from a flame thrower to take out a German machinegun nest.
  But, Madam Speaker, further up the cliff were even more enemy 
machinegun nests. In quick thinking, Louis took a flare gun and fired a 
flare into those positions hoping to direct the fire of allied ships 
cruising just off the beach. The gun crews on the ships responded as 
hoped, unleashing their fire from larger caliber guns destroying those 
positions beyond.
  Advancing beyond the shores of Normandy, the French city of St. Lo 
and Reims were soon liberated. It was in Reims that Louis's skill in 
his craft would come into play and eventually afford him a seat to 
history itself. Upon establishment of a command post within the heavily 
mined city, Louis was ordered to install General Eisenhower's phone 
line. This phone line was vital for the General's real time 
communication, helping to bring about a timelier allied victory.

[[Page E577]]

  As allied forces fought to reclaim the town of Bastogne, the Germans 
mounted a last-ditch counteroffensive known as the ``Battle of the 
Bulge.'' In response, all troops were being mustered to come to the 
rescue of encircled troops near the Belgian town of Bastogne. In a 
dangerous mission, Louis and his Captain had to search and find the 
lost armored element. They suffered frostbite, but their effort was 
successful. After, Louis returned to Reims to recover.
  Among the buildings in Reims, there was a ``Little Red Schoolhouse'' 
where General Eisenhower had his headquarters. It was there that the 
unconditional surrender of Germany was signed in the early morning 
hours of Monday, May 7, 1945. Louis was there, in the room, as General 
Yodl of the German Army signed the articles of surrender.
  Madam Speaker, Louis has served our Nation with integrity, 
excellence, and courage, and we, as Americans, owe him an enormous debt 
of gratitude for his incredible sacrifices to serve and protect our 
country at home and abroad. He not only has earned the admiration of 
his fellow Americans but that of our allies as well. On April 6, 2021, 
French President Emmanuel Macron approved awarding him the French 
Legion d'honneur, which is the highest French order of merit that can 
be bestowed upon an individual. For these reasons, I am honored to 
represent him in Congress, and it is with pride that I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the life and legacy of Master 
Sergeant Luciano ``Louis'' C. Graziano.

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