[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF PAUL PLOTKIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 15, 2021

  Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
birthday of Paul Plotkin. Born on June 19, 1921, in Bridgeport, 
Connecticut, Mr. Plotkin is a veteran and a resident of Derry, New 
Hampshire. During World War II, he answered the call of his nation and 
joined the U.S. Army, serving with the 66th Infantry Division in 
Europe.
  Mr. Plotkin endured great hardship during his military service. He 
was among the more than 2,000 American soldiers being transported from 
Southampton, England, to Cherbourg, France, aboard the troopship SS 
Leopoldville when the ship was struck by a torpedo from a German 
submarine on the evening of December 24, 1944. 763 American soldiers 
tragically lost their lives in the initial blast and the resulting 
sinking of the ship in the frigid waters of the English Channel, but 
Mr. Plotkin survived and made it to France. Although discussion of the 
Leopoldville disaster was censored in the aftermath of the tragedy, Mr. 
Plotkin preserved the memory of what he experienced and carried it on 
to today. Now, as a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1617, Mr. 
Plotkin continues to honor the memory of his comrades and their 
sacrifice by supporting fellow veterans and speaking out about his 
experiences during the war.
  On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional 
District, I want to wish Mr. Plotkin a happy 100th birthday and thank 
him for his service to our nation. I hope that he has a wonderful 
celebration with his loved ones and fellow veterans. His sacrifice will 
not be forgotten.

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