[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING WILLIAM ``BUD'' LaCOUNTE

 Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I rise today to honor the life of 
William ``Bud'' LaCounte, a distinguished Montanan and decorated 
veteran of World War II.
  While Bud is no longer with us, his legacy lives on. On behalf of 
myself, my fellow Montanans, and all Americans, I would like extend our 
deepest gratitude for his service to this Nation.
  Bud's story is one of incredible courage and sacrifice, having 
survived both American Indian Boarding School and D-day. Born in 
Bainville, MT, where he now rests, he was a proud member of the Turtle 
Mountain Tribe of Chippewa Indians. At the age of just 6, he endured 
the unimaginable when was taken away from his parents and sent to Fort 
Totten Indian School.
  But his commitment to answering the call of duty never faded. And on 
the eve of the Second World War, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Army. Not 
long after he joined, Bud deployed to France and fought bravely in the 
battle of Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
  After the war, he returned to Montana and settled into his life in 
Billings as a loving husband, dedicated father and grandfather, 
rancher, dancer, and storyteller. While he has since passed, his memory 
and spirit lives on in each of us--in his stories, in his children and 
grandchildren, and in his enduring service and sacrifice to this 
Nation.
  I now have the profound honor of presenting Bud's family with the 
French Legion of Honor Medal for his bravery in the line of duty. This 
medal serves as a small token of our country's appreciation for Bud's 
incredible service and outstanding character.
  Let us pay a final salute to Bud, who represents the very best of 
this great country.

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