[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 27, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E791-E792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ED CAVALLINI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2022

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 99th 
birthday of 2nd Lieutenant Ed Cavallini, who was born May 18, 1923, in 
San Francisco, California, and has dedicated his life to serving our 
country and the central coast of California.
  While attending the University of Southern California, Mr. Cavallini 
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and married his wife Jeanne 
O'Donnell on October 14, 1944. Upon graduation, he was stationed at 
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. At 19 years old, 2nd Lt. Cavallini 
boarded a ship bound to Iwo Jima, Japan as a Platoon Commander in the 
Fourth Marine Division.
  Under heavy Japanese bombardment and artillery fire, the 4th Division 
struggled to dig their foxholes in the fine, black volcanic sand, so 
2nd Lt. Cavallini swiftly ordered his men into craters left by the 
enemy mortars. The Marines were pinned down for two days as their 
Commander leapt between craters and made note of where his 45 troops 
were with his black spiral notebook and Scripto mechanical pencil, 
which he still has to this day. On the second day of battle, Lt. 
Cavallini was struck by a three-millimeter fragment of mortar, which 
lodged into his heart muscle. Luckily, the fragment hit his dog tags, 
saving his life. Shortly after his brush with death, he was struck by 
more shrapnel, this time hitting his knee, and ending his deployment to 
Iwo Jima after 34 days of combat. It was only two days after he left 
that the Marines raised the American Flag over Mount Suribachi. 2nd Lt. 
Cavallini was awarded the Purple Heart for his sacrifice that resulted 
in a crucial victory for the United States.
  Four months later, 2nd Lt. Cavallini was back training in Maui, 
Hawaii when the sirens rang and signaled the end of the war. 2nd Lt. 
Cavallini returned home to his bride, Jeanne, and they moved to 
Southern California. By 1952 they had a family of four--John, Paul, 
Marc, and Jane. After careers with Firestone Engineering Laboratory and 
Lockheed-Martin, he began working for the Santa Clara County

[[Page E792]]

Library System and was head librarian in Milpitas for many years. After 
the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the Cavallinis relocated to the 
Monterey Peninsula. After a brief stint with retirement, Ed Cavallini 
returned to serving his community by working with the Gilroy Public 
Library. Additionally, he was an original board member of the Monterey 
Jazz Festival, which is the longest running jazz festival in the world.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. Ed Cavallini is the dedicated community member and 
leader we should all strive to be. I extend my personal gratitude for 
his service and sacrifice. It is therefore fitting and proper that we 
honor him here today on his 99th birthday.

                          ____________________