[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DENNIS L. PAVLIK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON BACON

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2022

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the last living 
Korean War POW from Nebraska, Corporal Dennis L. Pavlik. Corporal 
Pavlik joined the United States Marine Corp in October of 1952 when he 
was inducted at Fort Omaha in Nebraska. Corporal Pavlik was then 
assigned to B Company, 22nd Armored Engineer for artillery basic 
training which he completed at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Following his 
completion of basic training, Corporal Pavlik was assigned to C 
Battery, 555 Field Artillery also known as the ``Triple Nickel.'' 
Corporal Pavlik then moved to a variety of locations across Korea 
finally landing near Kumsong in a location known as the Kumsong 
Salient.
  It was there, on the night of July 13, 1953, that Corporal Pavlik's 
artillery battery was under an intense enemy counter barrage ending in 
the eventual imprisonment of multiple United States Marines. Corporal 
Pavlik and his fellow marines were then forced to march north to a POW 
camp the Chinese referred to as Camp Six. It was here Corporal Pavlik 
spent 42 days as a Prisoner of War, which he has referred to as ``the 
longest six weeks of my life.'' Corporal Pavlik stated the most 
important lesson he learned during those six weeks is the knowledge of 
freedom. As the war in Korea ended, Corporal Pavlik was released from 
Camp Six and eventually returned to United States soil on August 25, 
1953, just two days before the official end of the Korean War.
  Corporal Pavlik ended his military service on July 20, 1954, and was 
awarded the Bronze Star with the ``V'' for valor device, Good Conduct 
Medal, POW Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal 
with two Battle Stars, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean 
Presidential Unit Citation. Today, he resides in Omaha, Nebraska with 
his wife Luella and has three children and five grandchildren. Corporal 
Pavlik also serves as the Post Commander for the American Ex-Prisoner 
of War Department of Nebraska. It is with great honor that I recognize 
the last known Prisoner of War survivor from the Korean War--Nebraska 
Corporal Dennis L. Pavlik.

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