[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 71 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1415-S1416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING HARRY A. ARVIDSON

 Mr. TESTER. Madam President, today I would like to honor the 
life and service of a distinguished Montanan and World War II veteran, 
Mr. Harry A. Arvidson.
  Harry was a proud patriot who loved his country. Never one to shy 
away from service or sacrifice, he answered the call to duty during 
World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the 
U.S. Navy submarine service in 1942 and left high school before 
graduation to serve.
  During his time in uniform, Harry served as a ship cook third class 
for his regular duty and radar observer for his battle station post. 
His first assignment was on the USS Pollack, where he was a member of 
the Pollack's ninth war patrol, a patrol that sunk and damaged more 
ships than any of the other Pollack patrols conducted in the Pacific. 
At the end of the war, Harry was assigned to a 40-man prize crew which 
boarded and seized a surrendering Japanese I-400 submarine. Harry and 
the prize crew sailed submarines into Tokyo Bay for the surrender 
ceremonies.
  After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, Harry 
returned to civilian life, married his wife Lola, and had two children, 
Lynda and Scott. While Harry was deployed during the war, Lola also 
contributed to the wartime effort as a member of the Rosie the 
Riveters, working on airplane gliders.
  In 1956, Harry and Lola moved to Conrad, MT, where they established 
the Home Cafe on Main Street in Conrad. Harry and Lola ran the Home 
Cafe

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until 1982, when they retired and passed the torch over to Scott and 
their daughter-in-law, who continue to run the family business today. 
Soon after, Harry and Lola moved to Lincoln, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives.
  Harry was immensely proud of his service to the Nation. Since 1972, 
he was a member the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII organization, even 
serving as the Montana State commander for many years. In that role, he 
helped host the 53rd national convention in Billings alongside his 
family. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 9 in Lincoln 
and a member of the Montana Honor Flight that traveled to Washington, 
DC, in 2012.
  On October 18, 2022, Harry passed away at the age of 97 at the Fort 
Harrison VA Hospital, joining Lola--his wife of 72 years--who passed in 
2019. Today, it is my honor to commemorate his service and legacy. 
Harry's exemplary service and that of the entire Greatest Generation is 
what makes our country the greatest in the world. He is a true patriot 
who made Montana proud, and he will be sorely missed. 

                          ____________________