[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 138 (Friday, September 6, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF ELBERT KNOX

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NATHANIEL MORAN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2024

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elbert Henry 
``Toughegg'' Knox, a courageous American who gave his life in service 
to our country during World War II. Elbert Knox first served as an Army 
cook from 1919 to 1920. In September 1941, at the age of 40, he 
answered the call again, leaving his home to work as a civilian 
contract worker on Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean. There, Knox and 
other civilians built essential facilities for the military, helping to 
defend the island during a fierce Japanese attack on December 8, 1941.
  Despite their valiant efforts, Wake Island fell to Japanese forces 
after a 15-day battle, and Knox became a prisoner of war. Transferred 
to Japan in September 1942, he faced brutal conditions--enduring abuse, 
starvation, solitary confinement, and exposure. Knox's resilience was 
unwavering, but tragically, he died in captivity. After the war, his 
remains were laid to rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the 
Pacific. In 1981, Knox and his fellow civilian contractors on Wake 
Island were granted veteran status.
  Today, I am proud to report that Mr. Knox has been posthumously 
awarded the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal and the Purple Heart. These 
medals will be presented to his family, who have waited decades to see 
his heroism formally recognized. His story is a powerful reminder of 
the price of liberty and the strength of the American spirit.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Elbert Knox 
and extending our deepest gratitude to his family. May his legacy 
continue to inspire us all to serve our Nation with honor and 
dedication, and may we never forget his sacrifice.

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