[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 14 (Thursday, January 23, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING COLONEL HAROLD PRESSEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SCOTT PERRY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 23, 2025

  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Colonel (COL) Harold 
Pressel, U.S. Army Air Corps, on the auspicious occasion of his 101st 
Birthday on February 3, 2025.
  COL Pressel honorably served alongside the ``Greatest Generation'' in 
WWII as a machine gunner on the B-24 Liberator, during which he 
earned--among myriad awards and decorations--the Purple Heart for his 
actions and wounds in combat. His aircraft was hit by flak after 
turning around for a second bomb run, which pierced the fuel tank. 
After bailing from the plummeting aircraft, COL Pressel told himself 
not to panic even when overcoming his parachute malfunction that caused 
him to barrel 120 MPH towards the ground.
  After landing safely, he was surrounded by the enemy. Five German 
soldiers took him to a nearby farmhouse, where a German officer was 
waiting. While being interrogated with the rest of his crew, COL 
Pressel and his crewmates remained steadfast by answering every enemy 
question with only ``name, rank, and serial number''--and was thrown in 
a boxcar headed to a German Prisoner of War camp. After suffering 
horrors from starvation to bug infestations, COL Pressel and his crew 
were liberated by General George Patton's Army on April 29, 1945.
  COL Pressel returned to the United States a hero. After a brief time 
at the air base in Middletown, he was honorably discharged from 
military service. He began his civilian career at the Motter Electrical 
Shop in York, Pennsylvania--where he helped build numerous nuclear 
power plants in Pennsylvania.
  COL Pressel shared two sons--Jim and Gary--with his beloved wife, 
Grace, before her passing, as well as four grandchildren, six great-
grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm honored, humbled, and privileged to recognize 
Colonel Harold Pressel on his 101st Birthday. I wish him the blessings 
of great health, happiness, and prosperity in his future adventures. 
``Thank you'' will never be enough for his service and sacrifices in 
the name of our great Nation. His life and legacy set the standard by 
which we all should be judged.

                          ____________________