[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        THE GREATEST GENERATION

  (Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the 
many brave soldiers who risked their lives during World War II to 
preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. In his book, Tom Brokaw dubbed 
them The Greatest Generation. It is hard to dispute this description. 
Many of these soldiers walked off farms or out of shops and factories 
to fight for the country they love dearly.
  One of these men was Mr. Garland Ward of Del City, Oklahoma. As a 22-
year-old, he left a secure job as a grocery clerk to answer the call of 
duty to his country. As an enlistee of the 45th Infantry Division, 
Private Ward was sent to fight in North Africa. From there his unit 
made its way across Europe. After fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, 
they made their way to Germany where he and other members of his unit 
were captured. After spending 4 days as a POW, American forces 
recaptured the village and freed these brave men. Upon freedom, Private 
Ward rearmed himself and continued his fight towards victory across 
Europe.
  Our country owes a great deal to these brave soldiers, like Mr. Ward, 
who fought so valiantly.

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