[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12898-12899]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      RECOGNITION OF KOREAN WAR VETERAN STAFF SERGEANT MIGUEL BACH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2000

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today, on the 50th anniversary of the day 
President

[[Page 12899]]

Harry S Truman ordered military intervention in Korea, I honor the 
combat veterans of that war. I would specifically like to recognize the 
efforts of one of my constituents, Staff Sergeant Miguel Bach, a highly 
decorated veteran.
  Visitors to our Nation's Korean War Memorial, here in Washington DC 
will read a simple, yet true phrase inscribed on the wall: ``Freedom is 
not free.'' Few know the complete truth of this quote so well as our 
veterans of the Korean war. We owe them a debt of gratitude which we 
can never repay. For these are the men and women who risked their lives 
to defend the freedom of another country, and in doing so defended our 
own freedom.
  I am very proud to represent the many veterans who reside in New 
York's 12th District. Today, however, I would like to take a moment to 
commemorate the valor of one of those veterans. Mr. Miguel Bach, who is 
one of my constituents, is highly decorated veteran of the Korean war. 
He served in Korea with the 7th Infantry Division and the 45th Infantry 
Division. While on active duty in Korea in December of 1952, then 
Private First Class Bach was wounded during a battle in North Korea. 
For this he was awarded the Purple Heart. He later attained the rank of 
staff sergeant. In addition to the Purple Heart, Staff Sgt. Bach has 
been awarded with the Silver Star, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star 
for his service to the Nation.
  This nation owes its many freedoms to the thousands of men and women 
who have shown courage, such as that displayed by Staff Sgt. Bach. I 
wish to personally thank each and every one of our combat veterans. On 
this day I specifically wish to extend my warmest thanks to our 
veterans of the Korean war and say how proud I am to represent Staff 
Sergeant Bach and his many fellow Korean war veterans in New York's 
12th District. Our Nation is forever in their debt.

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