[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16526]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING CHARLES PALERMO ON HIS RECEIVING NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED 
                             SERVICE MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2002

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a South Jerseyan who 
has been honored for his brave service in World War II. Charles Palermo 
of Ocean City, New Jersey, a World War II veteran, was presented with 
the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal on December 17, 2001 at the 
Cumberland County College. The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal 
is the State's top military award and was given to Mr. Palermo in honor 
of the sacrifices he made for his country as a combat soldier.
  Sergeant Palermo enlisted in the Marine Corps and was shipped out to 
the Pacific Theater where he spent nearly three years in combat, coming 
face to face with death several times. In the South Pacific, Sgt. 
Palermo escaped death more than once, when Japanese bombs hit the 
amphibious tank he was aboard. He recalled this harrowing escape later 
saying, ``The worst experience was on August 11th and 12th at 
Guadalcanal. We had 13 men and four tanks. All the lights went out and 
we were stranded in the ocean. There was a big battle (during which 
Palermo's tank got hit by a bomb seconds after he and his crew jumped 
out). The next morning, there were a lot of dead bodies in the water--
both Americans and Japanese,'' he said. Another time, Palermo did not 
escape the tank before an enemy bomb hit struck the vehicle. This time 
he was injured, suffering burns from the waist up. ``It wasn't that 
bad,'' Palermo commented. On the island of Peleliu, he witnessed two of 
his friends enter a cave to seek out the enemy. But they never came 
out, he said.
  The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal was authorized by the 
State of New Jersey to honor all of the returning combat veterans and 
acknowledge the debt the State owed them for their service. ``The New 
Jersey veterans receiving the Distinguished Service Medal are a credit 
to our State and our Nation. Their sacrifice and their bravery in 
combat is truly deserving of New Jersey's highest military award,'' 
said Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco, of the honorees. Mr. Speaker, 
I concur with that sentiment and extend my thanks and appreciation to 
Mr. Charles Palermo who, like so many of his fellow World War II 
veterans, came forward to defend America and freedom.

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