[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19587]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING HAROLD KURTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2005

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
acknowledge Mr. Harold Kurth of Citrus County, Florida, a Purple Heart 
recipient from World War II.
  Volunteering for service in 1943, Mr. Kurth's ambition was to join 
the Air Corp, but was inducted into the Army at Camp Roberts to receive 
his basic training instead.
  Following his initial training, Mr. Kurth was aboard the Sea Witch on 
his way to Guadalcanal when the ship was fired on by Japanese 
submarines. Luckily, the Sea Witch made it safely to Guadalcanal 
without further contact with the enemy.
  Mr. Kurth then took part in campaigns on the Soloman Islands and the 
Philippines, where he was wounded by a hand grenade while guarding a 
church in Manila. He was part of a group of six soldiers who came under 
enemy fire in the church yard following a river crossing. Several of 
his compatriots were injured as well in the battle.
  Part of the ``Heavyweights of the South Pacific,'' Mr. Kurth's 
division was credited with killing 12,500 enemy soldiers during World 
War II. Serving three years without a furlough, Mr. Kurth returned to 
the United States on Christmas Eve, 1945.
  Mr. Speaker, true American heroes like Harold Kurth should be honored 
for their service to our Nation and for their commitment and sacrifices 
in battle. I am honored to present Mr. Kurth with his long-over Purple 
Heart. He is truly one of America's greatest generation.

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