[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19453]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO MYRON PIERCE OF SOUTH PARIS, MAINE

 Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, today I pay tribute to Myron 
Pierce of South Paris, ME, as he is honored by Joshua L. Chamberlain 
Camp No. 69--Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Western Maine Veterans 
Advisory Council. Through the years, Myron Pierce has demonstrated a 
selfless and stalwart commitment to his family, his community, and his 
country. Born in Bethel, ME, the oldest of eight children, Myron began 
his military career at the age of 19, serving in the Army National 
Guard and was activated to full-time duty the following year stationed 
at Camp Blanding, FL. By 1942, he was a machine gunner with the 12th 
Bomb Group and led night patrols that uncovered the presence of German 
troops, earning him a Silver Star. From 1941 to 1945, he fought with 
the 103rd Infantry of the 43rd Division, also known as Winged Victory, 
and was wounded in combat in North Africa. During the Korean War he 
rejoined the Maine Army National Guard. While in that theater, he led 
27 consecutive night combat patrols in Iron Triangle near Pork Chop 
Hill, where a Chinese unit ambushed the 2nd Infantry Division and he 
endured grenade shrapnel. He and two others were the only survivors of 
that fateful night. Through the remarkable span of his distinguished 
30-year military career, Myron received countless military medals and 
rose through the ranks from private to company commander, then to 
operation officer, and finally battalion commander. He also served as 
assistant commandant for the Army Reserve Officer School--all 
commendable distinctions.
  Upon retiring from the military, for the next 26 years, Myron focused 
his dedication in the classroom as an educator. Never wavering on his 
sense of duty, he continued his service to his country by reaching out 
to students on matters of patriotism, flag etiquette, and the Voice of 
Democracy. As a teacher at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, 
he spearheaded a local chapter of the Distributive Education Club of 
American, DECA, a cooperative program working with local area 
businesses and high school students teaching them business and 
marketing skills as well as how to be a contributing and productive 
member of the community. Myron worked in conjunction with the State of 
Maine to construct a Veterans Home for the Oxford Hills area veterans. 
As a tireless advocate on behalf of veterans, in July of 1995, he was 
successful in his mission to bring the Western Maine Veterans Home to 
South Paris. Again, ever-vigilant in his contributions to his fellow 
veterans, he was appointed by Maine Gov. John R. McKernan to the board 
of trustees for Maine Veterans Homes and was reappointed to serve a 
second term by Gov. Angus King. A testament to his motto, ``We are here 
to service the community,'' in 2004, Myron Pierce was presented with 
the well-deserved Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Community Service 
Award. I want to offer my heartfelt best wishes and deepest 
appreciation to Myron Pierce for his extraordinary service and 
sacrifice to his community and to our Nation.

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