[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12852-12853]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORINIG JOE RAY STEWART

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2008

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today to 
honor Joe Ray Stewart of Houlka, Mississippi, for his fine service to 
our Nation during the Second World War.

[[Page 12853]]

  Mr. Stewart served in the European Theatre under Generals Patton and 
Eisenhower, and built bridges wherever needed. In December 1944, the 
soldiers of the 249th Engineer Combat Battalion moved from building a 
bridge on the Saar River to the Ardennes, to block German advances in 
the Battle of the Bulge. The battalion was then assigned to the 
engineer task force charged to cross the Rhine River in Germany, and 
later tasked with securing and maintaining the bridges on the Rhine.
  It has come to my attention that during his deployment, Mr. Stewart 
fought in three major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, 
advanced to the rank of Corporal, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal 
for bravery in action.
  The family of Joe Ray Stewart, residing in Tennessee's Seventh 
District, joins me in recognizing a beloved and great American. As with 
all who serve in our Armed Forces, our veterans' dedication and 
selflessness has allowed our Nation the enduring blessing of freedom 
and democracy.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in honoring Joe Ray 
Stewart and remembering the service of all those veterans who risked 
their lives to defend our country and the entire free world.

                          ____________________