[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
          HONORING MOUNTAIN HOME RESIDENT SERGEANT AUGIE HELD

  (Mr. CRAWFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, on Thanksgiving Day 1944, current Mountain 
Home, Arkansas, resident Sergeant Augie Held took a bullet in his left 
shoulder. Held was 22 years old at the time and a member of 84th 
Infantry Division, Bravo Company. That was how Sergeant Held received 
his first Purple Heart. He was back to battle a mere 3 weeks later.
  On December 19, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, Sergeant Held 
earned his second Purple Heart. Members of his company tried to take 
shelter from the cold in a barn, where they were attacked. Bullets and 
schrapnel went flying, and Sergeant Held took a piece of schrapnel to 
his left wrist.
  Just 2 months later Sergeant Held was caught in mortar fire. Mortar 
hit so close to him it knocked him unconscious and a piece of shrapnel 
was embedded in his cheek, and that shrapnel stayed with him until he 
went stateside, and that was how Sergeant Held earned his third Purple 
Heart.
  Sergeant Held is one of many First District residents in my home 
district in Arkansas who selflessly fought for America. Our district 
has an amazing group of veterans from World War I to the current War on 
Terror who put America first and their own lives second. These are the 
people that make this country great.
  Yesterday was Memorial Day, a day to honor those who fought for our 
country and also remember the fallen soldiers who made the ultimate 
sacrifice. My family and I spent this weekend honoring all who served, 
not only in the First District of Arkansas but all across America.
  I want to thank the troops and their families for the shared 
sacrifice they make to our country. And a special thank you to Sergeant 
Augie Held, who is a living reminder of why I am so proud to be an 
American.

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