[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16620]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING VICTOR DiCARLO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Victor DiCarlo 
for receiving the National Order of the French Legion of Honor, the 
highest decoration that France bestows for meritorious service. I also 
want to commend Mr. DiCarlo for his unwavering service to his country 
during World War II. It's truly a privilege to be able to honor a 
constituent who so exemplifies patriotism and the American spirit.
  Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order of the 
French Legion of Honor is a merit-based distinction awarded for 
exceptional civilian or military service. The Order's motto, ``Honor 
and Fatherland,'' reaffirms a celebration of patriotism and service for 
its recipients.
  Victor DiCarlo was drafted into the Army 2 months after he graduated 
from Pittsburgh's Schenley High School in 1944. He arrived in France in 
1945 and was assigned the responsibility of aiding the Allied Forces in 
reversing gains made by the German Army. He first saw combat in the 
Moselle region, helping the Allied Forces by breaking through the 
heavily fortified infamous Siegfried Line, a 390-mile defense system 
set up by the German Army along the country's western border that 
contained a series of tank traps and manned bunkers.
  After successfully breaking through the Siegfried Line, Victor headed 
north in order to provide assistance to the undermanned and 
underequipped Allied Forces during the famous Battle of the Bulge. He 
also saw combat in the Rhineland region and all around central Europe 
throughout the duration of World War II. His division also helped to 
liberate two concentration camps, one in Austria and one in Germany.
  Upon receiving an honorable discharge from the service, Victor was 
awarded the Bronze Star by the United States for his committed, 
meritorious service to his country during World War II, a fitting honor 
for a patriot of Victor's caliber. This year, on September 27, 2012, 
Victor added another decoration when he was awarded the French Legion 
of Honor during a ceremony here in Washington, D.C. at the French 
Embassy. He was given the honor for his military service in helping to 
secure the liberation of France.
  The determination, bravery, and selflessness of Victor DiCarlo and so 
many like him is why we consider his generation the greatest. After the 
war, Victor returned home, earned an engineering degree from Tri-State 
College in Indiana, and worked as an engineer until his retirement from 
Westinghouse in 1989. He and his wife have five children, 13 
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating an individual who is 
emblematic of the greatest armed forces in the world. World War II is 
filled with stories of heroism, triumph, and patriotism; and it is 
truly an honor to share Victor's story with my colleagues today.
  I again want to commend Victor DiCarlo for his commitment to his 
country and join with his family in congratulating him for being 
awarded the prestigious National Order of the French Legion of Honor.

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