[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                         HONORING STANLEY KOSTA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 19, 2012

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Stanley Kosta, a 
veteran of World War II who was recently honored by the Republic of 
France with its highest military decoration, the French Legion of 
Honor. He was named ``Chevalier'', or Knight, in the National Order of 
the Legion of Honor and presented with the medal at the French 
Consulate in San Francisco on January 23, 2012.
  The Republic of France is awarding this prestigious honor to United 
States veterans who helped in the liberation of France in WWII during 
one of four major campaigns: Normandy, Southern France, Northern 
France, and the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge).
  Born on May 5, 1917 in San Francisco, California, Mr. Kosta was 26 
years old when he was drafted into the United States Army in July 1943. 
Serving in the 9th Infantry Division, 47th Infantry Regiment, he landed 
in Normandy in July 1944 about a month after D-Day. For the next nine 
months he advanced through France, Belgium, and Germany serving as a 
radio operator on and near the front lines.
  He fought courageously in the battle of Saint-Lo and to strategic 
victory in another key-town in Normandy, Falaise. From there his 
division crossed the Marne River, just east of Paris for the Ardennes 
Counteroffensive, also known as the Battle of the Bulge, which was one 
of the largest and bloodiest of WWII. On January 30, 1944, his unit 
crossed the Rhine River to enter Germany. Shortly thereafter, he became 
ill during combat and was sent to a hospital in England.
  After the war, Mr. Kosta settled in the West End neighborhood of San 
Rafael, California. After 35 years of marriage his first wife passed 
away. Eventually, he found happiness again and remarried. He has two 
amazing sons, one a former police captain from San Rafael, and the 
other an artist in Denmark.
  Few people discover a lifelong passion at an early age and find time 
to enjoy it daily, but Stanley was introduced to the accordion by the 
age of 9 and to this day he plays regularly. Unable to read sheet 
music, he can still play over 300 songs.
  From a young age, he always knew he wanted a job doing physical 
labor. He was not one cut out for an office. Growing up during the 
Great Depression, he dropped out of high school during the 11th grade 
to find a job. He took several odds jobs including selling papers, 
passing out theater fliers, and constructing mannequins. After the war, 
he worked for several breweries in San Francisco, California, including 
Acme, Burgermeister, and Rainier.
  In 2004, sixty years after the liberation of France, the Republic of 
France started recognizing the service of United States Veterans of 
WWII for their part in the liberation. Mr. Kosta is joined by several 
other WWII veterans from Marin and Sonoma Counties who have received 
the French Legion of Honor and they are: Mr. Reginald Alexander of 
Kenwood, CA (deceased); Mr. Marion Grohoski of Santa Rosa, CA; Mr. Earl 
Shanken of San Rafael, CA; Mr. John Thomson of Santa Rosa (recently 
deceased); and Mr. Gerard Cormier of Corte Madera. Many veterans have 
applications pending, but even more did not live to see this day.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and awe that I extend my 
gratitude to Mr. Kosta and his comrades for their service to the United 
States of America during WWII.

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