[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ART GRATIAS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
congratulate Art Gratias of Mason City, IA on receiving the Legion of 
Honor from the French Government for his contribution to the liberation 
of France. Art Gratias enlisted in the U.S. Army in January of 1942, 
having begun the enlistment process before the attack on Pearl Harbor 
that led to the formal participation of the United States in World War 
II. As a member of the 2nd Infantry Division, he participated in the D-
day invasion of Normandy, which took place on his first wedding 
anniversary. Art fought in numerous campaigns in France and Central 
Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded on August 16, 
1944, receiving the Purple Heart and later returned to combat.
  The French Government has expressed its gratitude to Art Gratias for 
what he did for their country. I would now like to take this 
opportunity to thank Art for his service to our country. In fact, 
despite the fact that he gave more to this country through his military 
service than we can ever thank him for, he continued to dedicate his 
life to public service. Art has been a school board member, teacher, 
and school administrator. He has been very active in the Kiwanis, 
American Legion, and his church. Art has served on numerous volunteer 
boards, and in the Iowa Senate. Art Gratias is a prime example of that 
remarkable American spirit of voluntarism that the French writer Alexis 
de Tocqueville discovered in the early years of our Nation so it is 
fitting that he was singled out by the French Government for its 
highest honor. I am proud to add my voice to those who pay tribute to 
his life of service.

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