[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO BERNARD A. MULDER

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Bernard A. 
Mulder, a veteran of World War II.
  Bernard, on behalf of all Montanans and all Americans, I stand to say 
thank you for your service to this Nation.
  It is my honor to share the story of Bernard's service in the Second 
World War because no story of bravery and especially not one from our 
``greatest generation'' should ever be forgotten.
  Bernard was born in Beaumont, TX, on July 21, 1922. After growing up 
in Beaumont and Galveston, he graduated from Galveston High School in 
1939. Bernard enlisted with the Army Air Corps in San Antonio in May of 
1941.
  He trained in Texas and Nevada, and soon after, a squadron commander 
suggested that he put in for flight training. In December 1941, the 
same month as Pearl Harbor, Bernard was accepted for primary flight 
training in Santa Maria, CA. Until then, Bernard had never even been 
near a plane, much less flown one.
  Bernard flew training operations until heading overseas in November 
1942 to join the war effort. Bernard was stationed with the British Aid 
Army in North Africa, where he flew supplies to Cairo and the Western 
Front, and returned the wounded to hospitals.
  During the invasion of Sicily, Bernard dropped off the 82nd Airborne. 
He did it once again on D-day, dropping them at Sainte Mere-Eglise, 
which became the first town liberated on the Western Front.
  While dropping supplies to troops in France, Bernard's plane was hit 
and he was shot. In July of 1944 Bernard was flown back to the United 
States to recover.
  One good thing did come out of his 9-month hospital stay: Bernard met 
the love of his life, an Australian nurse named Margaret. Bernard and 
Margaret married in July 1945, and in January 1946 Bernard ended his 
service in the military.
  Through the GI bill, Bernard attended the University of Colorado and 
graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.
  Bernard and Margaret then moved to Perth, Australia, in August of 
1960, where Bernard worked as a machine designer for 15 years. Margaret 
sadly passed away in 1975.
  After returning to the United States, Bernard discovered his love of 
travel and began to explore the American West. Bernard has lived in Las 
Vegas; Guadalajara, Mexico; Arizona; and Wyoming. He's been to all 50 
States.
  Bernard moved to Billings after he read that monthly bus passes for 
senior citizens were only $3. Bernard then offered to make Christmas 
ornaments for a daycare in downtown Billings, and after 6 years, the 
teachers asked him to join the Foster Grandparent Program.
  Every morning since then, Bernard works with 4- and 5-year-olds. They 
keep Grandpa Bernard young.
  While Bernard was in the hospital, two of his medals were stolen from 
his belongings. He also never received the rest of the medals he 
earned. This past September, in the presence of his friends, who claim 
him as family, it was my honor to finally present to Bernard his Purple 
Heart, Air Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars, and Presidential Unit 
Citation Ribbon.
  Bernard also earned the following medals: Honorable Service Lapel 
Button WWII, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Four 
Bronze Service Stars, and a World War II Victory Medal.
  These medals are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice, and 
dedication to service. These medals are presented on behalf of a 
grateful nation.

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