[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7745-7746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING BATTALION SGT. MAJOR ROBERT J. BLATNIK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 9, 2014

  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize 
Battalion Sgt. Major Robert J. Blatnik for his exceptional service to 
our country. He joined the US Army's 1st Battalion, 26th Regiment, 1st 
Infantry Division, on October 19, 1938, and would remain in this unit 
for the entirety of his time in the service. He saw combat during WWII 
in North Africa, Tunisia, Sicily, Germany, and France. On June 6, 1944 
he took part in the first wave of the invasion of Normandy at Omaha 
Beach--Fox Red 1. Mr. Blatnik earned 4 Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, 
5 Bronze Stars, and several other medals.
  Mr. Blatnik remains a true patriot, and last summer, he was among six 
Normandy vets from Texas selected to go back to the beachhead where so 
many gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom. Humbly, I 
echo the words of President Ronald Reagan, ``We

[[Page 7746]]

will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be 
prepared, so we will always be free.'' And humbly, I offer my sincere 
gratitude to Battalion Sgt. Major Robert J. Blatnik for his service and 
acts of bravery that allow us the freedoms we enjoy today.

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