[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9524-9525]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NEVADA'S FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

  Mr. HELLER. Madam President, today I wish to congratulate two of 
Nevada's own, MSG Davis B. Leonard and Private Gaetano R. Benza, for 
being awarded the National Order of the French Legion of Honor in the 
rank of chevalier. Their service to our country and dedication to 
ensuring freedom beyond America's borders earn them a unique place 
among the outstanding men and women who have valiantly defended our 
Nation.
  As we approach the anniversary of D-day, nearly 70 years after World 
War II, these heroes are being honored with the Legion of Honor, 
France's highest distinction. Veterans who risked their lives during 
World War II and fought on French territory have this award bestowed 
upon them as a token of gratitude from France for defending liberty on 
their soil. The sacrifices these brave soldiers made set America and 
the world on a path to peace, freedom, and liberty that we as Americans 
enjoy today. Master Sergeant Leonard and Private Benza are joining the 
ranks of other notable Americans, such as GEN Dwight D. Eisenhower and 
Douglas MacArthur and even, as an institution, the U.S. Military 
Academy at West Point, by receiving this honorable recognition.
  A highly decorated veteran from Henderson, NV, MSG Davis Leonard 
served in the U.S. Army Air Force Reserve as part of the 8th Air Force. 
He was transferred to England, where he flew his first of 64 combat 
missions as a bombardier and navigator. Master Sergeant Leonard was 
active in the Battle of Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and 
Central Europe. For his service, he earned several medals, including 
the Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze and one silver oak leaf 
medal. Upon his return home, he worked to rebuild our country working 
for Pacific Telephone Company for 30 years. Now retired at the age of 
91, Master Sergeant Leonard resides in Henderson with his wife.
  Private Gaetano Benza from Las Vegas, NV, spent 4 months transporting 
supplies and ammunition to the men on Omaha Beach as a longshoreman for 
the Port Battalion 297th Port Company. During the invasion of Normandy, 
Private Benza worked tirelessly, while under heavy enemy fire, to 
ensure that the soldiers that landed were equipped for battle. After 
spending 4 months at Omaha Beach, he moved to La Havre, France, where 
he would remain until the end of the war. Awarded for his service to 
our country, Private Benza received the World War II Victory medal. 
Once he returned home, he continued his education and became a barber 
at Nellis Air Force Base. While retired from the Armed Forces, 89-year-
old Private Benza refuses to retire from his active lifestyle and is 
still a barber in the Las Vegas area.
  Their commitment to this country, as well as their dedication to 
their families and communities, exemplified why the legacy of all World 
War II veterans must be preserved for generations to come. These 
veterans truly are the ``greatest generation''--selflessly serving not 
for recognition but because it was the right thing to do. As a member 
of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I recognize that Congress 
has a responsibility not only to honor these brave individuals but to 
ensure they are cared for when they return home. I remain committed to 
upholding this promise for our veterans and servicemembers in Nevada 
and throughout the Nation.
  Please join me in congratulating these men for their acts of heroism 
and valor that helped to defend France from the greatest enemy they or 
we have ever faced. May we never forget the brave actions by these 
heroes that allowed the Allied troops to begin a march across Europe 
and defeat tyranny. Today, I join the Clark County community and 
citizens of the Silver State to congratulate these courageous men and 
honorable Nevadans.

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