[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16525]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   MEMBERS OF THE GREATEST GENERATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage, 
sacrifice, and service of members of the Greatest Generation from my 
district: Navy veteran Art Albert from Hattiesburg and Mr. John 
Rounsaville of Jones County, Mississippi.


                               Art Albert

  Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Albert truly exemplifies dedicated, selfless service 
in having fought in World War II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam war.
  I first met Mr. Albert during the Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor 
Flight, which brings World War II veterans to Washington to see their 
memorial.
  Last month I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Albert at the 
Victory over Japan Day anniversary ceremony in Hawaii. Here I learned 
that Art was serving as a machinist mate aboard the USS Missouri on 
September 2, 1945, where he witnessed the Japanese formally surrender 
to the United States, ending World War II.
  Although he would disagree, like so many of his contemporaries who 
focus not on their service, but on the greatness of our Nation as a 
whole, Art is a true American hero. Through his service and his quiet 
work of building our great Nation at home, he has brought honor to 
himself, the State of Mississippi, and the United States of America.
  I am honored to have him as a constituent and to have the opportunity 
to know him both as a person and as an enduring example of the values 
that have made America great.


                            John Rounsaville

  Mr. PALAZZO. Last month another of my constituents, John Rounsaville, 
celebrated his 90th birthday.
  Beginning in October of 1943, Mr. Rounsaville served for 28 months in 
the Pacific Theater of operations. He served aboard an LCI Gunboat that 
was assigned to the Pacific Theater and participated in numerous 
campaigns, earning his unit an impressive six battle stars for World 
War II service, including the Navy Unit Commendation Award. Although it 
has been over 70 years since his time in the Pacific, Mr. Rounsaville 
remembers his entire tour and speaks of it often.
  Like the American flag that has been proudly planted in his front 
yard for decades, I take great pride in representing World War II 
veterans like Mr. Rounsaville, who belong to a generation whose 
sacrifices preserved our freedom and liberated the world from tyranny 
and oppression.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking John Rounsaville and Art 
Albert for their courage and bravery and their service to this great 
Nation; and I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to both of these 
great Americans, their families, and to congratulate them on their 
dedicated service to the United States of America.

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