[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4511]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MR. ART NICHOLAS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS J. ROONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 2016

  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Art 
Nicholas of Englewood, Florida, who was recently awarded France's 
highest military decoration, the ``Knight of the Legion of Honor.''
  Mr. Nicholas was honored, at a ceremony in Englewood, for his service 
to France and its people during World War II. The Knight's Cross award 
was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Since World War II 
approximately 93,000 of these medals have been presented to American 
servicemen who risked their lives fighting on French soil during the 
war.
  Mr. Nicholas served aboard a landing ship (LCT52) during D-Day, the 
Allied assault to free occupied Europe in June of 1944. The invasion 
along France's northern coast was the largest amphibious invasion in 
history and led to the liberation of France from Nazi forces.
  Mr. Nicholas held the rank of boatswain's mate first class and worked 
as an underwater demolition man at the Gold Beach landing area. 
Nicholas was also at both Juno Beach and Omaha Beach. Earlier in the 
war, he participated in the invasion of North Africa in November in 
1942 and was also awarded a Purple Heart.
  In addition to his combat service, Mr. Nicholas helped build the 
Amphibious Warfare School in Fort Pierce, Florida as a member of the 
``Scouts and Raiders.'' He trained members of the Underwater Demolition 
Team in Fort Pierce, Florida who were the forerunners of today's Navy 
SEALs, who conduct quiet forays into enemy territory during conflicts 
in which the U.S. is involved.
  Mr. Nicholas left the military in 1946. He returned to Michigan and 
married his wife, Hazel, whom he met in England and has been married to 
for 69 years.
  He opened a business named Corrugated Paper Products, which created 
shipping containers in Indiana before moving to Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Art Nicholas for his service and 
commend him on receiving the highest military commendation the French 
government awards an individual.

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