[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12367]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF MR. CHARLES WILSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ANDY BARR

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2017

  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
individual, Mr. Charles E. ``Charlie'' Wilson, of Carlisle, Kentucky, 
for his distinguished military service during World War II. Mr. Wilson, 
a part of the greatest generation, served our nation in the United 
States Army.
  Mr. Wilson was just eighteen years old when he registered for the 
draft and became a member of the United States Army in 1943, where he 
served until the end of the war. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry 
Division just five days before the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
  After clearing Utah Beach, the 4th Infantry Division was sent to 
liberate Cherbourg. Mr. Wilson served as a forward observer, keeping 
the infantry safe. During his second rotation to the front, he was 
injured badly by German shells. The injury left him paralyzed for 
fifteen days. To this day, Mr. Wilson suffers from pain from this 
injury.
  Mr. Wilson returned to his unit and became a tank driver for the rest 
of the war. On August 25, 1944, Wilson's 19th birthday, he helped 
liberate the city of Paris. During the battle of Hurtgen Forest, Mr. 
Wilson was injured again. He was found half-buried, unconscious, and 
bleeding. He was treated and rejoined the effort. The Army went on to 
free all of France and kept pushing the Germans until the war was won. 
As the end of the war neared, in April 1945, Mr. Wilson helped to 
identify the Dachau Concentration Camp, saving the lives of many Jewish 
people.
  After the war, Mr. Wilson returned home and became an educator. He 
served as Principal of Nicholas County Elementary School. He has spoken 
to numerous school classes about his war experiences.
  Mr. Wilson was invited by the French Government to Normandy in 2014 
for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. He returned in 2015 for his third 
trip to France, where he was awarded the Legion of Honor. Mr. Wilson 
spoke at the event and his words are recorded in the French archives.
  The bravery of Mr. Wilson and his fellow men and women of the United 
States Army is heroic. Because of the courage of individuals from 
Nicholas County and from all across our great nation, our freedoms have 
been saved for our generation and for future generations. He is truly 
an outstanding American, a patriot, and a hero to us all.

                          ____________________