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[Page S3092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO ALVIN H. PERRY
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today it is my high honor to pay
tribute to a genuine Kentucky hero. As a member of the greatest
generation, Alvin H. Perry of Wilmore, KY, personifies the greatest
values of our Nation. In the Second World War, he fought with the
Allied forces of freedom to defeat one of the greatest evils the world
has ever known. In doing so, Alvin earned the lasting admiration of his
countrymen and the gratitude of the free world.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-day, the largest amphibious
invasion in world history, the French Republic will express its thanks
and respect to Alvin in a special way. At a ceremony in Wilmore, the
Consul General of France responsible for Kentucky Guillaume Lacroix
will present Alvin, now 95, with his nation's highest distinction: the
Legion of Honor Medal.
The American and French people share a unique bond of friendship. As
our consequential ally during the War of Independence, our two
countries stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the pursuit of liberty and
equality. Years later, millions of American soldiers would fight in
France to defend those same principles. More than 100,000 of them would
make the ultimate sacrifice there, and tens of thousands of our heroic
fallen rest in French soil forevermore.
There is perhaps no better display of this brotherhood among nations
than the events during Operation Overlord. On the beaches of Normandy
and across the French countryside, American forces once more came to
the defense of our friends and our shared ideals. It was during the
Battle of Normandy that PFC Alvin Perry and his 331st Infantry
Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, took their first steps onto the
European continent fighting for the liberation of France.
During the battle, Alvin was wounded, struck with a bullet in his
shoulder. He was unable to receive proper medical attention and, along
with other members of his unit, was later captured by the enemy. Alvin
spent the following 10 months as a prisoner of war near Munich, where
he endured brutal conditions and forced labor in a Nazi camp. He
struggled each day, relying upon aid parcels for survival. But through
all his hardships, Alvin never faltered or resigned to defeat. At long
last, it was the sight of an Allied tank that finally meant liberation
for this brave soldier. It also marked the end of his wartime service.
Like his father and brother who also served in uniform, Alvin bravely
defended our democracy and our American way of life.
When Alvin returned home to Kentucky, he was adorned with the
Prisoner of War Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal,
and the World War II Victory Medal for his intrepid service in France.
Now, after more than seven decades, Alvin will add another well-
deserved decoration.
Originally founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order
of the Legion of Honor is bestowed only on those who render the highest
levels of service to the French Republic and her people. Receiving the
honor, Alvin joins a distinguished membership that includes Secretary
of State Colin Powell, General George C. Patton, and First Lady Eleanor
Roosevelt.
Our Nation's veterans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude, and I
am grateful for the chance to honor this particular hero. So, it is my
sincere privilege to congratulate Alvin for receiving this impressive
distinction. Through his service and sacrifice, he has made us all
quite proud. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me, the people of
Kentucky, and the French Republic in thanking Alvin Perry for his
service to the cause of human freedom.
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