September 6, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 142 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             FRANK LATORRE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD NORCROSS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2019

  Mr. NORCROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend 
longtime Bellmawr, New Jersey resident Private First Class Frank 
Latorre, Camden County Town Hall Veteran Honoree.
  After graduating from Philadelphia Central High School in 1942, Frank 
volunteered for the Army Air Forces, and although he was initially 
turned down, shortly thereafter he received a draft notice accepting 
him into the United States Army.
  In 1943, Frank boarded the RMS Aquitania for England and two days 
later he was on a truck to a town called Bridgewater and in April 1944 
he participated in Exercise Tiger a D-Day practice run, and after a 
battle with the Germans at Slapton Beach, Frank departed England for 
the D-Day invasion.
  They departed for Normandy, France and arrived at Utah Beach where 
Frank jumped into the gun turret of his half-track and took down a 
German fighter strafing the landing troops, and after the D-Day 
invasion, Frank and his unit later helped push back the German 
counteroffensive at the Battle of the Bulge and briefly occupied Berlin 
after the German surrender.
  Shortly after the bombs dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he 
received his military discharge as a Private First Class and went on to 
work for Pepsi-Cola, married in 1947, had two daughters, and retired in 
1987.
  Today Frank enjoys golfing, the camaraderie of fellow veterans and is 
an active member of the Bellmawr Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9563.
  In recognition of his valiant service to our nation, Frank humbly 
received numerous medals and citations including the Bronze Star, 
American Theater Service Medal and the European African Middle Eastern 
Service Medal.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring Private First Class 
Frank Latorre of Bellmawr, New Jersey who is a constant reminder of the 
sacrifices that our men and women of the military made so that we can 
enjoy the liberties we do today.

                          ____________________