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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING GEORGE HYAK'S 100TH BIRTHDAY
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HON. MICHAEL CLOUD
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish Mr. George Hyak, of
Victoria, Texas, a heartfelt happy 100th birthday and thank him for his
service to our country.
George is an example of a life well-lived. He and his precious bride
Sarah met at church as young teens. They kept in touch with handwritten
notes while he was deployed a few short years later. Their love has
lasted for decades--February marked 71 years of marriage and brought
them two children, six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and one
great-great-grandson. George also co-founded Dicks Food Stores in 1938,
which his family still operates to this day in my hometown of Victoria.
His family recalls that from a young age as one of six children, he
worked to help provide for his family. Throughout his life, George has
worked with diligence and integrity and in service to others.
George was drafted in 1942 into the Army VIII Corps under General
Troy Middleton. Two years into his service, June 6, 1944, became a day
that not only shaped George's life but the course of our entire nation
and indeed the world. George joined more than 160,000 troops on D-Day
as the Allies launched the largest seaborne invasion in history. In the
words of Winston Churchill, the operation was ``undoubtedly the most
complicated and difficult that has ever occurred.'' Starting as an
infantryman, George landed on the beaches of Normandy with the second
wave of troops and took on enemy fire. Mr. Hyak risked his life to help
turn the tide of the war in Europe, which ultimately led to its
liberation.
What's more, he also bravely fought at the Battle of the Bulge and
was one of the first in the group to invade Ohrdruf, a German
concentration camp. As the war in Europe was coming to a close, George
was in Frankfurt, Germany, awaiting orders to deploy for the invasion
of Japan. I can imagine the emotions they must have felt when they
heard the war was finally over--and instead they'd be headed home.
When George returned home, he continued to operate Dick's Food
Stores. The longevity of the establishment earned it the Texas
Historical Commission's Texas Treasure Business Award. It's an honor
bestowed on businesses for providing employment opportunities and
boosting the state's economy for at least 50 years.
George continues to bless the lives of those who've come to know him,
whether a fellow soldier or friend. As we look to celebrate
Thanksgiving, we as a nation have a lot to be thankful for. George is
one of them. May Mr. Hyak's life serve as a reminder of the price that
he and others like him paid for our freedom.
God has always had a plan for Mr. Hyak, and for us today George
Hyak's life paints a picture of sacrifice and duty that we can all
learn from. I join his friends and family in celebrating 100 years and
thanking him for his service to our nation. Happy 100th Birthday,
George.
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