[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15] [Senate] [Pages 22331-22332] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]COLONEL GEORGE JUSKALIAN POST OFFICE BUILDING The bill (H.R. 6392) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5003 Westfields Boulevard in Centreville, Virginia, as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building,'' was ordered to a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I rise today to express my support for the passage of H.R. 6392, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 5003 Westfields Boulevard in Centreville, VA, as the Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building. Colonel Juskalian passed away this past Fourth of July, at the age of 96, having served our nation for nearly 30 years on active duty, including campaigns during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. After growing up in Massachusetts, he joined the U.S. Army in 1939 and was called to active duty as a first lieutenant in 1940. He served with distinction in World War II, during which time he was captured by the Germans in Tunisia and spent 27 months in prisoner of war camps in Italy, Germany and Poland. Upon his return home, Colonel Juskalian served in General Eisenhower's secretariat in the Pentagon between 1945 and 1948, and continued to serve our nation with distinction until his retirement with the rank of colonel in 1967. He received the Army's highest award for noncombat service, the Legion of Merit, as well as four Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, and the Army Commendation Medal, among others. Apart from his military service, the colonel was a longtime resident of Centreville and was actively involved in his community. He was an active participant in organizations such as the Armenian Assembly of America, American Legion Post 1995, and the Blue and Grey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469 up until his death earlier this year. Many knew the colonel through his volunteer work at local schools, where he shared his strong belief in giving back to our communities and our nation, through military service or otherwise. By passing this bill and naming the Centreville Post Office facility after Colonel George Juskalian, we will be honoring both Colonel Juskalian's many years of service as well as the sacrifices made by all members of the United States Armed Services. H.R. 6392 has the strong support of the Virginia American Legion, Post 1995, as well as the local division of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8469. I have letters of support from both organizations and, without objection, would like to submit them for the record. I applaud the efforts of my friend and colleague in the House, Congressman Frank Wolf, who united the Virginia delegation as co- sponsors of this bill and effectively ushered it through the House of Representatives by a unanimous vote. Now it is time for the Senate to act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting swift passage of this bill to honor such a courageous, admirable veteran and proud Virginian. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record as follows: American Legion Post 1995, Centreville, VA, August 16, 2010. Hon. Mark R. Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Frank R. Wolf, U.S. Congress, Washington, DC. Dear Senator Warner/Congressman Wolf, It is with great honor and privilege, [[Page 22332]] and on behalf of American Legion Post 1995, Centreville, Virginia that I submit to you a proposal for designating the United States Postal Facility located at 5003 Westfields Boulevard, Centreville, VA as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office.'' Sadly, Col Juskalian passed away on 4 July 2010. As Congressman Wolf so eloquently stated in the chambers of the House of Representatives on 26 July, Col Juskalian, U.S. Army (Ret.), served the United States with high distinction for nearly 30 years, including service in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Colonel Juskalian survived the hardships of being a German Prisoner of War, enduring nearly three years harsh treatment in Nazi POW camps. Throughout his ordeal, and in later service in our nation's wars, he upheld the highest ideals of American servicemen. In so doing; he earned two Silver Stars and four Bronze Stars for actions in combat. Upon leaving the military, he remained a long time resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia and continued to serve his community until his death at age 96. He volunteered and educated our youth in local schools, mainly with a message of the importance of one's giving back to our community and nation. He shared a strong belief in serving--in the military or in other ways--in appreciation for the freedoms and rights enjoyed by all and paid for by few. Although Centreville, Virginia has many residents that have served our nation with distinction, there is no monument, plaque or memorial dedicated to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Naming the Centreville Postal Facility for Colonel Juskalian would represent a constant reminder to patrons of the service and sacrifices made by military veterans in their community. By placing Colonel Juskalian's name and a small memorial in the Centreville Post Office, we honor him and all veterans within our community, past, present, and future. For God and Country, Peter F. DeFreece, Commander. ____ Blue and Gray Veterans of Foreign War Post 8469, Fairfax Station, VA, August 16, 2010. Hon. Mark R. Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Frank R. Wolf, U.S. Congress, Washington, DC. Dear Senator Warner and Congressman Wolf: I am writing on behalf of our VFW Post, of which the late Colonel George Juskalian US Army retired was a member, to endorse the recommendation to designate the United States Post Office at 5003 Westfields Blvd, Centreville, VA as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office.'' This is what Colonel Juskalian looked like in recent years. He always sported a smile and he had a quick wit and he was both an active member of our Post, but he was also the recent Commander of the local chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War. Here is what he looked like after he came home as a hero of World War II. On 28 January 1943, George rushed forward of friendly lines to help rescue a reconnaissance patrol which had been discovered by an overwhelming German force. Although George was captured and spent the next 27 months in various prison camps, his valor was recognized by the Army and he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, our nation's third highest battlefield award for heroism. While imprisoned with the British for 3 of his 27 months of captivity, George overcame continuing claustrophobia and helped dig an escape tunnel but was transferred to a camp of only US prisoners in Poland before he could escape. During the bleak late winter of 1945 George and his fellow prisoners were force marched westward to Hammelburg, Germany just in time to see the ill-fated Baum rescue force enter their POW camp without enough force to make it back. George forced an escape anyway and was ultimately recaptured. He was bombed by US planes near Nuremburg and watched as 40 of his comrades died, but he was ultimately liberated by the US 45th Infantry Division. Upon return to the United States, the scrappy little officer volunteered to undergo refresher infantry training and join in the invasion of Japan but the war ended first. After the war George worked for General of the Army Eisenhower in the Pentagon and must have done an impressive job because he was offered a Regular Army commission during a period when the Army was reduced in size dramatically. During the Korean conflict, George was offered a plum assignment away from the fighting but asked instead to be assigned to Korea. There, George was assigned to command the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division, then in combat as part of X Corps. George was ordered to re-take a key hilltop which had just been captured by the Chinese, called ``Old Baldy.'' Because high explosives had denuded the peak, the only covered approach to the objective was across a minefield, through which a path was cleared at the point of a bayonet. The battalion's attack was pressed with such ferocity that much of the hill was re- taken, but the battalion was decimated and withdrawn under orders from higher headquarters. George was awarded a Silver Star for heroism during the action. After Korea, George had assignments literally around the world but not surprisingly, fate found George, now a full Colonel, in Vietnam during 1963-4 assigned initially as a deputy Corps Advisor in the Mekong Delta, and later as the Inspector General of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, working directly under General William Westmoreland. George was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training for the Military District of Washington and retired on 30 April 1967. George's awards include: the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the POW Medal, numerous campaign medals; the Combat Infantryman Badge with star, the War Department General Staff Device, and the Parachutist Badge. Following retirement, George did volunteer work with numerous benevolent and veterans groups. From 1974-80, George was the Director of Graduate Admissions at Southeastern University while he concurrently studied for his Masters in Business and Public Administration. He served a three year appointment to the Veterans Administration Advisory Committee for Former Prisoners of War. He was active with the scouts and served in Armenian community relief and religious organizations and was most recently the Commander of the local chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War. In 1838 a young Abraham Lincoln spoke of ``the generation just gone to rest,'' and the War for Independence by saying: ``At the close of that struggle, nearly every adult male had been a participator in some of its scenes. The consequence was, that of those scenes, in the form of a husband, a father, a son or a brother, a living history was to be found in every family--a history bearing the indubitable testimonies of its own authenticity, in the limbs mangled, in the scars of wounds received, in the midst of the very scenes related--a history, too, that could be read and understood alike by all, the wise and the ignorant, the learned and the unlearned. But those histories are gone. They can be read no more forever. They were a fortress of strength; but what invading foemen could never do the silent artillery of time has done; the leveling of its walls. They are gone. . . .'' Thousands of our World War II heroes are leaving us every day. Centreville needs a lasting reminder of their service and sacrifice for all the generations to come. Please lend your support to designate the United States Post Office at 5003 Westfields Blvd, Centreville, VA as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office.'' Thank you for your consideration. Very respectfully submitted, Floyd D. Houston, Commander. ____________________