BOEHNER COLUMN: Honoring the Greatest Generation

Press Release

70 years ago today, Private First Class Wayne Weber was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for his heroism in combat after storming the beaches of Cebu in the Philippines during World War II.

Wayne, 89, now lives near my home in West Chester and I recently had the honor of presenting him with his replacement medals--thanks to his friend Beryl Powers, who informed my office his originals were stolen.

Wayne, a native of Oxford, Ohio, joined the 182nd Battalion of the Army as a rifleman. At the age of 19, he was wounded by Japanese landmines and machinegun fire when he "hit the beach" in the Battle for Cebu City in 1945.

In his own account of the day that he was wounded, Wayne wrote, "it wasn't too long before all hell broke loose; mortar, machine gun and rifle fire… I was hit in the left ankle by machinegun fire, which ended my career as a combat soldier."
Today, Wayne considers one of his best memories "being in the service and winning the battles of World War II." His Bronze Star and Purple Heart serve as important symbols of his incredible patriotism and the sacrifices he made for freedom.

On the 70th anniversary of the Army awarding Wayne with his medals, I again thank him for his remarkable service.

It is a true honor to be in the presence of the soldiers of our Greatest Generation. Next week, Congress will also present a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders and their outstanding heroism during the first air raid strike on enemy forces in the Pacific on April 18, 1942. Following the ceremony in the Capitol, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders medal will be on permanent display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson in Dayton.

On April 15th, I invite you to visit Speaker.gov/live at 3 p.m. to watch the ceremony taking place in Emancipation Hall. I hope you can join me in honoring some of our nation's most distinguished heroes.

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