[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 187 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17521-S17522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PRESENTATION OF THE CROIX DE GUERRE WITH SILVER STAR TO GOV. HUGH L. 
                                 CAREY

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, of the many commemorative ceremonies 
held on Veterans Day, November 11, one event had particular 
significance for the Honorable Hugh L. Carey, the former Governor of 
the State of New York, and for his family and many friends.
  More than 50 years ago, Hugh Carey, then a young officer with the 
``Timberwolves'' of the 104th Infantry Division, United States Army, 
led a patrol near the Elbe River in Germany. The patrol encountered an 
encampment of German soldiers who, unaware that Germany had surrendered 
several days earlier, were holding a large number of French prisoners. 
A fight broke out, and the Germans were overtaken by the American 
patrol. This capture by the American soldiers led to the discovery of 
some 35,000 French prisoners, who were then freed by the Allies.
  For his extraordinary valor in this mission, Hugh Carey was awarded 
the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, one of France's most esteemed 
military decorations. Yet, owing to the unpredictabilities of war, he 
was unable to attend the presentation ceremony for the Croix de Guerre.
  Time passed, and Hugh L. Carey continued his service to his country. 
He was ultimately discharged from active duty with the rank of colonel, 
and went on to serve as a Member of the House of Representatives and as 
Governor of New York, raising 14 children with his late wife Helen 
along the way.
  Last Saturday, in a special ceremony at Dacor Bacon House here in 
Washington, Governor Carey finally got that medal. He was presented the 
Croix de Guerre with Silver Star by Brig. Gen. Gerard de Bastier on 
behalf of the Republic of France. The decoration was given in 
recognition of Governor Carey's ``outstanding services during the 
operations of the liberation of France.''
  Earlier that day, Governor Carey joined President Clinton at the 
dedication of the site for the World War II Memorial at The Rainbow 
Pool on The Mall. As vice chairman of the American Battle Monuments 
Commission, Governor Carey pursued the establishment of this memorial 
with his usual vigor and unbounded enthusiasm. His commitment to the 
project has been such that at one point he even telephoned this Senator 
about it from his 

[[Page S 17522]]
bed at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, where he was recuperating from 
back surgery. He later remarked to the New York Times that his back 
condition was due to carrying an infantryman's rifle during World War 
II and the weight of the state budget on his back for two terms as 
Governor.
  So it was fitting indeed that on the same day that Governor Carey's 
efforts to honor veterans of the Second World War reached fruition, a 
grateful ally took the occasion to honor him.
  Mr. President, I salute my gallant friend Gov. Hugh Carey on this 
great and richly deserved honor, and I ask unanimous consent that the 
tribute by Brig. Gen. Gerard de Bastier and other material be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 The Presentation of the Croix de Guerre With Silver Star To Governor 
                             Hugh L. Carey

       On this Veterans Day, November 11, 1995, Governor Hugh L. 
     Carey receives one of France's most esteemed military medals. 
     Brigadier General Gerard de Bastier, Defense and Air Attache 
     to the French Embassy, presents Governor Carey with the medal 
     he earned more than fifty years ago for his valor in World 
     War II. Governor Carey is cited for this distinguished 
     military decoration for his efforts in leading a patrol to 
     free French citizens, imprisoned near the Elbe River by 
     German SS Guards, who were unaware that Germany had 
     officially surrendered days before, in May of 1945. Governor 
     Carey's patrol came upon the German soldiers and their 
     prisoners unexpectedly, and a fight broke out. After Governor 
     Carey's patrol overtook the group, they discovered many other 
     prisoners who had been held by Germany since the beginning of 
     the war. Encampments totaling thirty-five thousand French 
     prisoners, both military and civilians, were eventually found 
     by the Allies.
       In 1939, Governor Carey enlisted in the New York National 
     Guard as a Private in the 101st Cavalry, Squadron C. As a 
     Major in the 104th Infantry Division, known as the 
     ``Timberwolves,'' he served as the S-3 in the Regimental 
     command of the 415th Infantry Regiment. The 104th Infantry 
     Division was the first American Division to land directly on 
     the European continent in Normandy without first going to 
     England. The 415th Infantry Regiment's debarkation at Utah 
     Beach began on September 7, 1944, while the other units of 
     the Division debarked at the Cherbourg harbor. Some of the 
     first duties of the Division included supplementing the Red 
     Ball Express to expedite the supplies to the front and to 
     guard the supply lines from Cherbourg to Paris.
       Governor Carey served with the Timberwolf Division in its 
     hard fought, ten-month campaign across Northern France and 
     Holland, leading some of the first American troops across the 
     Rhine, and effected the liberation of the Nordhausen 
     concentration camp. A recipient of the Combat Infantryman's 
     Award and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Clusters, as well as 
     the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, he left active duty 
     with the rank of Colonel.
       After his distinguished service in World War II, Governor 
     Carey further served his country as a Member of the U.S. 
     House of Representatives and as Governor of the State of New 
     York.
       Earlier today, President Clinton dedicated the site for the 
     World War II Memorial to be built on the Mall in Washington, 
     D.C. Governor Carey is a Commissioner of the American Battle 
     Monuments Commission, and he has been an ardent supporter of 
     the memorial, recently approved by Congress. Governor Carey 
     has represented the United States at events commemorating the 
     50th anniversary of the end of World War II. His family, 
     friends, and colleagues salute Governor Hugh L. Carey for the 
     honor he receives today from the Republic of France and for 
     his exceptional contributions to the United States of 
     America.
                                                                    ____


                Remarks of Brig. Gen. Gerard de Bastier

       Governor Carey, Governors, Commissioners, ladies and 
     gentleman:
       Today is the date of a very important anniversary in the 
     memories of our nations, which gives a special meaning to 
     this ceremony taking place right after the dedication of the 
     World War II memorial site.
       It is a great honor and privilege to be with you today to 
     honor Governor Carey in recognition of his outstanding 
     service during World War II.
       I would like to start by saying a few words about Governor 
     Carey's career.
       You were born in Brooklyn, maybe just a few years before 
     me! And were graduated from St. Johns' University Law School 
     with the degree of juris doctor.
       In 1939, you enlisted as a private in the 101st Cavalry of 
     the New York National Guard. You were later sent to Europe 
     with the 104th Infantry Division known as the Timber Wolves. 
     This division was the first American division to land on the 
     European Continent without first going through England.
       After your exceptional campaign in France, you had an 
     outstanding career in civilian and political areas, and you 
     served on various boards.
       Finally, in 1993, President Clinton appointed you to the 
     American Battle Monuments Commission, and I should also 
     mentioned that you represented the United States at various 
     ceremonies commemorating the end of World War II.
       The ties between our two countries have always been strong 
     despite our differences, and we have been together, along the 
     road since your revolutionary war. Last month, we celebrated 
     together the battle of Yorktown with the names of General 
     Rochambeau and Admiral De Grasse engraved in our memories.
       I was born in 1945, and did not witness the war, but my 
     childhood was filled with stories from my parents recounting 
     the time when the U.S. military headquarters were set up near 
     their house in Marseilles, after the U.S. landing on the 
     Riviera (the ``Cote d'Azur'').
       Governor Carey, you were in Europe in 1944, fighting for 
     the freedom of our nations.
       The Timberwolf division fought during a ten-month campaign 
     across Northern France and Holland, leading some of the first 
     American troops across the Rhine, and liberated the 
     Nordhausen concentration camp.
       You earned this esteemed military decoration for leading a 
     patrol to free French citizens imprisoned near the Elbe River 
     by German SS guards, who were unaware that Germany had 
     officially surrendered days before, in May of 1945. Your 
     patrol came upon the German soldiers and their prisoners 
     unexpectedly, and a fight broke out.
       After your patrol overtook the group, you discovered many 
     other prisoners who had been held by Germany since the 
     beginning of the war. Encampments totaling thirty-five 
     thousand French prisoners, both military and civilians were 
     eventually found by the allies.
       For these actions, you received the combat infantryman's 
     award and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.
       For some unknown reasons, you never received officially the 
     citation awarding you of the Croix de Guerre with Silver 
     Star.
       This ceremony is a testimony to the long friendship between 
     our two countries, and it is a great honor for me to present 
     now this award to you.
       Today, Colonel Hugh Carey, on behalf of the French defense 
     minister, I am presenting to you the medal of the Croix de 
     Guerre with Silver Star, in recognition of your outstanding 
     services during the operations of the liberation of France. 
     (Paris, le 1er Avril 1946).
                                                                    ____


                     The Croix de Guerre 1939-1945

       The War Cross 1939-1945 (Croix de Guerre 1939-1945) was 
     instituted on September 26, 1939 as a decoration for the 
     Second World War. The decoration was conferrable on officers, 
     noncommissioned officers and men of the Armed Forces, 
     citizens of France and foreigners, who had been mentioned in 
     dispatches for acts of exceptional bravery, and in special 
     cases, also on military units, towns and civilians.
       The Cross is a Maltese Cross in bronze with crossed swords 
     between the arms of the cross. The obverse medallion bears 
     the symbolic female head of the Republic with the legend 
     ``Republique Francaise'' (The French Republic), and the 
     reverse medallion bears the date ``1939'' or sometimes 
     ``1939-1945''. The Cross is worn on a red chest riband with 
     four green stripes, which according to the nature of the 
     dispatch, is provided with a palm in bronze or a star in 
     bronze or silver.

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