[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 17905] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE HONORING CORPORAL LAWRENCE A. BERGER ______ HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ of texas in the house of representatives Thursday, July 31, 2008 Mr. GONZALEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Lawrence A. Berger, a man who valiantly served our country in World War II and a patriot who is well deserving of the recognition he will be receiving when he is awarded his upcoming Purple Heart. Corporal Berger was born on July 13th, 1922 in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1940 and a year later, Mr. Berger joined the Army Air Corp, 440th Ordnance Aviation Bombardment, attached to the 19th bomb group, stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On October 1941, he was sent to the Philippines, arriving just two weeks before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Later, after the service organizations were forced to surrender, he spent a total of 3 years and 3 months as a prisoner of war. Two years were spent in a camp on the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines, and later he was transported to Japan where he spent another year before his release in August 1945. Mr. Berger's service tells an honorable story of sacrifice and bravery. He epitomizes the word hero and is undoubtedly worthy of the recognition he is receiving with the Purple Heart award. Mr. Berger, his wife Virginia, and their three children Ron, Vernon, and Paulette, should all be very proud of all that his military career symbolizes and the principles for which he fought--for liberty, democracy, and equality. I am honored to call him a constituent and on behalf of my colleagues here in Congress I thank him and his family for their service, sacrifice, and valor. ____________________