In Honor of Private Lawrence Hoo-Lee

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Private Lawrence Hoo- lee, an American hero who served in World War II. In 1943, after graduating from high school, he joined the Marine Corps and began basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, at 18 years old.

After basic training, he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division and sent to Hawaii. He was with the 24th Regiment that landed at Roi-Namur Island. His unit took part in the invasion of Eniwetok, and then prepared for the invasion of Iwo Jima.

Private Hoo-lee's next mission was the invasion of the Japanese home islands. On the way to capture the Japanese island of Sasebo, located 35 miles from Nagasaki, of course the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. A day or two later, they dropped the second one on Nagasaki.

He got back to the United States on Christmas Eve, 1945. After being discharged in 1946, he went to work at the VA Hospital in Rhode Island and was instrumental in helping the area get a nursing home and a national VA cemetery.

Private Hoo-lee was married with two sons and moved to Tennessee in 1999, where he lives today. He will turn a young 100 years old this November, Madam Speaker.

It is my honor to recognize Private Lawrence Hoo-lee as Tennessee's Second District 2024 Veteran of the Month. I thank Private Hoo-lee for his service. If my dad were alive, he would say Semper Fi.

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