Congratulating Robert Kemp, Sr. on His 100th Birthday

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert Kemp, Sr. on his 100th birthday and thank him for his service defending this Nation during World War II.

A veteran of the United States Navy, Kemp enlisted at 17 years old, against his parents' wishes and barely meeting the weight requirement. He served from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. During his time in the Navy, Mr. Kemp fought in multiple theatres including the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific. Kemp served as a quartermaster, assisting with the ships' navigation as well as the vessel's steering. He first served in the North Atlantic, protecting supply convoys to the United Kingdom. He then saw action in the Mediterranean, where his ship assisted in the invasion of Sicily. His final mission of the war was in the Pacific, part of a flotilla that participated in the invasion of the Philippines as well as the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the announcement of the Japanese surrender, his ship sailed into Tokyo Harbor to celebrate the end of the war.

Upon his return home, he settled in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife. However, he had the opportunity to travel the world as a radio technician for the Westinghouse Corporation. He spent time in Germany, Nigeria, and Iran before returning to Baltimore with his family. In his later years, Mi Kemp relocated to Delta, Pennsylvania where he lives with his son, Robert Kemp, Jr.

It is critical for us to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of members of the Greatest Generation that have helped us preserve the Nation that we so dearly love. Thanks to heroes like Mr. Kemp, that remind us to live life to the fullest and to serve others.

It is with great pride that I congratulate Mr. Kemp on a happy 100th birthday, and I sincerely thank him for his service to his country.

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