House Republicans Delivering Results for American People
Floor Speech
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Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish a happy 100th birthday to a very important resident of Hampton Roads, U.S. Navy veteran Mo Maurizio.
This American hero has experienced more of the history of our great Nation than most people can even dream of.
Born on February 21, 1925, he grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, before enlisting in the Navy in August of 1943 at the age of 18. After completing basic training in New York, he transferred to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to complete additional training at Little Creek in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
On June 6, 1944, as Allied Forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history, Mo was a part of the first wave of troops to hit the beaches on D-day.
After surviving this important first step on the path to liberate Europe, he then deployed to the Pacific theater.
On February 19, 1945, he was aboard a ship that took part in the battle for Iwo Jima, shelling the island ahead of American forces making their landing.
Mo didn't spend his 20th birthday celebrating. He was instead serving our Nation by landing troops and supplies during one of the worst battles of the entire war. In total, nearly 6,000 brave marines lost their lives to take this strategic island that day, and it is only 8 square miles.
In April, Mo continued his service, this time assisting with the deployment of marines on Okinawa Island. Months later, when Japan was set to surrender, Mo was among the crew of one of the first ships carrying U.S. troops to mainland Japan.
On September 2, aboard the USS Talladega, he was only a small distance away from history being made on the USS Missouri as the Japanese formally surrendered, officially marking the end of World War II.
Following the conclusion of the war, he continued serving in the Navy, both back in Massachusetts and in Virginia. Along the way, he met his late wife, Laura. Together, they had a set of twins, Bill and Stella.
One of my favorite stories of Moe's life is when, in 2014, his two children took him to his first-ever Army-Navy football game. As any good Navy fan would agree, he was hoping to watch the Navy midshipmen, and I quote, ``beat the snot out of the Army.'' Luckily enough, Navy won that year with a score of 17-10.
Mo retired from the Navy on June 6, 1966, exactly 22 years after he participated in the invasion of Normandy, but he did not retire from public service.
After the Navy, he joined the post office in Hampton Roads, where he worked on behalf of our community for nearly 40 years before retiring at the age of 80 on June 6, 2005, exactly 61 years to the day after D- Day.
This past June, at the age of 99, Mo had the opportunity to return to the Normandy beaches to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion with his fellow World War II veterans.
I had the honor of meeting Mo with a group of his biggest fans last June at the Norfolk International Airport as he returned home from his trip.
Our world is free today because of the heroic actions made by these members of our Greatest Generation, like Mo, on that fateful day.
Since World War II, Mo and his family have called Hampton Roads their home.
Sadly, on December 7, 2024, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, his loving wife, Laura, passed away after 73 years of marriage. Her memory lives on through Mo and their two wonderful children.
For 100 years, Mo Maurizio has embodied what it means to be an American hero. From the beaches of Normandy, to the islands of the Pacific, to our local community in Hampton Roads, Virginia, Mo has lived through truly foundational moments in our Nation's history. We will be forever grateful for all that he has done for our great Nation, the United States of America.
Happy 100th birthday to Mo.
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