Recognizing Mr. John Moddie on His 100th Birthday and for His Service with the 590th Field Artillery

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize Mr. John Moddie on his 100th birthday and to commend him for his valiant service with the United States Army as a member of the 590th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division during World War II.

At just 18 years old, while working as a stock clerk at Peterson Boat Works in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Mr. Moddie answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Following basic training at Camp Roberts, California, he was assigned to B Battery of the 590th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Excelling in his training on the 105 mm Howitzer, Mr. Moddie set sail for England to prepare for deployment to the Western Front.

On the morning of November 30, 1944, Mr. Moddie and his battalion crossed the English Channel to Le Havre, France, where they awaited orders to move up the Seine River into Germany to take part in what would become the Battle of the Bulge--the second-most deadly battle of the war for American troops. On December 19, 1944, he was captured by German forces and held at Stalag 9B in Bad Orb, Germany, as a prisoner of war. Despite enduring extreme conditions and losing nearly half his body weight, he survived until liberation by Allied forces on April 2, 1945.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Moddie's life is a testament to courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. Let us honor him for his extraordinary service to our Nation, his devotion to his fellow servicemembers, and his steadfast commitment to family and community. On behalf of Michigan's 1st Congressional District, I wish him a joyous 100th birthday and extend the gratitude of a Nation, he so bravely served.

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