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Contact: Lisa Lyons Wright 202-225-2721

Veterans’ Day 2006 -- George “Dick” Ambrose, WWII Veteran
One Life of Sacrifice, Service and Gratitude to America


Rep. Roscoe Bartlett and George "Dick" Ambrose

 

Washington, Nov 10 -  

On Veterans’ Day 2006, Congressman Bartlett will participate in observances at Memorial Park in Frederick at 11:00 a.m. and at Rocky Gap Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. “One of my greatest honors and privileges as a Member of Congress is the opportunity to personally thank veterans for their service and sacrifices to our country and occasionally to present them with medals they earned,” said Congressman Bartlett.

Congressman Bartlett said, “One of the undeniable indications of America’s strength and credibility can be seen in the manner in which we both honor and care for those who have sacrificed for the benefit of the freedom we cherish and the liberty we value. Our veterans are those who placed the interest of this nation, and on more than one occasion, the stability of the free world, before self. We owe our veterans and military retirees more than our appreciation and gratitude. Our debt to those who made freedom a priority reaches across every generation, every conflict, every challenge and every test of time. The word ‘veteran’ comes from the Latin word experience. The experiences of those who honored America by putting themselves at great risk must be remembered just as the cost of victory must never be forgotten. This is particularly true during a time of war when so many young Americans who have all volunteered to serve in our military are in harm’s way overseas. I hope the experience of WWII veteran George “Dick” Ambrose from Hagerstown inspires all of us on Veterans’ Day 2006 and will give hope to those veterans who were injured while serving us.”

On October 12, 2006, Congressman Bartlett presented Mr. Ambrose with eight different medals, including two Purple Hearts that he had earned during WWII. [attached photo].

Bronze Star

Two Purple Hearts

Good Conduct medal

American Campaign medal

European-African-Middle East medal with two Bronze Stars

WWII Victory Medal

WWII Honorable Service lapel button

Expert Marksman Badge (Rifle)

Mr. George “Dick” Ambrose is now 84 years old and lives in Hagerstown. He served as a tank destroyer in the Army during WWII. He was injured 63 years ago on December 11, 1944 losing part of one leg after stepping on a landmine during the Battle of the Bulge. This is his story in his own words.

“I was raised on a farm and hadn’t graduated from high school. However, I had gotten a job with Fairchild Aircraft who had trained me for 400 hours on welding which gave me a skill that I took into the military. I was called up in the first 18-19 year old draft.

“When I was called up to the front for the Battle of the Bulge, I didn’t have boots – they’d been sold off on the black market. I just had rain galoshes and I wrapped my feet in toilet paper. That was the only insulation I had and I kept moving my toes moving to prevent frostbite. In the Battle of the Bulge, Americans and Germans would fight until there were so many dead and wounded that we would put up a temporary cease fire with white flags for both sides to remove the bodies from the battlefield – mostly dead but some wounded. Then the white flags would come down and we would resume fighting.

“Germans in white uniforms had placed land mines the night before I got hurt. I lost part of one leg when I stepped on a land mine trying to save two buddies who had just been injured by land mines. I don’t know what happened to them.

“When I lost my leg and I was nineteen I thought my life was over. I was on the battlefield. I had two minutes to act. I had a sweetheart. I had met her on a train in the U.S. before I shipped out to Europe. We were writing letters back and forth. I knew enough and used a rope to make my own tourniquet – counting to 13 seconds tight and 13 seconds loose -- and stuck my leg in the snow. Luckily, a clot formed. I don’t know how long I was on the battlefield before I was picked up by an Air Force truck.

“I was shipped home to a hospital in Atlantic City, NJ. When I got there, the doctors had to amputate more of my leg. After I was injured, I didn’t know if my sweetheart would still want me. We kept writing and she sent me candy when I was in the hospital in Atlantic City. I was more afraid of her father – that he would think that I couldn’t take care of her. Her father was afraid of that. I told him that I would do the best that I could.

“I picked up what was left of my life and made the best of it because I wanted a family. I had a welding shop in my house. Then I got a job with the Philadelphia State Hospital and worked there as a welder in the maintenance department for more than 20 years.

“Four generations of my family served in the Armed Forces. My Dad was in WWI and survived being gassed. My grandfather carried food to soldiers during the Civil War. My son served in the Korean War. I’ve worn more than 20 legs in the past 63 years and it’s a challenge every day. I have phantom nerve damage and there are many times when the pain strikes. It’s just like I’ve walked on the land mine again.

“I always found goals to pursue. I’m aiming to beat the record of a 105-year old WWI veteran who lost his leg and is the patient of a Florida prosthetic maker who has made legs for me for more than 20 years.

“I want to thank the American people, the government and Fairchild. Surely it’s the American people who have provided me with all of the benefits that I have received. I’ve been on the government payroll since I was nineteen. I have three children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. My first wife passed away from cancer and I was lucky to fall in love again with my wife Jessie Armstrong. My family now includes two step-sons, three step-grandchildren and another great-grandchild. I didn’t learn until last year from research that Myra Kidd did for Congressman Bartlett about the other medals. Congressman Bartlett got them for me. I really want to thank the American people.”

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