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“A TRIBUTE TO ABIE ABRAHAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2125 on Nov. 8, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
A TRIBUTE TO ABIE ABRAHAM
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HON. PHIL ENGLISH
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, November 8, 1995
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to honor Sgt. Abie Abraham, a distinguished veteran of World War II from Butler, PA, who is being recognized this week as the Butler County Veteran of the Year.
Abie Abraham was born on July 31, 1913, in Lyndora, PA, to Syrian immigrants. At an early age, Abie showed perseverance and strength when he set a record in the Guiness Book of World Records for tree-sitting on a wooden platform for 3 months.
In 1932, Abie Abraham enlisted in the U.S. Army. He had been head boxing coach in Panama in 1935, and as a boxer, has a 54-6 record and was light/welterweight champion of the Panama Canal Department. In 1938, he was stationed in the Philippines, with the 31st Infantry Regiment as a platoon sergeant.
Three hours after the invasion of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese forces hit the Philippines. After several months of intense fighting in horrible conditions, the Philippines and United States forces surrendered. A lack of food and supplies and exposure to tropical diseases had left the troops weakened when the Japanese took them as prisoners. Sergeant Abraham was on the infamous Bataan Death March during which so many American lives were lost. He was held as a prisoner-of-war from April 9, 1942 to January 31, 1945 until the 6th American Rangers freed the prison camp where what was left of the only infantry regiment stationed in the Philippines was being held. After his release, General MacArthur requested that Sergeant Abraham remain in the Philippines to locate and disinter bodies from the Bataan Death March so that they could be brought home for a proper burial. He remained there until July 1947.
Sergeant Abraham retired as a master sergeant in 1955 with 23 years of service. He had received a Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, a Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, as well as three Presidential Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Award.
After retiring from the Army, Sergeant Abraham worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as a road supervisor from 1955 to 1962 before leaving to work for a family business until 1979.
In 1971, Sergeant Abraham wrote ``Ghost of the Bataan Speaks'' which details his prison camp experience. His book is used in several States to teach the history of World War II. He also personally answers a multitude of inquiries from people all over the world about the Bataan Death March.
In addition to serving his country, Sergeant Abraham has contributed on a local level in his community. In the past 6 years, he has volunteered over 10,000 hours working nearly 8 hours a day, 5 days a week at the VA medical center in Butler, PA. He is the POW-MIA Coordinator at the VAMC and has helped to arrange ceremonies to remember the Americans who were prisoners of war and those who are unaccounted for today. He spends time visiting with patients in the VA medical center as well as trying to resolve complaints and provide assistance to veterans and their families. He was honored in 1994 as the Outstanding Veteran in the State of Pennsylvania by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
He has been a member of the Disabled American Veterans--Chapter No. 64, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Ex-Prisoner's of War, and the American Legion where he continues to be active in veterans issues.
Sergeant Abraham served his country courageously in the face of death and remained true to the soldiers who served with him and lost their lives. He has used his experience to educate others about World War II and to honor the memory of the ones lost. Thankfully, for the community of Butler, PA, Sgt. Abie Abraham survived the horrors of the Bataan Death March and being held in a prison camp. The service that he has continued to give to the veteran community over the years is truly outstanding and worthy of our praise. I am thankful that Sgt. Abie Abraham is a member of our community and that he continues to make a difference in the lives of those he touches.
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