Political Quotes

“I rise to salute a soldier, public servant, and son of Maine who Monday afternoon was honored for his heroic service 58 years ago today. This recognition is all the more special for me, for our Nation also honors a colleague, former Senator William D. Hathaway of Maine. On Monday, the United States Air Force recognized a distinguished World War II veteran for his heroic service 58 years ago. As a young airman serving with the Fifteenth Air Force high over the Ploesti oil fields in Romania, Second Lieutenant Bill Hathaway and his crew mates showed their courage, and in the process helped turn the tide of the Battle of Ploesti toward the Allied cause. As Major General N.F. Twining, Commanding General of the Fifteenth Air Force, wrote in a letter to Lieutenant Hathaway after the battle, 'Your return marked the culmination of an outstanding campaign in the annals of American military history. The German war machine's disintegration on all fronts is being caused, to a large extent, by their lack of oil oil that you took away from them.'”