Ryan Zinke: “Today I rise to pay tribute to a Billings resident, a World War II veteran, and a fabled member of the Army 10th…”

“Today I rise to pay tribute to a Billings resident, a World War II veteran, and a fabled member of the Army 10th Mountain Division K Company, Chuck Hauptman. Seventy years ago, the young lieutenant was crawling on his belly up Mount Belvedere under the cover of darkness. The K Company was charged with leading the allied assault on the Germans through the minefields-- set up along the steepest peak--and driving the Germans out of Italy. On one February night, they battled snow, darkness, vertical climbs, freezing temperatures, and booby traps, all while under the heavy machine gun fire of the Nazis. The K Company was in combat for 110 days against Nazi forces in the Italian Alps. During this time, Lieutenant Hauptman was shot and wounded in battle while assaulting a machine gun nest. Like many young men, he went back to battle. It is easy to forget the young men who were sent to the battle in World War II. We look at our veterans and the aging today of our World War II veterans. Remember, as our young men go to battle, that our Nation asks our youngest men and women to go to battle and fight for this country, and we should never forget the sacrifice. When we go to war, we send our Nation's best. I am proud to recognize Chuck Hauptman as one of our Nation's best. He represents the best of Montana, the best of our country, and the best of our youth. ____________________”