{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140613031143/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=f7bcd170-0653-4e3c-8306-b84c049699a5", "Senator Collins Presents WWII Veteran with Bronze Star on 70th Anniversary of D-Day", "2014-06-06", "2014", "2014-06", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Susan Collins today presented Louis Roberge of Lewiston, a World War II veteran, with the Bronze Star and other medals he earned, but never received, during his service.\u00a0 The ceremony took place at the Alden M. Gayton Post 31 American Legion Hall in Auburn.\nSenator Collins presented Mr. Roberge with the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Philippine Liberation Ribbon & Bronze Star Attachment, and Honorable Service Lapel Button, as well as a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in his honor.\nAlthough he earned these medals during his service, he never received them. Earlier this year, his family contacted Senator Collins\u2019 office, which was able to help secure the medals on Mr. Roberge\u2019s behalf.\u00a0\n\u201cIt is fitting that we gather on this hallowed day, the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion that began the liberation of Europe,\u201d Senator Collins said at the ceremony.\u00a0 \u201cAt that same time, but on the other side of the world, Mr. Roberge and the 96th Infantry Division \u2013 the fabled \u2018Deadeye Division\u2019 \u2013were preparing for the liberation of the Philippines and led the way at Leyte, the first step in that arduous campaign.\u201d\n\u201cThe Bronze Star and other medals you receive today are powerful symbols of your courage, devotion to duty, and sacrifice on behalf of our grateful nation,\u201d she told Mr. Roberge.\nMr. Roberge served in the Cannon Company 381st Infantry Regiment of the 96th Division of the US Army.\u00a0 He attained the rank of Corporal prior to his discharge in January of 1946.\u00a0 Mr. Roberge and the \u201cDeadeyes\u201d in the 96th Division fought in the American campaign defending our territorial shores, as well as in the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign.\u00a0 He took part in the Southern Philippines campaign to liberate that nation and the Ryukyus campaign which was, according to the U.S. Army, \u201cthe largest and most violent armed conflict in the history of mankind\u201d and included \u201cOperation Iceberg,\u201d which was the invasion of Okinawa, the largest island in the Ryukyu Islands.\nBorn in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Mr. Roberge has lived most of his life in Lewiston and Auburn.\u00a0 He and his wife, Juliette, have three children, Robert, Roger, and Claudette, who attended the medal ceremony.\u00a0 Colonel Jack Mosher, Chief of Staff of the Maine Army National Guard, was also in attendance.\nMr. Roberge will turn 94 years old later this month.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140613031143/http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=f7bcd170-0653-4e3c-8306-b84c049699a5"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.258872078731656, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}