{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://higgins.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congressman-higgins-presents-family-of-army-veteran-norman-blatner-with", "Congressman Higgins Presents Family of Army Veteran Norman Blatner With Bronze Star & Rare POW Medal", "2014-12-23", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "United States Army Corporal Norman Blatner was captured during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and held as a Prisoner of War during World War II but made it back to Western New York thanks to a brave escape and special encounter with a German prison guard.\u00a0 Today, Congressman Brian Higgins will be joined by North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt and others as he presents the Blatner family with the Bronze Star, Prisoner of War medal and other recognitions earned by Corporal Blatner for his service.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cCorporal Blatner\u2019s story is one of selfless service, unimaginable circumstances and an incredible Buffalo connection,\u201d said Congressman Higgins.\u00a0 \u201cIt is truly our honor to deliver these medals to the Blatner family on behalf of a grateful nation.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cIt is great to see these medals delivered to the family of Corporal Norman Blatner for his service to our country,\u201d stated Mayor Ortt.\u00a0 \u201cWe should all be proud of all Western New York veterans.\u201d\u00a0\nNorman T. Blatner was born in 1915 and lived in Buffalo before entering active service in the United States Army on December 20, 1943.\u00a0 During WWII he served with Company D for the 112th Regiment, 28th Division and rose to the rank of Corporal.\nHis Company was involved in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest.\u00a0 The terrain was difficult with steep hills and a dense mass of trees that limited visibility.\u00a0 Under intense fire, many were hit in their foxholes and it is believed over 130 men were captured in total, including Blatner.\u00a0\nBlatner was taken by his captors to Camp Stalag 2a in northern Germany and held as a prisoner of war for seven months from November 8, 1944 through June 8, 1945.\u00a0 The Camp, controlled by Nazi Germany, and outlying sub-camps held over 25,000 prisoners including 950 Americans.\u00a0 The conditions were very difficult, especially during those cold winter months.\u00a0 Food was hard to come by and prisoners were worked seven days a week.\u00a0\nBut an interesting connection between Private Blatner\u2019s family in Western New York and a German prison guard may have saved his life.\u00a0 The guard asked if he was related to the Blatners who owned Blatner\u2019s Delicatessen on Greenfield Street in Buffalo.\u00a0 Private Blatner confirmed the store was owned by his aunt and uncle.\u00a0 It just so happened that the guard and prisoner\u2019s family members were friends and the German guard\u2019s relatives recently visited Buffalo.\u00a0\nThe two never spoke again but after their encounter Private Blatner was transferred to a prison farm and provided with meager nourishment which got him through the next several months until his escape in June of 1945.\u00a0\nOn November 7 of 1945 Corporal Blatner was honorably discharged from the United States Army.\u00a0 When he returned home, Blatner married his wife of 71 years Theresa and they had three sons, William, Richard and Norman.\u00a0\nIn 1947 Blatner opened a Texaco service station at the corner of Michigan Ave and Best Street in Buffalo, which he operated for several years before he took on a new career in trucking.\u00a0 His son William later reopened Blatner\u2019s Auto, which is now located on Erie Street in North Tonawanda.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nCorporal Norman Blatner died on July 4, 2013, Independence Day, at the age of 97.\u00a0\nMr. Blatner\u2019s sons recently reached out to Congressman Higgins to request assistance with obtaining the military medals their father earned.\u00a0\n71 years and 3 days after Corporal Blatner began his active duty, Congressman Brian Higgins presented the Blatner family with a number of military commendations including:\n\u00a0\n The Bronze Star Medal,\n\tPOW Medal,\n\tGood Conduct Medal,\n\tAmerican Campaign Medal,\n\tEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars,\n\tWorld War II Victory Medal.\n\tCombat Infantryman Badge 1st Award,\n\tHonorable Service Lapel Button WWII, and\n\tMarksman Badge with Rifle Bar.\u00a0\n \u00a0\nThe Bronze Star Medal is awarded for meritorious service in a combat zone and the POW Medal is issued only to those who were taken prisoner and held captive while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.", 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": ["http://higgins.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congressman-higgins-presents-family-of-army-veteran-norman-blatner-with"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8008810002356768, "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"}