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HONORING WWII VETERAN HARRY NIBLOCK ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY
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HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Harry Niblock of Okemos, Michigan on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Mr. Niblock is among the bravest of men our great nation has ever known--those who led the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in June of 1944. It is with profound gratitude for his service to our nation, and in celebration of his long and fruitful life, that I recognize him today.
Before he was a war hero, Harry was a Michigander, the second of five children born to Raymond and Pearl Niblock on October 9, 1922. He graduated from Howell High School in 1940 and married Margaret Fay three years later, after he had been drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Niblock trained as a tank driver, and was sent to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, where he joined the 3rd Armored Division. His unit was sent to Warminster, England for additional training, and thanks to his outstanding leadership and skills, Harry was made the driver for the captain of his company. And when the call came in the summer of 1944 to waterproof the tanks and prepare for invasion, he was ready.
Nearly 80 years later, Harry still recalls the harrowing details of the day he arrived on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, and immediately began pushing through the German lines to Paris. Along the way, Harry's tank motor died and he had to wait, alone, for an airdropped replacement from a C47 before continuing on to join his outfit. From Paris they turned north toward Belgium, encountering sporadic gunfire along the way, as German troops were making a desperate attempt to return home. A few days later Harry and his crew were among the very first American troops to cross into Germany, a day forever etched in his memory. Harry spent two months camped near the city of Stolberg before the fateful day a sniper attack killed his captain and his radioman, right before a bazooka took out the majority of the unit. With severed nerves in his arms and legs, and shrapnel in much of his body, Harry was eventually flown to a hospital in England, where he was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery.
By February of 1945, Harry was able to return home to continue his recovery, and he laid eyes for the first time on two miraculous sights: first the Statue of Liberty as he sailed into harbor, followed a few days later by his baby girl, Barbara, who awaited his arrival in his wife's arms. Harry continued his healing in a Battle Creek hospital and eventually returned to Howell with his family, where they settled and added another daughter, Susan. Harry worked for several local companies, including Howell Motors, Parker Industries, and his own homebuilding company. After his beloved wife passed away in 2011, and Harry retired from work, he and his eldest daughter moved to Okemos, where Harry is a proud member of the Disabled American Veterans. In addition to his devoted daughters, Harry is beloved by his 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 12 great, great grandchildren.
In his 100 years, Harry Niblock has not just lived through our history--he is our history. As he celebrates this remarkable milestone birthday, it is my great honor to inscribe his life of service to our nation and to his family in the official record of the House of Representatives so that generations to come will know of his heroism, bravery, and heart.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 162(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 162(2)
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