U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Charles Garland Schwab of Missoula County for his service to our nation and for celebrating his upcoming 100th birthday on October 6, 2018.
Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here.
Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress.
Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: HERE.
The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record:
TRIBUTE TO CHARLES GARLAND SCHWAB
Mr. DAINES, Mr. President, I have the honor of recognizing Charles Garland Schwab, a World War II Veteran, and a man who is ever grateful to celebrate his 100th birthday on October 06, 2018. Charles Garland Schwab was born to homesteaders in the Big Snowy Mountains, Southeast of Lewistown, Montana. He grew up on that homestead and in 1940 he married his wife Thelma.
Charles was drafted into the United States Army in January of 1944. After basic trainingg and a bout with pneumonia, he joined his fellow soldiers in France on the front lines during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Medal, the American Theater Service Medal, the European, Africa, Middle East Theater Medal, a Good Conduct Medal as well as several ribbons including the Army Occupation Ribbon. Upon returning to the United States, Charles was honorably discharged from the Army on May 02, 1946.
Following his discharge from the Army, Charles and his wife purchased and operated the Lake View Cabins near St. Mary. During the off season, Schwab practiced his trade as an oil field pipe fitter throughout Montana. He and his wife moved to Missoula in 1950 where they raised two daughters. He continued his pipe fitters career and was instrumental in the process of bringing natural gas to the homes of the citizens of Missoula. Charles’ wife Thelma passed away after 55 years of marriage in 1995. Although Charles sold the Lake View Cabins after twenty years and is now a retired pipe fitter He continues to enjoy the company of his daughters, children, grandchildren and friends and remains active in the community.
One of Charles most treasured memories is that of the Honor Flight he took to Washington D.C, during the government shut down in 2013. He will forever treasure the memories of that trip, his time as a Private First Class in the United States Army and the opportunity to defend our great nation during World War II.
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