[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 055 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4884-S4886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise to speak under morning business
that we set aside to salute our troops in Iraq. Initially, the plan
that was put together by the military leadership was criticized, but
today it is heralded as one of the great military strategies put
together and will probably go down in the annals of military strategy.
A number of individuals throughout the country are writing comments
about our troops in Iraq.
I have an article written by Rick Atkinson, Washington Post Foreign
Service, Thursday, April 3, 2003. It reads:
An enthusiastic welcome for U.S. forces in Najaf turned
jubilant today, as several thousand Iraqis braved sporadic
firefights for what one Special Forces officer described as
``the Macy's Day parade,'' applauding a U.S. patrol that
pushed close to a religious shrine at the center of the city.
Four days after encircling Najaf, the 101st Airborne
Division tightened the occupation today.
Three infantry battalions rolled through the streets,
including neighborhoods around the venerated tomb of Ali,
son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad.
Fourteen M1 Abrams tanks clanked up and down the southern
boulevards, and another brigade of several thousand troops
cinched the cordon on the north, seizing arms caches and
swapping fire with elusive gunmen who are now believed to
number no more than a few score.
In the midst of the fighting, a U.S. patrol approached
Ali's tomb attempting to contact local clerics but were met
instead by a crowd. Lt. Col. Chris Hughes, a battalion
commander in the 1st Brigade, said, ``We waited about an hour
and a half, and the hair on the back of my neck began to
stand up. The crowd got bigger and bigger, so we pulled back
out. But it was like the liberation of Paris.''
I state our troops have been mindful of the Iraqi culture during the
push north toward Baghdad. Our soldiers have been helping guard a
religious shrine in southern Iraq. The temple is called the Temple of
Ziggurat and was built 4,000 years ago. Many know the site as the
birthplace of Abraham. This is just one example of the way our men and
women were respectful of the rich heritage of the Iraqi people and
committed to helping them preserve their legacy.
I have a picture of a small Iraqi child giving a thumbs-up to our
American soldiers because he recognizes the great job our men and women
are doing in Iraq and recognizes the fact it is his freedom we are
talking about. They are fighting not only to protect America but to
provide an environment where freedom will thrive in a new Iraq.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum
call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I would like to continue to talk a bit
about the most important item before us, the issue most of us have on
our minds, and that is our forces in Iraq, the efforts that are being
made there and the reasons for those efforts. Certainly, at this time
all of us are thinking about that.
No one has ever said that this fight would be easy. Now that our
troops are in Baghdad, we acknowledge that perhaps the toughest part of
the war to disarm Saddam Hussein is likely still ahead of us. But so
far Operation Iraqi Freedom certainly has been a tremendous success,
and I think all of us share in pride at the actions of our men and
women who are there and our leaders who have caused these actions to
take place and have managed them. Our Operation Iraqi Freedom has been
a tribute to the skills of the men and women in uniform and their
leadership.
I spent some time this morning with a group of fourth graders. These
youngsters have a pretty good idea of what is going on in Iraq and, to
some extent, why we are there. Obviously, they have been talking with
their parents. Obviously, they have been watching TV. But I thought it
was amazing how much these young kids seemed to understand. I thought
that was great.
Certainly our hearts break for every life that is lost and every soul
missing on the battlefield. We thank our stars that the losses so far
have been relatively light. That, of course, doesn't make it any easier
for the families who have suffered the losses.
In less than 3 weeks, our aircraft have seized control of the skies.
Our soldiers and marines and special forces control the bulk of the
country. In less than 3 weeks, our troops are showering in Saddam's
Presidential Palace in the capital city of Baghdad. In the blitz to
Baghdad, our troops have taken more than 4,500 Iraqi prisoners. These
prisoners are being seen by officials from the International Committee
of the Red Cross to ensure they are treated within the guidelines of
the Geneva Convention. Saddam has been holding American prisoners for
more than 2 weeks and has yet to grant the Red Cross access to them.
Our forces have been treating the wounds of countless innocent Iraqis
caught in the crossfire. Our forces delivered relief to Iraqi citizens
through its southern cities, removing deadly mines that prevented ships
from docking. Our troops are safeguarding their ports and their oil
wells for the time being.
I think it is amazing that our military has had such an impact and
has yet been able to focus it away from the civilians. Obviously, there
are accidents and there are losses but relatively few. That is most
difficult in this kind of situation.
Just days ago there were naysayers who said Operation Iraqi Freedom
was failing. Now most of the conversation is about what we are going to
do after the combat is over. It is very difficult. Imagine what these
naysayers might have said on D-Day, Okinawa, Saipan, Chosin, Yorktown,
Gettysburg, or a host of other battles in our history and how their
commentaries might have influenced America's support in the war.
I sincerely hope--and I believe--that the American people are not as
fainthearted or impatient as some would argue. We are in the 19th day
of a war.
[[Page S4885]]
That is pretty short. Hopefully, it will be over soon. But those who
became very impatient after 5 or 6 days--certainly that was
not realistic. I suppose maybe we had the notion from the gulf war that
it would not last at all. I think we should be very pleased and very
proud at the amount of time it has taken and the progress that has been
made.
In a war, as members of our Armed Forces know well, the enemy can
react differently than we predict. It is interesting some have talked
about the weaknesses of the planning, that it didn't go the way it was
planned. Of course it didn't. In a war things never go just the way
they were planned. But the plans, obviously, have been good to be so
successful. On the battlefield, of course, the enemy has a vote.
Our troops are learning on the go and adapting quickly to the
changing battlefields. They are rooting out death squads that blend in
with the Iraqi population in the countryside. Our troops are dealing
with car bombers who kill themselves in order to harm soldiers. These
suicide and homicide attacks, of course, can be indiscriminate and have
the potential to kill many innocent Iraqi civilians. It is also a
demonstration of how violence has changed over time. I guess things
will never be the same after 11 September. Who would have imagined
those things could take place. So we have a different kind of combat,
even in war.
As our fight against Saddam Hussein's regime unfolds, I urge all
Americans to continue to have patience and support of our Commander in
Chief. Our victory is certain as is our continuing support for our
troops.
This regime is corrupt. Its leaders are morally bankrupt. The
savagery his death squads and car bombers are showing is not a tactic
but a symptom of a dying regime in the throes of its own demise.
As we focus on the days ahead, continuing to show our firm resolve to
remove this tyrant and his regime and to accomplish the goal for which
we set out--and that is to disarm Saddam Hussein--I particularly wish
to comment for a moment on the contribution of the National Guard in
various States.
In my State, the Wyoming National Guard has certainly made a
contribution of which we are all very proud. Obviously, the National
Guard consists of citizen soldiers and airmen who serve our country
with great pride and professionalism.
The first Federal mobilization of a Wyoming Army National Guard unit
came in 1898 with the Spanish-American War. Since then, and with the
creation of the Wyoming Air Guard after the Second World War, units
have served and participated in a variety of different theaters. These
include the Korean war, Desert Storm, Bosnia, and now of course
Operation Enduring Freedom.
Currently, the Wyoming National Guard has 20 percent of its personnel
activated in vital missions throughout the world. We have the smallest
population of any State in the Union, so of course our people are
greatly missed--as they are in other places. Our local employers have
been supportive of people who have been deployed, and we have had a
good deal of deployment for a good long time, in fact. I am very proud
of the men and women in my State who have answered the call to service
and eagerly joined the ranks of the National Guard. People willing to
join have increased in numbers since the war with Iraq has begun.
Not along ago, Brigadier General Dillon, Assistant Adjutant General
of the Army, said to soldiers upon deployment:
You are now on the first string and you don't ride the
bench for long.
I suspect the National Guard is even more important than it has been
in the past. As we get more and more technical in the regular, full-
time Army and Marine Corps, when there is a call for numbers, of
course, then we have to turn to the Guard and to the Reserve.
We all join in extending our thanks and gratitude to these people and
to their families for doing what they are doing and doing it so well;
to leave their jobs, to leave their families, to change their lives.
This is a source of great pride that my State can consistently produce
individuals to meet these challenges. They have done a great job. There
is an article in one of our local newspapers that highlights some of
these family members. I ask unanimous consent to have that printed in
the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Casper Star-Tribune, Apr. 6, 2003]
Wyomingites Aboard U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln
(By the Star-Tribune staff)
Petty Officer Timothy E. Roney, son of Kathy ``Kitty''
Ulrich of Casper and E2 Barbara Van Horn, daughter of Dennis
and Sheryl Van Horn of Rock Springs, are aboard the USS
Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf.
Roney enlisted in the Navy eight years ago. This is his
second assignment aboard the Abraham Lincoln and he has also
served aboard the USS Nassau out of Virginia Beach Va.
He has had five overseas tours aboard ship, with three
tours taking him to the Middle East. This journey on the USS
Abraham Lincoln started in August 2002 with the Persian Gulf
as the destination.
The ship was due back in port by mid-January 2003, but was
called to serve again in the Persian Gulf on New Year's Day.
The Lincoln has spent the longest time at sea of any
carrier since the Vietnam War.
He enlisted in Seattle and was raised primarily in Tacoma,
Wash., where his parents, Kathy Ulrich and Craig Roney, were
both active duty Air Force, stationed at McCord Air Force
Base, Tacoma.
Roney's wife, Angela; daughter, Shaquanna, 5 and son,
Bailey, 2, live in the Seattle area.
In Casper with his mother is his brother, Chris Roney
Van Horn graduated from Sheridan High School in 2002. She
is the granddaughter of Barbara Garhart of Osage and the late
Donald Garhart.
sky soldier
Pfc. Bradley P. Mahrer, son of Rich and Renae Mahrer and
brother of Christine Mahrer, all of Casper, is a paratrooper
with the 173rd Airborne Brigade stationed in Vicenza, Italy.
Sky Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne parachuted into northern
Iraq under cover of darkness on March 26 to secure the Harir
Airfield. This was considered one of the largest and more
complex airborne operations in history.
He graduated from Kelly Walsh High School in 2001 and
attended the University of Wyoming for one year.
He graduated from basic training in October 2002 and went
to airborne training, where he earned his jump wings, all at
Fort Benning Ga.
moving toward Baghdad
Lance Cpl. Kyle Lamb, Weapons Company 1st Battalion, 7th
Marines (81's), is now in Iraq, probably moving toward
Baghdad, according to his family. He graduated from Cody High
School in May 2000 and joined the United States Marine Corps
on Sept. 6, 2000. He graduated from boot camp at Camp
Pendleton, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2000, and was stationed at 29
Palms, Calif.
His wife, Lacy Johnson Lamb, lives in 29 Palms but is
currently in Cody with her parents, Leona and Keith Johnson,
until his return.
His parents are Thomas and Donna Lamb of Cody and his
brother, Anthony, is still at home. His grandfather is Allen
R. Hull, also from Cody. He has a large extended family that
loves him very much and is praying for his safe return.
to qatar
Airman 1st Class Brandon Sims was deployed March 2 from
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, N.C., to Al Udeid
Air Base in Qatar.
He is with the 379 Equipment Maintenance Expeditionary
Group, where he is a munitions systems specialist.
He graduated from Torrington High School in 1998 and joined
the Air Force in April 2002. He is the son of David and
Melinda Sims of Torrington.
mustang marine
Pfc. Shane Stuhlmiller, son of Mark and Marcia Stuhmiller
of Casper, is with the 2nd Marine Division, 6th Marines in
Iraq. His permanent duty station is Camp Lejeune, N.C.
He graduated from Natrona County High School in May 2002.
service support
Pfc. Abraham Henneman was deployed to Iraq from Camp
Pendleton, Calif., with the 1st Force Service Support Group,
7th Engineer Support Battalion, the support group for the 1st
Marine Expeditionary Force.
He is the son of Dave and Kristy Henneman of Casper.
He graduated from Campbell County High School in Gillette
in 2000.
7th marines
Cpl. R.J. Matthews, RCT 7, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines H&S
MT was deployed to Kuwait from 29 Palms, Calif., in January.
He graduated from Torrington High School with the class of
1998 and entered the Marines under a delayed entrance
program.
He married his classmate, Candice Lira Matthews, who is
currently living in 29 Palms. His father, James Matthews and
grandparents, Harold Matthews, Jean Clutter and Dean Clutter,
all reside in Torrington.
Military Police
Lance Cpl. Christal A. Powell, daughter of Catherine Holton
of Casper and the mother
[[Page S4886]]
of Cody Hall, also of Casper, serves in the Provost Marshal's
Office, Military Police, Headquarters Service Battalion,
Bravo Company, Okinawa, Japan.
She is a 1992 graduate of Natrona County High School and a
graduate of Casper College with a degree in criminal justice.
1st Supply Battalion
Lance Cpl. Rosanna J. Potter, daughter of Alan and Mona
Potter and sister of Amanda and John Potter of Casper, is
part of the 1st FSSG, 1st Supply Battalion/Ammo Company. She
was deployed to Kuwait in January and is currently serving in
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
She joined the Marines during her senior year at Natrona
County High School. After graduation in June 2000, she left
for basic training at Parris Island, S.C., where she
graduated from a 12-week course. She then attended an MOS
school at Red Stone Arsenal in Red Stone, Ala. From there,
she was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
3rd Infantry
Spc. Thomas C. McMartin is a diesel mechanic with the 559
Quartermaster Battalion, 202nd 3rd Infantry Division. He was
deployed from Hunter Haas Air Force Base in Savannah, Ga., to
Kuwait on March 30, 2003.
He is a 2000 graduate of Hot Springs County High School in
Thermopolis.
His wife is Sara M. Cavalli McMartin, also from
Thermopolis.
His father and stepmother are Eugene and Ellie McMartin of
Thermopolis.
His mother and stepfather are Gloria and Scott Adams of
Mountain View.
His grandparents are Lillian McMartin of Rock Springs and
Calvin Bluemel of Mountain View. His maternal grandmother and
paternal grandfather are deceased. He has five brothers and
sisters, all living in Wyoming.
Golden Dragon
John Swanson, son of Mike and Cindy Swanson of Casper, is
an aviation structural mechanic in the U.S. Navy who works on
F/A-18C Hornets. He is an integral member of Strike Fighter
Squadron 192, the world famous Golden Dragons.
He is currently aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian
Gulf.
He has been in the U.S. Navy since September 1998. He has
been stationed at the Naval Air Warfare Center weapons
division in California and is currently stationed in
Yokosuka, Japan, the operating port for the USS Kitty Hawk.
He graduated from Natrona County High School and Casper
College, where he received an associate's degree in auto
mechanics.
His family is very proud of him.
CAVALRY SCOUT
Pfc. Anthony ``Tony'' J. Krasovich was deployed from Fort
Stewart, Ga., in January with the rest of the 3rd Division to
Kuwait. He is a scout with C Troop 3-7 Cavalry leading the
way. He is all Wyoming, according to his dad. His current
hometown is Cheyenne but he was born in Cody, graduated from
Wright Junior/Senior High School in 1997 and Laramie County
community College in 2001. He is the son of Jim and Marita
Krasovich of Cheyenne.
TO SOUTH KOREA
Master Sgt. David W. Jones, United States Air Force 58th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is stationed at Kirtland Air
Force Base, New Mexico. He will be deployed to Osan Air Base,
South Korea, in June on an HH-60G rescue helicopters.
He graduated from Glenrock High School in 1981 and entered
the Air Force 1986. Prior to his assignment to New Mexico, he
served at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan; Hurlburt
Field, Fla.; Osan Air Base and Royal Air Force, Mildenhall,
England.
His mother and stepfather, am and Butch AuFrance, live in
Casper. His brother, Brad Jones and his family live in
Glenrock. His wife, Crystal, and four children will remain at
home in Albuquerque while he is in South Korea for one year.
GREEN RIVER MARINE
Lance Cpl. Davy J. Francis, son of David and Theresa
Francis of Green River, has been deployed from Camp
Pendleton, Calif., to Iraq. He graduated from Green River
High School in 2001.
His grandparents are Betty Turley of Sheridan and the late
Malcolm L. Turley and Harriet Francis of Buffalo and the late
John Francis.
ARMY CAPTAIN
Capt. Brian Westerfield, son of Ruth and Bill Westerfield
of Cheyenne, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Field
Artillery, a part of the V Army Corps in Germany. His unit is
currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom. He is a past commander of the ROTC Indian Battalion
at Cheyenne Central High School and was commissioned a second
lieutenant upon graduation from the University of Wyoming.
He earned his jump wings at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1995.
He is married to Chandra (Hehr) Westerfield, formerly from
Green River.
He is the grandson of Loraine Westerfield and Russ and Emma
Donnelly of Encampment.
uss constellation
AE3 Jeffrey Campbell, son of Jim and Mary Campbell of
Casper, is assigned to VAW-116, a squadron of E2 Hawkeyes,
airborne early warning aircraft. The squadron is part of
Carrier Airwing 2, which is now deployed on the aircraft
carrier USS Constellation.
They have been in the Persian Gulf for five months and are
part of the coalition forces participating in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. This is Campbell's second deployment to the Persian
Gulf with the Constellation Battle Group.
He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1999 and gets e-
mail from a couple of his favorite teachers there, Susan
Griffith and Daney Tanner. He says that he's the only one who
gets e-mail from his high school teachers and it makes him
feel great.
He joined the Navy in May 2000. After boot camp, he was
stationed at Pensacola, Fla., where he went to school to
become an aviation electrician.
His brother, Jim, and grandparents, Jim and Verna Campbell,
also lives in Casper.
in iraq
Pfc. Michael T. Jones of Casper is a member of the 1st
Division, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Weapons Company in 29
Palms, Calif. He deployed from 29 Palms in late January.
He graduated from basic training at Marine Corps Recruit
Depot, San Diego, in August 2002. After graduation, he was
stationed at Camp Pendelton for advanced weapons and infantry
training, 81 mm mortars and urban assault.
He is a Casper native and graduated from Kelly Walsh High
School in 2002. His father and stepmother are Mike and Geri
Jones of Casper. His siblings are Jacquelyn Jones of Omaha,
his stepbrother, Jason Best and step-sister, Keri Wilhelm of
Casper. His grandparents are Dewey and Ellen Gerdom and Max
and Jean Jones, all of Casper.
Mr. THOMAS. All of us continue to support our troops; we continue to
pray for our troops and their families and their losses. We know we
will succeed and that we succeed because of the bravery and willingness
of our Armed Forces. I hope, too, that we will remember there is a
relationship between ``the land of the free'' and ``the home of the
brave,'' and that is being demonstrated at this time.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________