[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9429-S9431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO NAVY SEALS
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute
to the 10 courageous sailors who lost their lives in Afghanistan during
Operation Enduring Freedom on 28 June 2005 by printing the eloquent
words of U.S. Navy RADM Joseph Maguire, Commander, Naval Special
Warfare Command, during a memorial speech at Naval Amphibious Base
Little Creek on July 8, 2005.
I ask unanimous consent to print this tribute in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
(By Rear Admiral Joseph Maguire)
Good Morning. On behalf of the Commander, United States
Special Operations Command, General Doug Brown, the United
States Navy, the proud men and women of Naval Special
Warfare, I'd like to welcome everybody to this morning's
memorial service for our ten fallen Sailors.
We're honored to have with us today the leaders of our
nation and our Navy. We are joined this morning in grief. The
chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John
Warner, Congresswoman Thelma Drake, our local Congresswoman,
Ambassador Joseph Prurer and Mrs. Prurer, Undersecretary of
the Navy Aviles, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral
Willard and Mrs. Willard. The Commander Fleet Forces Command,
Admiral Nathman and Mrs. Nathman, and the General Council of
the United States Navy, Mr. Mora. In addition to that we have
many general officers [From the joint services, retired
community, retired Flag Officers. I'd also like to extend a
welcome to our many veterans here today, our combat veterans.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our families
in Naval Special Warfare, especially to the families of
Squadron Ten, whose husbands are still deployed and engaged
in combat operations far away. But most importantly I'd like
to welcome the families of the ten SEALs that we honor here
today. Earlier in this week I along with General Brown and
many others have been attending memorial services for our
United States Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the
160th, located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Hunter Army
Air Field, where as you all know we lost eight brave Special
Operations Aviators.
This morning we pause to honor the memory of ten Navy
SEALS, in particular the six SEALS who were home ported here
at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek. I'd also like
to extend a welcome to those who can't be with us physically
in this theater right now. The theater holds 1800 people and
we filled that up earlier this morning. And for those of you
in the overflow where we have nearly 2000 people seated, I
welcome you this morning and I apologize that we did not have
space for everybody to be in here physically. But I know,
spiritually, that you're with us and we sincerely appreciate
you being part of the ceremony this morning.
My remarks will be short. I think it's important that you
hear from the friends and loved ones, and also Commodore Pete
Van Hooser has got some very important things to say.
But what I would like to say as the Commander for Naval
Special Warfare and the head of this community, how proud I
am to be the Commander for Naval Special Warfare and have the
opportunity to lead and serve with these ten fine men. Naval
Special Warfare is the smallest war fighting community in the
Navy. There's 1750 enlisted men and six 600 officers. We're a
small town, we literally know each other, and honestly, for
those of you it may be hard to believe if you see the way we
act with each other, we love one another.
Everything that you see here and everything this morning
was put together by their Teammates. I'd like to call your
attention to the operational equipment that we have forward
here on stage. It traces its proud heritage back to World War
II. The Underwater Demolition Teams and the Navy Combat
Demolition Units and you'd have to go all the way back to
World War II to get the number of Naval Special Warriors who
died in one day in one military operation. The loss of one
SEAL, the loss of one military man is more than we could
possibly bear, but to have ten or our brave men perish in one
day along with eight of our Nightstalkers is truly a
remarkable day and one that will always be etched in our
memory.
But before you though you have UDT swim fins, a UDT
lifejacket, a web belt and a mask. And it may seem strange to
you knowing that these Naval commandos died on a mountain top
7,500 feet in elevation in a country 300 miles from the sea.
But our nation called. These are the same people that flew
the planes into the Twin Towers that flew the plane into the
Pentagon that also flew the plane into the ground in
Pennsylvania. The Al Qaeda and the Taliban are barely
distinguishable and these are the people that these brave
men, these ten men, went out to meet and engage in combat. So
although the operational equipment that they had on them that
day on the 28th of June was not swim fins, not a UDT life
jacket, not a mask, perhaps a K-Bar. We thought it's
appropriate because we are first and foremost warriors from
the sea, Navy men, that we honor them today as SEALs and Navy
men.
The last thing I'd like to just mention is the knife that's
on the web belt. The K-Bar also dates back to the knife used
by the UDT in World War II. And a tradition in Naval Special
Warfare when a young man finishes his training and is awarded
his trident, when he is awarded his trident he is also
presented a K-Bar, and on that K-Bar is inscribed the name of
a SEAL who went before him, where he died, and the date he
died on. So that knife would always link him to the past and
serve as an inspiration to him as a SEAL in combat in the
future. These ten knives that we have up here are now etched
with your husbands, your son, your brother, your father, your
uncle, your nephew, your neighbor, your friend, and to us our
Teammates names. You can take these home with you today, and
I hope that you treasure them, but what I want you to know is
that in the future when fellow SEALs become SEALS and they
are presented with their K-Bars, the name of these men will
be engraved to serve as an inspiration to future SEALs in
combat, our teammates.
And I want to leave you with this. We have a creed, we have
many things in Naval Special Warfare, but to sum it up, it is
loyalty to our teammates dead or alive. These ten men are no
longer with us, that doesn't mean that our allegiance and our
covenant ends with them today. We will remain their teammates
forever and to the family members sitting here, always know
that we will always be there from them, always there for you
and, we will always stay connected. God bless and thank you.
I'd like to go into the awards presentation now and I ask
all of the guests and military to remain seated as we make
the presentations so that all can see.
The Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple
Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign
Medal will be presented posthumously for the actions in the
following citation below.
On Tuesday 28 June 2005, thirty members of Naval Special
Warfare Task Unit-Afghanistan were preparing to conduct a
direct action mission when they were tasked to respond as a
Quick Reaction Force to reinforce a four-man Navy SEAL
reconnaissance element engaged in a fierce firefight near
Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan.
The reconnaissance element was bravely fighting Anti-
Coalition Militia, who held both a numerical and positional
advantage. The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy
personnel killed, with several of the SEALs suffering
casualties.
After receiving the task to reinforce, the Quick Reaction
Force loaded aboard two MH-47 U.S. Special Operations Army
helicopters planning to air assault onto a hostile
battlefield, ready to engage and destroy the enemy in order
to protect the lives of their fellow SEALs. Demonstrating
exceptional resolve and fully comprehending the ramifications
of the mission, the Quick Reaction Force, while airborne,
continued to refine the plan of attack to support both the
reinforcement task and hasty execution of their intended
deliberate assault.
As the helicopter approached the nearly inaccessible
mountainside and hovered in preparation for a daring fast-
rope insertion of the SEALs, the aircraft was struck by an
enemy rocket-propelled grenade fired by Anti-Coalition
Militiaman. The resulting explosion and impact caused the
tragic and untimely death of all SEALs and Army Night
Stalkers onboard.
These men answered the call to duty with conspicuous
gallantry. Their bravery and heroism in the face of severe
danger while fighting a determined enemy in the Global War on
Terror was extraordinary. Their courageous actions, zealous
initiative and loyal dedication to duty reflected great
credit upon themselves, Naval Special Warfare, and the United
States Navy. For the President, Vern Clark, U.S. Navy, Chief
of Naval Operations.
The presentations this morning will be made by Commodore
Pete Van Hooser, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group Two
[[Page S9430]]
and Master Chief Chuck Williams, Command Master Chief of SEAL
Team Ten.
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart
Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal
posthumously to LCDR Erik Kristensen, United States Navy.
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart
Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign Medal
posthumously to LT Mike McGreevy, United States Navy.
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart
Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal
posthumously to Chief Fire Controlman Jacques Fontan, United
States Navy.
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart
Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal
posthumously to Electronics Technician 1st Class Jeffrey
Lucas, United States Navy. Accepting his father's awards is
his son, Seth Lucas.
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart
Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign Medal
posthumously to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jeffrey Taylor,
United States Navy.
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat
Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal posthumously to
Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz, United States Navy.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would like to associate myself with
these exceptional remarks by Admiral Maguire. Our great country will
forever owe these courageous SEALs a debt of gratitude for their
selfless actions in battle on June 28, 2005. While I am sorry that the
families of these men have suffered such an irreplaceable loss, I am
proud that America produced such fine gentlemen who valiantly answered
the call to defend these United States. Recalling our national anthem,
I say, we would not be ``the land of the free'' were we not also the
``home of the brave.''
Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the 10
courageous sailors who lost their lives in Afghanistan during Operation
Enduring Freedom on June 28, 2005, by reading the eloquent words of
U.S. Navy CAPT Pete Van Hooser, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group
Two, during a memorial speech at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek on
July 8, 2005.
I ask unanimous consent to print this tribute in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
(By CAPT Pete Van Hooser)
I am always humbled in the presence of warriors. We have
been in sustained combat for over 3 years--things have
changed.
I find myself speaking in public a lot more than I would
like, but I always start by thanking four groups of people.
The first are our warriors who haven fallen; the second,
those who have guaranteed that those who have fallen will not
be left behind. Some with their bravery, others with lives.
I thank those who have selflessly pulled themselves off the
line to train the next warriors to go forward--so that they
may surpass the prowess of those currently engaged.
And I am thankful for the families that nurture such men.
My remarks will be focused on these families and the men
who wear the trident. We would not be able to do our jobs
without the brave men and women of the Army, Air Force, and
Marine Corps. Task Unit--Afghanistan of Naval Special Warfare
Squadron Ten, was comprised of SEAL Team Ten and SEAL
Delivery Vehicle Team Two and One, had many U.S. Navy rates
other than SEALs that trained and deployed by our side, and
we recognize and are grateful for the professional efforts of
all. But this time and this place is about the SEALs.
Leonidas, the Spartan King, hand-picked and led a force to
go on what all knew to be a one-way mission. He selected 300
men to stand against an invading Persian force of over 2
million. They were ordered to delay the advance the Persian
Army. Selecting the battlefield was easy--the narrow mountain
pass at Thermopylae restricted the combat power that the
enemy could apply--allowing the superior fighting skills of
the 300 Spartans to destroy the will of this Persian Army to
fight. These Spartan warriors died fighting to the last man.
The Persian invaders were defeated by the Greek Army in
later battles. Democracy and freedom were saved.
Most know this story. But most of us don't know how
Leonidas selected the 300 men. Should he take the older
seasoned Warriors who had lived a full life, should he take
the young lions that felt they were invincible, should we
take the battle-hardened, backbone-proven warrior elites in
their prime, or should he sacrifice his Olympic champions?
The force he chose reflected every demographic of the
Spartan Warrior class. He selected those who would go based
solely on the strength of the women in their lives. After
such great loss, if the women faltered in their commitment,
Sparta would falter and the rest of Greece would think it
useless to stand against the Persian invaders. The democratic
flame that started in Greece would be extinguished.
The Spartan women were strong. They did not falter. I would
even argue that we live in a democracy and have freedom
because of the strength, skill, and courage of these 300 men
and the extraordinary will and dedication of the women in
their lives.
The women in our lives are the same. I see the pride in
their wearing of the Trident symbol--I hear it in their
voices when they are asked what is that symbol, and they say
my husband, my son, my brother, or my dad is a Navy SEAL--
usually they say nothing more.
If I were to say to the families, I feel your pain, that
could not be so. I can never know the depth of your
relationship or the anguish of your personal loss. What I can
say is the truth I know. Those who wear the trident provide
only brief glimpses into our world to those on the outside.
Even our families see only a limited view of the path we have
chosen. We are all different, but on the inside we share many
common beliefs and actions. We spend most of our adult lives
with other SEALs preparing for battle.
On this occasion I feel compelled to share our innermost
thoughts. I want to show you a little more of our world so
you can understand the way we see, the way we feel about what
happened.
There is a bond between those who wear a trident--that is
our greatest strength.
It is unique to this very small community. It is unique in
its intensity. It is nurtured by the way we train--the way we
bring warriors into the brotherhood. This bond is born in
BUD/S. It starts to grow the first time you look into the
eyes of your classmate when things have gone beyond what you
or he thinks is possible. It grows in the platoon as you work
up for deployment, and it grows around the PT circle. It's
the moving force behind every action in a firefight. This
bond is sacred. This bond is unspoken, unconditional, and
unending.
When it comes to fighting we are all the same inside.
During the first stages of planning, at the point where you
know you are going into the battle, we think about our
families. The master chief passing the word to the boys sums
it up, ``I am going home to my kids and you are going home to
yours. Here is our next mission.''
We never stop planning--we never stop thinking through
every contingency--we want to cover every anticipated enemy
action. This is the way we face the risk.
There is a significant difference between inserting on a
mission where there may or may not be enemy contact or
serious resistance and inserting into a fight where forces
are already engaged. On 11 April, the men of this task unit--
during their initial week in Afghanistan, immediately shifted
from a helicopter training scenario directly into the fight
as a quick response force to help soldiers and marines in a
desperate battle. They made the difference--saving the lives
of our fellow servicemen and destroying the enemy.
Last week when these fallen warriors launched on this
mission, their SEAL teammates were fighting the enemy--fellow
SEALs were in peril--as always in the teams--in this--
situation there is no hesitation. It is not about tactics--
its about what makes men fight.
As you are going in hot--you can't help it--you must allow
one more small block of personal time. You think of those at
home--the people you--the people you left behind. For this
brief moment, there is no war.
Our souls have touched a thousand times before this moment
Boundless undefined shadows quietly surging through and
waking each other
On a moonless star rich night we patiently wait for the dawn
There is no distance
You smile a cool wind that takes away thirst
I will never know hunger
I have never known fear
Unspoken--Unconditional--Unending
It's the same bond--now your focus returns to your SEAL
teammates. Total focus on the approaching fight is all that
exists.
In April, when I heard of the Task unit's first contact
that very first week in country--when I saw the reports of
the enemy casualties they had inflicted--I was happy but not
too happy. Its was more of a quiet internal sharing of a
sense of satisfaction they had executed flawlessly.
Last week when I was told of their deaths and saw what they
were trying to accomplish, I was sad--but not too sad. It was
more of a quiet and internal recognition that they had gone
to the wall, and there was no hesitation. They were
warriors--they are SEALs
We are not callous. We don't have the luxury of expressing
our emotions at will. In these times our duty is to press on
and finish the fight, for all depends on each man's
individual actions.
We answer to a higher moral calling on the path that
requires us to take and give life. It is this dedication to
ideals greater than self that gives us strength. It is the
nurturing of our families that gives us courage. Love is the
opposite of fear--it is the bond that is reinforced when we
look in the eyes of another SEAL that drives super human
endurance. My teammate is more important than I.
[[Page S9431]]
The enemy we face in Afghanistan is as hard and tough as
the land they inhabit. They come from a long line of warriors
who have prevailed in the face of many armies for centuries.
It is their intimate knowledge of every inch of the most
rugged terrain on earth that is matched against our skill,
cunning, and technology.
They are worthy adversaries and our intelligence confirms
that they fear and respect us. They have learned to carefully
choose their fights because as SEALs we answer the bell every
time.
When you see the endless mountains--the severe cliff--the
rivers that generate power that can be felt while standing on
the bank--the night sky filled with more stars then you have
ever seen--when you feel the silence of the night were no
city exists--when the altitude takes your breath away and the
cold and heat hit the extreme ends of the spectrum--you
cannot help being captured by the raw strength of this place.
This is a great loss. These men were some of the future
high-impact leaders of naval special warfare, but I take
refuge in the thought that there is no better place a
warrior's spirit can be released then the Hindu Kush of the
Himalayas.
In their last moments, their only thoughts were coming to
the aid of SEAL brothers in deep peril. I can say that any
one wearing a trident would gladly have taken the place of
these men even with full knowledge of what was to come.
Some of those on the outside may understand that the one
man who was recovered would possibly make this loss
acceptable. Only those who wear the trident know, if no one
had come back, it would all have been worth the cost.
These men are my men. They are good men. The SEAL teams--
this path is my religion. This loss will not go unanswered.
I am always humbled in the presence of Warriors.
Mr. President, I would like associate myself with these exceptional
remarks by Captain Van Hooser. Our great country will forever owe these
courageous SEALs a debt of gratitude for their selfless actions in
battle on June 28, 2005. While I am sorry that the families of these
men have suffered such an irreplaceable loss, I am proud that America
produced such fine gentlemen who valiantly answered the call to defend
these United States. Recalling our national anthem, I say, we would not
be ``the land of the free'' were we not also the ``home of the brave.''
____________________