[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 18 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 18

    Recognizing the historic commitment of the United States to the 
recovery of and full accounting for Americans who are prisoners of war 
                        or in a missing status.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2005

   Mr. Franks of Arizona (for himself and Mr. Hunter) introduced the 
  following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing the historic commitment of the United States to the 
recovery of and full accounting for Americans who are prisoners of war 
                        or in a missing status.

Whereas the surrender during World War II on the Bataan Peninsula, in the 
        Philippines, in April 1942 led to the capture of more than 75,000 
        American and Filipino military prisoners of war;
Whereas American, Filipino, and Allied prisoners of war endured the 65-mile 
        Bataan Death March through the jungles of the Philippines and were 
        subjected to brutal abuse from which many hundreds of Americans and many 
        thousands of Filipinos died;
Whereas thousands more American and Filipino civilians were interned across the 
        region;
Whereas General Douglas MacArthur, the Allied commander for the Southwest 
        Pacific area, including the Philippine Islands, committed forces under 
        his command to make every effort, as quickly as possible, to liberate 
        prisoner of war camps and internment camps as Allied forces began 
        retaking territory;
Whereas in the fulfillment of that commitment, United States Army units, 
        together with various Filipino guerilla groups, successfully conducted 
        several operations that liberated thousands of innocent civilians, 
        prisoners of war, and Filipino citizens;
Whereas in February 1945, elements of the 11th Airborne Division, particularly 
        the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of that division, and the 672nd 
        Amphibious Tractor Battalion conducted a particularly brave and daring 
        mission behind enemy lines to rescue over 2,000 people at Los Banos 
        internment camp; and
Whereas the United States has an historic commitment to the recovery of and full 
        accounting for Americans who are prisoners of war or in a missing 
        status: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,  That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the rescue missions carried out by units of 
        the United States Army, including the 11th Airborne Division, 
        60 years ago in the Philippines during World War II as sterling 
        examples of that commitment; and
            (2) recognizes the bravery and courage of the soldiers and 
        the Filipino guerillas who participated in those rescue 
        missions.
                                 <all>