[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION

  Mr. DOLE. Madam President, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to 
our Armed Forces. Recently, in soldiers, a magazine published by the 
United States Army, I read an article about the battle that occurred on 
October 3 and 4, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia. The article focused on 
the brave officers and men from the unit that fought through the 
darkness to relieve Army Rangers and assist them in their return to 
safety--the men of the 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, known as 
the Golden Dragons. The 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry is part of the 10th 
Mountain Division, my old unit, and one with a long history of tackling 
tough missions for our Nation. These young soldiers, representing 
America, fought for nearly 18 hours, mostly at night, to come to the 
aid of their fellow soldiers in the Ranger task force.
  These selfless young men represent what is best about the soldiers 
serving in today's Army. They are highly trained and skilled in their 
profession; a profession which demands much, and, at a moment's notice, 
can put them in harm's way.
  During World War II, the 10th Mountain Division had a well-deserved 
reputation for training hard to prepare for the tough, demanding combat 
missions it would be given. This training paid off well in combat. The 
performance of the Golden Dragons indicates that today's 10th Mountain 
soldiers truly carry forward those traditions. Their bravery and 
devotion to duty is well-documented; their loyalty to our Nation and 
the accomplishments of their comrades unequaled.

  The 14th Infantry Regiment has a long history of outstanding service 
in both peace and war. At the end of the Civil War, General McClellan 
recognized the bravery of the men of the regiment by positioning them 
at the place of honor--the right of the line--during the grand parade 
in Washington, DC. The unit at the right of the line was the guide unit 
for all the other regiments during battle and generally was the first 
to engage the enemy. The regimental motto, ``The Right of the Line,'' 
reflects this honor and tradition.
  The 14th Infantry Regiment is no stranger to peacekeeping or 
multinational operations, either. The 14th Infantry served with forces 
from European nations in China during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. 
After the 1906 earthquake that nearly leveled San Francisco, the 
regiment provided disaster relief. More recently, the unit provided 
humanitarian assistance to Haitian refugees at Guantanamo Bay. And the 
soldiers of the 14th Infantry Regiment continued this outstanding 
tradition of selfless service during the deployment to Somalia.

  On October 3, 1993, the Golden Dragons were serving as the ready 
reaction force for the U.N. Forces in Mogadishu. Within minutes of 
being given the mission to assist the Ranger task force, one company 
was on the move. Twice, this force found there way blocked by heavy 
fire; the men fought through the first encounter but were stopped in a 
second engagement. After regrouping, they again set out in the darkness 
to assist their beleaguered comrades. Again, they encountered heavy 
fire, but they fought through to link up with the Rangers. The linkup 
of forces under fire is one of the most difficult operations a unit can 
be given, even in full daylight. The fact that this mission was 
accomplished under conditions of darkness, while receiving heavy fire, 
attests to the skill, training, and bravery of these fine soldiers.
  After the linkup, these soldiers stayed, under fire, for more than 2 
hours to free the body of one of their comrades-in-arms trapped in the 
wreckage of a helicopter downed earlier in the fighting. Only after 
recovering the body of that soldier and accounting for all remaining 
Rangers did the combined force withdraw. No doubt about it, the 
soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division share many common values with 
the Rangers, including the commitment not to leave fallen comrades on 
the battlefield.

  America and the soldiers of the 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry paid a 
heavy price for their bravery and dedication; two of these young 
Americans made the ultimate sacrifice. The commitment, devotion to 
duty, loyalty to each other and the Nation, and perseverance under fire 
of these soldiers reflects the finest traditions of the 14th Infantry, 
the 10th Mountain Division and indeed, America's Army. Their 
willingness to put their lives on the line in service to the Nation is 
a shining example of what makes this country, and its Armed Forces, so 
great. These fine young Americans deserve our deepest thanks and 
admiration and have again demonstrated that they deserve the honor of 
serving on the right of the line.

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