[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       BOB DOLE--AMERICAN SOLDIER

  Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, as the American people celebrate the 
50th anniversary of the liberation of Europe, I should like to 
commemorate the important role played in that historic drama by one of 
our own colleagues.
  If one has to choose a defining moment of the 20th century, one could 
do worse than point to the landing of Allied forces in France on June 
6, 1944. The forces arrayed on those Normandy beaches were the key 
protagonists of our century: On one side, the forces of liberty and 
democracy, invigorated as never before by economic growth; on the 
other, a totalitarian despotism strengthened by unprecedented levels of 
state power.
  The result of that series of battles foreshadowed the result of our 
century's history: Freedom was victorious, and tyranny in retreat. 
Indeed, now that the historical epoch known as the cold war has cone to 
an end, it has become commonplace to view the victory of freedom as an 
inevitability of history.
  In a sense, that may be true; if the nature of the human person is to 
be free, then political chains cannot be hung upon the human being in 
any permanent way. The basic desire of the human being will eventually 
prevail.
  But it would be wrong to accept this point of view if it means 
shortchanging the role of the democratic nation itself as it creates 
antibodies to restore the state of political health, the health that we 
call ``freedom.''
  ``Humanity'' can only be protected by individual human beings who 
take action--sometimes together, sometimes alone--in the interest of 
the public good. These individuals who take risks and sacrifice 
themselves on behalf of others are the engine of what progress there is 
in history. These individuals are known as heroes.
  On D-day, there were many heroes; in the drive across Europe, there 
were even more--as liberty reconquered a continent.
  The Prime Minister of India, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, in a recent 
address to a Joint Session of Congress, reminded us that the world is 
grateful for America's heroes. He quoted the words of Lala Lajpat Rai--
an Indian freedom fighter--and I quote them again now: ``Numberless 
American men and women * * * stand for the freedom of the world.'' They 
know no distinctions of colour, race or creed. And they prefer the 
religion of love, humanity, and justice.
  We are very proud, Mr. President, to have among us a man who was one 
of those heroes--and deserves pride of place on the 20th century's roll 
of honor.
  In the last month of the drive across Europe, a raw recruit named 
Bobby Joe Dole and his platoon were rolling up the German flank on the 
Italian peninsula. The writing was on the wall of Hitler's Germany--the 
war was as good as over.
  But the war would not be over until the last wave of courageous 
Americans risked all for victory. And our friend and colleague, Bob 
Dole, was a key member of that last wave.
  Author Richard Ben Cramer describes April 14, 1945, for Bob Dole and 
his platoon mates, and I quote: ``(It) was a daytime nightmare of 
cannon, mortar, machinegun fire--flesh in uneven contest with the 
instrumentalities of war.'' Bob Dole knew that victory was on the other 
side of the German machinegun nest, and that some American had to be 
responsible for cleaning out those German soldiers.
  Bob Dole knew that some American must lead, and he himself was that 
American soldier.
  We see in our friend today the awful--the awe inspiring--result of 
that unimaginable courageous decision. His medics and his fellow 
soldiers did not believe that Bob Dole would survive the wounds that 
gouged his arm and shoulder and smashed his spinal cord.
  Bob Dole did not take the machinegun nest that day. But his buddies 
did--and Bob Dole's broken body was headed back to America.
  America had already celebrated V-E Day by the time Bob Dole reached 
Kansas. The war for Europe was over, but Bob Dole would go on paying 
the price for victory for many years to come. The rebuilding of Bob 
Dole only began on the operating table--he had to take the lead again, 
in learning how to walk and to the many other things that those of us 
with healthy limbs take for granted.
  There is no band playing for people who teach themselves to walk 
again, or dress themselves. No medals either. But I am not alone, Mr. 
President, in believing that Bob Dole's brutally painful physical 
recovery took more courage and stamina than even the day of battle that 
caused his wounds.
  Bob Dole fought back--and he keeps fighting back today, 49 years 
later, on the floor of the Senate. Mr. President, as a friend and an 
American, I am grateful that we had a Bob Dole on our country's side on 
the field of battle. And I am equally grateful that in our democratic 
system of government, we can make use of that soldier's courage and 
character in the art of peace and self-government.
  On behalf of the people of Minnesota, I thank the minority leader--
for what he did half a century ago, and for the example he has given us 
in the half century since.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. LEAHY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
  The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, under the order entered into just a few 
minutes ago, I will speak as in morning business.
  Before I begin, I should like to commend the Senator from Minnesota 
for his praise of the distinguished senior Senator from Kansas.
  I have known Senator Dole for nearly 20 years. He had already served 
a term in the Senate when I came here. He was reelected and I was 
elected in the same year.
  I have had occasion to work with him on one committee we served 
together for 20 years. I have worked with him on nutrition matters and 
others where he has been one of the Nation's leaders in causes of 
nutrition. I had the honor of going with him when he led a delegation 
to Rome for the 40th anniversary for the liberation of Rome. My wife 
and I accompanied him on that occasion.
  I have met very few men or women in my life who even begin to match 
the bravery shown by Bob Dole in the service of this country.
  It was perhaps during that trip to Rome that we had a chance to 
discuss even further what he went through, not because Senator Dole was 
there to talk about what he went through, as though to speak in his own 
favor, but only because those of us, including three Medal of Honor 
winners who were with us, almost had to drag out even the least amount 
of what he did with his bravery.
  So I too would commend the senior Senator from Kansas. His life is 
one marked by bravery, great physical suffering, and by great physical 
courage.

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