[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       50TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kanjorski). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, during the past week, the people of 
America and the Allied forces have paused to observe the 50th 
anniversary of the D-Day invasion. The Speaker authorized us to lead a 
27-member congressional delegation to participate in commemoration 
ceremonies in England, Italy, and France, and we would like to give you 
a brief summary of our trip.
  The historic 50th anniversary ceremonies had a special meaning for 
several members of the Codel who participated in the invasion. Mr. 
Michel was part of the invasion force that came onto Utah Beach on D-
day, plus 4. Some members of the delegation saw action in the European 
theater during the war. Others were involved in combat missions in the 
Pacific theater.
  Traveling independently, Congressman Sam Gibbons, a member of the 
101st Airborne who parachuted into the Ste-Mere Eglise area the night 
before D-day, served as the official representative of the President at 
ceremonies at Utah Beach and Ste-Mere Eglise on June 5. At both 
ceremonies Representative Gibbons brought greetings from President 
Clinton and recounted his memories of participating in D-day.
  On June 6, 1944, a military force of 153,000 American, British, and 
Canadian troops launched the most massive assault of its kind ever 
attempted in the history of the world. Their goal was the liberation of 
Europe and the preservation and restoration of freedom in the Western 
World. The invasion was massive, brilliant, and successful. It was one 
of the most significant events in the 20th century. Few events, if any, 
have had such a resounding impact on the course of American and 
European history. The invasion was the beginning of the end of the war 
against Hitler.
  The D-day assault involved 5,000 naval vessels and 11,000 sorties of 
Allied aircraft. The five separate beaches where troops landed were 
fiercely guarded by German defenders. The approaches were filled with 
underwater obstacles. The beaches were heavily mined and strewn with 
barbed wire. High ground above the beaches was commanded by German 
artillery.
  The loss in both personnel and material was extremely high. D-day 
casualties totalled 10,200, of which American troops suffered 1,465 
killed, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing-in-action and 26 captured.
  The trip was a tribute to brave individuals who successfully 
completed an impossible task. Theirs is a story that is a powerful part 
of both our past and our future. We owe much to our service personnel 
and Allies for their courage and extraordinary efforts in bringing 
about the defeat of Hitler's armies. What we most enjoyed was the 
opportunity to visit and talk with so many seasoned veterans who 
returned to Normandy to participate in the ceremonies and to again see 
their buddies who were with them when they met the enemy on June 6, 
1944. This past week was one we shall not forget.
  Our delegation departed Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday, May 31, 
arriving in London late in the evening. Wednesday, June 1, the 
delegation toured the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. In 
the evening Ambassador and Mrs. William Crowe hosted a reception at 
Winfield House, their residence in Regents Park.
  On Thursday, members of the delegation flew to Italy and visited the 
United States and Allied cemeteries in Anzio. While there we received a 
briefing of the invasion and toured the beachhead landing area. More 
than 9,000 United States service personnel who died in the sweep to 
Rome are buried at the Sicily-Rome Cemetery in Nettuno.
  Friday morning the delegation toured the Imperial War Museum. The 
exhibits, displays and movies give an unforgettable feeling of the 
terror of war and the misery it brings to all people who find 
themselves engaged in combat. Delegation members serving on the Armed 
Services Committee were invited to lunch with defense Committee MP's at 
Parliament. During lunch there was a discussion about the situation in 
Bosnia, the ongoing negotiations with North Korea, and other important 
issues relating to NATO. In the afternoon we visited Churchill's 
Cabinet War Rooms. At 4:30 p.m. we attended the SHAEF Headquarters 
Commemoration at Grosvenor Square. Chairman Montgomery brought 
greetings from the House of Representatives and Mr. Michel read General 
Eisenhower's Order to the troops participating in the Normandy 
invasion.
  On Saturday, we traveled to Cambridge to join President Clinton and 
Prime Minister John Major to observe the Remembrance of the AAF Air 
Crew Ceremony at the beautiful cemetery there. We were moved by the 
remarks of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Honorable Lloyd Bentson, 
who told of his personal experiences as a bomber pilot and the feelings 
of the ground crews when their planes returned safely. President 
Clinton and Prime Minister Major reminded us all of the sacrifices made 
by so many during war as they spoke to thousands in attendance with a 
backdrop of white crosses throughout the cemetery. Codel Chairman 
Montgomery laid a wreath on behalf of the delegation. During the late 
afternoon we flew to Deauville, France.
  On Sunday morning the delegation traveled to Utah Beach where we 
joined the President and Mrs. Clinton at the USAR Commemoration 
Ceremony. Following the ceremony we walked the beach with many veterans 
who came ashore during the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. In the 
afternoon we attended the 82d/101st ABN Ceremony near Ste-Mere Eglise, 
where we witnessed, with thousands of others, a jump by some 25 
veterans who had jumped with their units 50 years earlier. The oldest 
veteran was 83 years of age. It was a most impressive sight, not only 
to see these old soldiers jump again, but to hear them talk about ``how 
it was'' 50 years earlier. In recognition of these heroes, more than 
500 members of the 82d and 101st jumped to the delight of everyone 
attending the event.
  The delegation ended the day by participating in the National Guard 
Association of the U.S. Commemoration Program where Chairman Montgomery 
made remarks extolling the importance of the citizen soldier to the D-
day effort. Later he and Mr. Michel laid a wreath at the monument 
honoring members of the National Guard units who participated in the 
invasion at Omaha Beach. Following this impressive event, we attended a 
reception and buffet dinner at the Vierville Chateau, hosted by the 
community of Vierville.
  Monday, June 6th had special meaning for all of us. The World War II 
members of the delegation attended prayer service ceremonies aboard the 
U.S.S. George Washington before joining the rest of the group for a 
return to Utah Beach where we joined President Clinton and President 
Mitterand, for the United States/French Bilateral Commemoration 
Ceremony. At 5:00 p.m., we proceeded to Colleville-sur-Mer where we 
attended the U.S. Commemoration Ceremony at the American National 
Cemetery. More than 9,000 veterans are buried there. ``International 
Herald Tribune'' reporter Barry James best described the President's 
deep feelings for our Nation's veterans as follows: ``Looking out 
across the cemetery where 9,386 Americans lie under trim rows of white 
crosses and Stars of David, the President spoke movingly of `the 
fathers we never knew, the uncles we never met, the friends who never 
returned, the heroes we can never repay.'''
  We are grateful to Speaker Foley for allowing us to represent you and 
other Members of the House this past week in honoring America's heroes 
of the Normandy invasion. Although the price was terribly high, we were 
reminded by Donald Boyce, 69, from Carmichael, CA, a jumpmaster in a C-
47 that dropped one of the first sticks of paratroopers on D-day that, 
``Somehow or other, a bunch of people who were only civilians went out 
and battled a professional army and made Europe free.''

                List of D-Day Participants by Seniority

       Honorable G.V. Montgomery, Chairman, Honorable John 
     Dingell, Honorable Bob Michel, Honorable Don Edwards, 
     Honorable Jake Pickle, Honorable Kika de la Garza, Honorable 
     George Brown, Honorable Tom Bevill, Honorable John Myers.
       Honorable Henry Hyde, Honorable Austin Murphy, Honorable 
     Ike Skelton, Honorable Earl Hutto, Honorable Bob Dornan, 
     Honorable Tom Lantos, Honorable Mike Bilirakis, Honorable Tom 
     Lewis, Honorable Al McCandless.
       Honorable Roy Rowland, Honorable Norm Sisisky, Honorable 
     Alex McMillan, Honorable George Sangmeister, Honorable Cliff 
     Stearns, Honorable John Tanner, Honorable Gene Taylor, 
     Honorable Chet Edwards, Honorable Charles Taylor.

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