[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 72 (Friday, June 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                A SALUTE TO SEVERAL AMERICAN WAR HEROES

                                 ______


                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 10, 1994

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute several 
decorated World War II veterans, and raise several questions about the 
apparent cold shoulder turned to all veterans by the White House during 
its recent excursion to Europe to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 
Normandy D-day invasion.
  Mr. Speaker, I was moved by a story I saw on the CBS Evening News on 
Monday, June 6, 1994. While our President was hopscotching around 
Europe to attend various ceremonies honoring American participation in 
the Allied invasion of Europe, many veterans were left at home--
forgotten by the Clinton administration. As a member of the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, I took particular interest in this story. 
In the segment, three of the California Veterans' Home's Day-day vets 
were interviewed.
  I contacted the California Veterans' Home, and collected information 
on these vets, as well as several others. Here is a list of these brave 
men which I am saluting today:
  Mr. Jess Ergle--was in the 1st Division, ``Bloody One''. He stormed 
Omaha Beach, and was in the first wave. He was from Los Angeles, and 
was 26 at the time.
  Mr. Frank D. Elwess--was in the 82d Airborne Division, 504 Regiment, 
Company B. He jumped behind enemy lines at night the day before the 
invasion, June 5, 1944. He is from Ionia MI, and was 19 at the time.
  Mr. James Brumm--was in the U.S. Navy, the Atlantic Amphibious Unit, 
Flotilla 10, LST 494. He was in the first wave to hit the beach at 
Omaha. He was from Los Angeles, and was 18 at the time.
  Mr. Dick Kennedy--was in the 4th Infantry Division, the 12th 
Infantry, 2d Batallion, and was a motor officer. He stormed Utah Beach. 
His hometown was Abbotsford, WS, and he was 23 at the time.
  Mr. Clarence Schwarz--was on the Coast Guard transport Bayfield, 
which helped storm Utah Beach. He was from Omaha, NE, and was 25 at the 
time--said they called him ``Pops'' because he was the oldest one on 
his boat and had a wife and kids.
  Mr. George Richmond--was mentioned in the CBS segment, but 
unavailable to speak with me.
  Mr. Speaker, it is because of great men like these that we have the 
freedom we all cherish. It is because of their heroism and bravery that 
we have this great country we live in. I am sure there are thousands of 
men just like Frank, Clarence, Jess, James, Dick, and George, all 
across this country who would have liked to have been reunited with old 
buddies, and once again walked across those beaches. However, as Frank 
Elwess stated, ``I would have loved to have gone, but I just can't 
afford to.''
  It is at this point Mr. Speaker, where I would like to point out for 
those who don't know, that at the request of our President, there were 
at least 27 passenger carrying Air Force planes which made the trip to 
and throughout Europe. One these planes, an estimated group of more 
than 1,000 people were shuttled around to the various ceremonies. My 
question is quite simple, ``Who were these people?''
  Mr. Speaker, I asked that question of the White House. They would not 
respond. I then asked, ``Are there any veterans going with the 
President?'' They would not respond. I contacted several veterans' 
service organizations, such as the VFW, the American Legion, and 
AMVETS, none of which had received an invitation to travel with the 
President.
  Mr. Speaker there were more than a thousand people who deserved to be 
on those planes. Those people were not invited. The people who 
deserved, and should have been invited, were the veterans who stormed 
the beaches and jumped out of the planes in France that cold and rainy 
day some 50 years ago. At the very least, representatives from the 
veterans' service organizations should have been invited. After all, it 
is because of those men that we even had a celebration.
  Mr. Speaker, despite all of the hype which surrounded the President's 
trip through Europe, it is quite clear that even in remembering some of 
those who fought and died at Normandy--something was forgotten. That 
something was the service of Jess Ergle, Clarence Schwarz, Frank 
Elwess, James Brumm, Dick Kennedy, George Richmond, and the thousands 
of others the President chose to leave behind. Mr. Speaker, I have not, 
and will not forget the service of these six men, nor the service of 
the many others who fought and died protecting our freedoms. These men, 
although unrecognized by the White House, are real American heros.

                          ____________________