[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             TRIBUTE TO VIETNAM ERA SERVICEMEN FROM CANADA

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 
service of Canadians who served in the United States Armed Forces 
during the Vietnam war.
  The United States and Canada have a long history of friendship and 
cooperation in both peacetime and in war. New Hampshire, with our 
strong French-Canadian heritage, has for over two centuries held a 
strong cultural bond with our northern neighbors. As former Canadian 
Prime Minister MacKenzie King spoke in 1925 regarding Americans who 
served in the Canadian forces in World War I, ``Few countries enjoy the 
bonds of goodwill and friendship that the United States and Canada 
share. Our common border remains the largest unguarded frontier on 
Earth, and our nations have shared triumphs and tragedies throughout 
history.''
  Approximately 40,000 Canadians served in the U.S. Armed Forces during 
the Vietnam war. Many of these men and women volunteered to serve for 
they had no obligation to military service in this country. Estimates 
run as high as 400 Canadians killed in action and 4,000 wounded. Of the 
58,132 men and women who are listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 
Washington, DC, 113 are Canadians. To this day, there are still 
servicemen of Canadian descent unaccounted for from this conflict.
  I am proud to highlight the service of two Canadian resident aliens 
who served in Vietnam: Gaetan Jean Guy Beudoin and Guy Andre 
Blanchette, both of Manchester, NH.
  Gaetan Jean Guy Beudoin and Guy Andre Blanchette served in the New 
Hampshire National Guard, 3d Battalion, 197th Artillery during the 
Vietnam war. In September 1968, the New Hampshire National Guard was 
activated into Federal service for a year-long tour of duty. During its 
tour, the 197th Artillery suffered six combat deaths. Five of these 
deaths occurred on the same day when an Army vehicle struck an enemy 
land mine. Gaetan Jean Guy Beudoin and Guy Andre Blanchette were killed 
on that day 1 week before they were scheduled to return home to New 
Hampshire. New Hampshire and, indeed, their adopted country are proud 
and grateful for their courageous service.
  On July 15, 1995, the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Coalition is hoping 
to dedicate a memorial to Canadians who gave the supreme sacrifice in 
Southeast Asia. As a Vietnam veteran, I applaud the efforts by Canadian 
veterans to memorialize their fallen comrades. I look forward to the 
day when Canadian citizens will have the opportunity to pay tribute in 
their capital to their friends and relatives who unselfishly joined 
forces with the United States during the Vietnam war.

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