[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 34 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2153-H2154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              ON IWO JIMA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Tejeda] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, first let me say that I am honored to speak 
in this special order tonight and I thank Congressman Montgomery for 
organizing the special order. During the past several days, this 
Congress and this Nation have paused to reflect on the Battle for Iwo 
Jima, which was engaged 50 years ago this past Sunday. I read with 
interest the dialogue which took place in the other body last 
Wednesday, and I hope my colleagues will take the time to read the 
Congressional Record account of that discussion in addition to this 
special order.
  Last Friday at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Marines past and 
present and other veterans gathered at a luncheon honoring this Iwo 
Jima campaign and those who fought there. Preparing for this speech 
gave me an opportunity to reflect on the significance of this historic 
battle: Both to the Marines of 1945 and to the Marines of today and 
tomorrow. Since my colleagues have already discussed the battle itself, 
I will try to focus on the present and the future.
  As this Nation honors those who served 50 years ago, we cannot escape 
the fact that their numbers are decreasing. Their dedication, bravery, 
and devotion to fellow man and country and Corps are left for future 
generations to honor.
  I wore the Marine Corps uniform for a different generation, a 
different war. Yet I cannot and will not forgo the obligation, the 
responsibility, of honoring the legacy of those who served before me. 
Set the example.
  We honor them in many ways: By awarding medals, building monuments, 
lending their names to streets, schools, and bases just to name a few. 
But those of us who serve in Congress have an extra responsibility to 
these men. We must ensure that the blood, sweat, and tears which they 
shed in wartime will not be forgotten during this or any other 
prolonged period of peace.
  Gen. Holland Smith said that the battle of Iwo Jima would assure the 
internal existence of the Marine Corps. This may be true, but in what 
form? The debate still rages in the halls of Congress.
  Today's Marine Corps is in a precarious position. Nobody will dare 
question the quality of the men and women currently serving in uniform. 
The problem is: Do we have enough of them in uniform to meet our 
national security needs and are we able to take care of them 
adequately?
  General Mundy, during his testimony in support of the FY 96 budget 
request, stated that the proposed force level of 174,000 active and 
42,000 selected marine reservists is, the absolute minimum force level 
to enable the corps to meet today's requirements.
  In addition to the budget debate in Congress, there is a roles and 
missions debate ongoing in the Pentagon. The recommendations from an 
independent panel will be released shortly. In this context, I offer a 
small comparison between the battle for Iwo Jima and the Persian Gulf 
war.
  I recall nearly 5 years ago that many people called for a 
comprehensive, sustained air campaign against Iraq's forces in hopes 
that ground troops would not be needed. Many feared that the price of 
military victory in human lives would be too high.
  After 38 days of aerial bombardment, which President Bush called, ``* 
* * the most effective, yet humane, in the history of warfare,'' ground 
forces were ordered into Kuwait to achieve the military objective.
  Looking back at Iwo Jima, we must not forget that the island and its 
defenders were subjected to 6 months of constant aerial bombardment 
before the marines landed. In the past 50 years of technological 
advances, it is still the grunts on the ground who will be called upon 
in the future to fight and win our Nation's battles.
  Even during my service, Mr. Speaker, every Quonset hut, every 
barracks that you went into, you would see a motto, a quote there that 
said, ``The more we sweat in peacetime, the less we bleed in war.'' 
Today's Marines are ready and prepared.
  Mr. Speaker, the survivors of Iwo Jima do not seek any personal 
glory. They served because their Nation called. It is only fitting for 
my generation and those after me to recognize, honor, and commemorate 
these valiant Marines.
  However, I believe the most appropriate tribute we can pay is to 
forever uphold the values which they exhibited 
[[Page H2154]]  as Marines. Although words alone cannot describe the 
totality of their experience at Iwo Jima, Adm. Chester Nimitz came 
closest: ``Uncommon valor was a common virtue.''
  There are two ways to pay this ultimate tribute. The first is to 
educate our colleagues, since more and more enter this body without any 
military service, our children, and all future generations so that the 
battle for Iwo Jima and the valor and discipline of Marines is always 
remembered.
  The second is to ensure that the Marines of today and tomorrow will 
have the arms, equipment and materiel to live up to the high standards 
set by those who served on Iwo Jima.
  The Marines of Iwo Jima have left their legacy. Let us work to make 
this legacy an enduring one.


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