[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 34 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2157-H2158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  2120
           TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maine [Mr. Longley] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LONGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I understand that my colleague, Mr. Dornan, 
from California, is going to be addressing the House a little bit later 
this evening on the subject of Iwo Jima. In advance of his 
presentation, I want to take a few minutes to address the House to talk 
about what a great day this is.
  Fifty years ago today, the flag was raised proudly atop Mount 
Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. It is a great day for World 
War II veterans. it is now 50 years ago that we were winding down World 
War II. This was one of the last major battles that was fought. But it 
was also a great day for Marine veterans and those Marines, sailors, 
who were involved in that battle.
  But there is one aspect of the flag raising that I would like to call 
some attention to. Specifically, we are all familiar with the famous 
photograph that was taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press and 
what a great landmark photograph that that was, probably one of the 
most famous combat photographs ever taken, certainly in world history 
one of the most familiar ever taken.
  But that was the second photograph of a flag raising. I want to 
devote a minute to talk about the photographer of the first flag 
raising on Mount Suribachi, a Marine Corps staff sergeant by the name 
of Lou Lowery.
  Lou was a Marine Corps combat correspondent. Many who maybe have not 
had experience in the military might not understand the important role 
that combat correspondents, both photographers and journalists, play. 
Literally in every action in which American servicemen and women are 
involved, combat photographers and journalists follow.
  Lou Lowery, as a staff sergeant, was with the first patrol that 
raised the first flag. The photograph that was taken wasn't as dramatic 
as the one that was taken by Mr. Rosenthal, but yet it was just as 
significant, because it symbolized the triumph over extreme odds of a 
determined group of Marines and sailors who were determined to fight 
and achieve victory for this great country.
  But it was also an important photograph in the sense that Lou may not 
have ever received the credit that Mr. Rosenthal did. But in many ways 
his photograph and his memory is as fitting a tribute to World War II 
veterans 
[[Page H2158]]  as Mr. Rosethal's. Because there were millions of men 
and women, not just in World War II, but in every action we have been 
engaged in, who, without a whole lot of credit, did their duty, 
performed their service, achieved great victories for this country 
against all odds, but yet never quite received the credit that others 
might have received.
  So on this great day, the 50th anniversary of the flag raising on Iwo 
Jima, I certainly am proud to stand here, not only as a reserve 
lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, but also as an 
American, to salute those men and women who have served in our Armed 
Services, who were involved in World War II, and the veterans of that 
great conflict, and in particular the veterans of Iwo Jima, one of the 
bloodiest battles in American history, and certainly a battle that is 
well worth our remembering on this important day.

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