[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          TRUE AMERICAN HEROES

                                 ______


                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute the Mountain Fire/
Rescue 05018 Volunteer Fire Company from Calaveras County, CA, for 
their contributions and personal sacrifices in the humanitarian mission 
Operation SUPPORT HOPE to Goma, Zaire, in July 1994. These men saved an 
estimated 500,000 lives by ensuring that the Rwandan refugees in Zaire 
had fresh water to drink.
  The crew left California on July 23, 1994 and after an arduous 22.5 
hour flight, they arrived in Goma, Zaire. From the moment they stepped 
off the plane, they were hard at work. It was a horrific sight. Dead 
bodies filled the road from the airfield to the pumping site at Lac 
Kivu. Before they could even begin pumping the fresh water needed to 
cure those with cholera, they had to clear the area around the lake. 
Human remains littered the entire area.
  The men encountered many dangers. Cholera was everywhere and it was 
reported that 80% of the population was HIV-positive. As if disease 
were not a sufficiently dangerous adversary, the crew also had to worry 
about the Zairian soldiers who were continuously firing their AK47 
assault rifles and throwing hand grenades at them.
  The crew gave little thought to their personal safety, however, as 
they continued to work. It was necessary to clear a spot 20 yards into 
the lake and 100 yards wide along the shore in order to begin pumping 
the water. The crew had to maneuver around dead bodies as well as 
abandoned AK47's and hand grenades. Within four hours, they had made 
all of the preparations necessary to begin the pumping process.
  For the next 32 days, they worked tirelessly for 18 hours per day. 
They had a subpump, firetruck, and 14 water tenders. The water tenders, 
which were sent by the United Nations, were used to transport the water 
from the lake to a nearby village. However, when they arrived, they 
were filled with diesel fuel. The men had to clean out the tanks so 
that they would be safe for transporting water.
  The main tool used to accomplish this amazing feat has an interesting 
story all its own. The subpump, which was on loan from Redwood City, 
CA, is the only one of its kind in the United States. This pump can 
pump 1,250 gallons per minute (gpm) at 120 pounds per square inch (psi) 
and can push water through a 5" fire hose up higher than 160 feet. The 
subpump can continuously pump large amounts of water. This subpump is 
the same piece of equipment that pumped contaminated water 24 hours a 
day for 30 days, aerating and ridding Shasta Lake of its toxicity after 
the toxic waste spill.
  It is with great pleasure that I recognize the Mountain Fire/Rescue 
members who assisted in Operation SUPPORT HOPE. They are: Chief John 
Horner, Matthew Blackburn, Derrick Bruham, John Conway, Jack Pacheco, 
Frank Blackburn, William Dunn, and Dan Molly. I would also like to 
recognize the many support volunteers of Mountain Fire/Rescue who made 
it possible for these men to respond so quickly. The men and women of 
Mountain Fire/Rescue have demonstrated the true American spirit in 
giving of themselves to help others in need. Their dedication should 
serve as an inspiration to us all.


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