[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H11811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MARKING MARINES BIRTHDAY IN LIGHT OF CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTING TROOPS 
                               TO BOSNIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, November 10 will mark the 220th 
birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
  I would like to take this opportunity of the Marine birthday to 
express some thoughts that have come to mind as we consider a long-term 
commitment of United States ground forces in Bosnia.
  With the dread of flag-draped coffins arriving back to America from 
the Balkans in mind, I drove to the Beirut Memorial yesterday, and that 
is at the Marine base at Camp Lejeune, NC.
  The Marines have a spirit, and they call it Esprit d'Corps, which 
bonds all Marines together as they march in lockstep doing their 
country's bidding overseas. They march forward with a flame in their 
heart which symbolizes the best of what makes this country great.
  When I went to the memorial there in North Carolina, next to the 
Marine base, there is a wall which memorializes the 240 Marines that 
were blown up in 1983 when a mad bomber burst into their encampment and 
blew up the building in which they were sleeping.
  These Marines are heroes. Their names are not on the Vietnam Wall, 
although many of the Marines who were killed were actually Vietnam 
veterans. One of the Marine names, Sgt. David Battle, was my brother's 
best friend and our families were very close.
  Now as we talk about deploying troops, we should not forget the 
tragedy of what happened there in Beirut in 1983, over 10 years ago 
now. It was very similar to what we see in the Balkans. It was a very 
confusing situation.
  In fact, very shortly after the arrival, the political situation was 
so confused, and the Marines became so entangled, that the State 
Department set down a policy that the Marines were to have no 
ammunition, no bullets in their guns. And when eventually a bomber came 
to break through the perimeter to get to the Marines with a truck laden 
with explosives, the Marine guard did not have a bullet in his gun to 
stop that truck.
  We did not do right by the Marines by sending them into that 
situation, and we should keep them in mind and keep in mind that there 
are people who sacrifice and lose their lives when we make decisions 
like sending people to the Balkans.
  Unless it is in part of America's interest, we should not be putting 
our people's lives at stake.
  Looking at that memorial with the 240 names listed, the statue of the 
fallen Marine and the words ``They Came in Peace'' on the wall of the 
memorial this weekend at Camp Lejeune, I wrote the following poem which 
I would now like to read and have inserted into the Record.
  It is entitled ``Marines in Beirut.''

                              {time}  1915

  I am sorry if it sounds schmaltzy to some people, or if it sounds a 
little too patriotic or whatever, but this reflects my feelings after 
having visited this memorial to those Marines who died in Beruit.

                           Marines in Beruit

                         (By Dana Rohrabacher)

     They came in peace to a distant shore.
     The gallant warriors of the Corps
     To risk their lives yet once more
     Always faithful, ever more.

     It's ``Yes sir, can do''
     The Marines salute, and then come through.

     They landed in Beruit's bloody scene
     Such is the life of a Marine.
     On deadly turf confused and mean--
     Political pawns in a foolish scheme.

     But it's, ``Yes sir, can do''
     The Marines salute, and then come through.

     They knew that something had gone wrong
     When their short mission went on and on
     With no objective, yet they stayed strong.
     Courage sometimes means holding on.

     Holding ground where snipers reign,
     Hold faith in our country's game,
     Their bullets pouched. It's insane,
     but Marines take orders and don't complain.

     It's ``Yes sir, can do''
     The Marines salute, and then come through.

     For the fools in charge they had to pay
     And on the dawning of that day
     Death could not be held at bay
     By guards whose bullets were stashed away.

     The explosion killed our gallant men.
     Yet we know they'd go again
     if called by country, or country's friend.
     These heroes, alas, won't fight again.

     Never send Marines to die
     Unless it's clear the reasons why.
     for heroes must know that we will try
     to take to heart their families' cry.

     For it's ``Yes sir, can do''
     The Marines salute, and then come through.

     We let them down, but we won't do it again.

                          ____________________