[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E54]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC TRIBUTE

                                 ______


                         HON. ROBERT K. DORNAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 23, 1996

  Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay an overdue tribute to 
the organizers of the Victory in the Pacific ceremony, which was held 
in Orange County's Pacific Amphitheatre on August 17, 1995.
  Orange County is home to some 60,000 veterans of one of the most 
noble and horrible conflicts, the Second World War. No doubt a large 
portion of these heroes saw action in the Pacific theater of 
operations, fighting against the tyranny of imperial Japan. On August 
17 of last year, they came together in solemn remembrance of the 
battles, campaigns, and final victory of half a century ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I was unfortunately unable to attend this historic 
event. However, I was lucky enough to be presented with an honorary 
program, as well as a news article from the August 25, 1995, issue of 
Flight Jacket, a newspaper published by my Semper-Fi neighbors at 
Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. In order to describe this event in 
the detail it deserves, I ask unanimous consent to enter this article 
into the Record.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay special tribute to the men and 
women who put together this fine event, especially those members of the 
Orange County Veterans Advisory Council, chaired by William C. Manes, 
and the Victory in the Pacific Committee, chaired by Hal Camp. They 
have done an outstanding service, not only to our World War II heroes, 
but to all Americans who have ever worn the uniform of our armed 
services. God willing, we will never take our freedom for granted, 
because events like this will always remind us of the terrible price we 
as a nation have paid in the past, and may be asked to pay in the 
future, in order to ensure our liberty. We will never forget those who 
fought for freedom, for without them, we as a people would simply not 
exist.

     Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific

                    (By Sgt. Matthew B. Fitzgerald)

       Costa Mesa, CA.--Veterans, active duty servicemembers, 
     civilians and their family members celebrated America's 50th 
     Anniversary Remembrance of World War II, ``Victory in the 
     Pacific,'' at the Orange County Pacific Amphitheater here 
     Aug. 17.
       There are approximately three million veterans in 
     California. About one-third of these veterans, approximately 
     832,000 Californians, are veterans of WWII--many of whom 
     participated in operations in the Pacific Theater, according 
     to retired Marine Col. Jay R. Vargas, director, Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, California.
       ``Sixty-three thousand citizens of Orange County served in 
     uniform during World War II,'' he said.
       ``This celebration honors the contributions of those men 
     and women, not only in the war, but also and perhaps more 
     importantly, in the post-war period. It is also the result of 
     the hard work they contributed to building peace and 
     prosperity upon their return from the war's battlefields,'' 
     said Col. Vargas.
       Colonel Vargas, who received the Medal of Honor for action 
     in Vietnam, represented Governor Pete Wilson. The Governor 
     proclaimed 1995 as the ``Year of the Veteran'' in California.
       Six guest speakers gave eulogies remembering the six 
     military leaders of the Pacific campaigns. Two of the Pacific 
     commanders honored were Marine Gen. Holland M. Smith, by 
     MGen. Paul A. Fratarangelo, commander, Marine Corps Air 
     Bases, Western Area, and Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, by Army 
     MGen. Robert A. Lame, commanding general 63rd Army, Reserve 
     Command.
       ``Holland McTyeire Smith, the epitome of the warrior-
     Marine, never closed his eyes very long. As `The Father of 
     Modern Amphibious Warfare,' his eyes, always blazing with the 
     guts and fire of success (hence the name `Mad'), saw his 
     Marines to victory in the Pacific during World War II,'' said 
     MGen. Fratarangelo.
       Major Gen. Fratarangelo said it was a deep honor for him to 
     be able to share with those who attended the enormous 
     contributions of Gen. Smith to ``Corps and country'' during 
     World War II.
       The day's events also included a wreath-laying ceremony. 
     Thirty-five wreaths in honor of the military leaders were 
     placed on stage by state and national political leaders, 
     military leaders, representatives of the allied governments 
     involved in the Pacific Theater and Medal of Honor recipients 
     from the Pacific Campaigns.
       Another honored veteran who attended was Medal of Honor 
     recipient, retired Army Col. Lewis L. Millett, a combat 
     veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
       As company commander of Company E, 27th Infantry Regiment, 
     then Capt. Millett led his 100 men in three days of bayonet 
     assaults against the North Koreans on hill 180, Soam-ni, 
     North of Oson, South Korea, Feb. 4, 5 and 7, 1951.
       Colonel Millett told his men, ``Fix bayonets and follow 
     me!''
       On the third day of fighting, Millett had lost a total of 
     nine of his men, while he and his company had destroyed 
     approximately 157 North Koreans. For these actions, he was 
     awarded the Medal of Honor.
       ``We had ammo, and when I was charging, I'd be firing, 
     trying to pin the enemy down until I got down in the trenches 
     with them. That's when we used the bayonets,'' Millett said.
       ``There were about 20 killed by bayonet alone,'' he said.
       According to Millett, when President Harry S. Truman placed 
     the medal around his neck, the president told him, ``I'd 
     rather have this than be president.''
       Colonel Millett also received a Silver Star, Bronze Star 
     and four Purple Hearts during his military career.
       The Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Band provided the 
     patriotic music for the day. Some of the tunes the band 
     played were the service songs, ``Taps,'' ``Stars and Stripes 
     Forever'' and the ``National Anthem.''
       ``It was good to see veterans still appreciate our country, 
     the lives they lived through the military and share the 
     experiences they have gone through,'' said LCpl. David B. 
     Amos, tuba player, MCRD Band, MCRD San Diego.
       Another guest and veteran who attended was former Army 
     military policeman and bugler first class Fred Hummer, a 
     Fountain Valley, Calif., resident. In 1916, Hummer enlisted 
     in the Army during World War I at the age of 17. He wore a 
     replica of his original WWI Army uniform.
       When Hummer enlisted, his recruiter told him that the Army 
     needed buglers, not infantrymen. After joining, Hummer's 
     unit, D Company, 22nd Infantry, was sent to El Paso, Texas, 
     to assist in the capture of Francisco ``Pancho'' Villa, a 
     Mexican rebel.
       Hummer spent the remainder of his four years of service in 
     the Army as a bugler at Fort Hundleton, N.Y., according to an 
     Army Times article.
       For the past 78 years, Hummer has kept the same bugle and 
     plays for veteran's celebrations and memorials regularly.
       One veteran who played the cornet for willing ears was 
     Eugene M. Cianflone. He served as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class 
     with Landing Ship Tanks 274 and participated in the invasions 
     of Kwajalien, Marshall Islands with the 2nd Marine Division, 
     and Saipan, Marianna Islands, with the 4th Marine Division.
       ``I have been playing for over 65 years, and always for 
     veterans,'' Cianflone said. ``This is the one place where 
     they really appreciate the music,'' he added.
       The impact of the war seemed to leave many profound 
     memories in the hearts and minds of those who served.
       ``From the grim morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941, until the 
     moment of triumph on Sept. 2, 1945, America and her allies 
     waged a valiant struggle for freedom against the forces of 
     despotism,'' said Governor Wilson, in a letter to the 50th 
     Anniversary Commemorative Committee. ``That struggle was 
     waged across an ocean dotted with places known by the then 
     unfamiliar names of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Coral Sea 
     and Bataan. Today, half a century later, those names are 
     synonymous with the valor and sacrifice that are the hallmark 
     of the Second World War.''

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