[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMENDING THE VETERANS OF UNDERAGE MILITARY SERVICE INC.

                                 ______


                          HON. OWEN B. PICKETT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. PICKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an often 
unacknowledged group of veterans that deserves recognition. Each of the 
members of this group joined the military and fought to defend this 
country before they were of legal age to do so. These brave and 
courageous young men have been represented in every war in which the 
United States has been involved. Most of the current members fought in 
World War II.
  These veterans have established an organization of their own, 
entitled ``Veterans of Underage Military Service, Inc.'' which is 
recognized as a nonprofit organization by the IRS and U.S. Postal 
Service. They have recently honored Adm. J.M. ``Mike'' Boorda, USN, the 
highest ranking underage enlistee on active duty, who joined the Navy 
when he was 16 years old.
  The Second District of Virginia which I represent, is fortunate to be 
the home of one of the officers of the Virginia chapter of the Veterans 
of Underage Military Service, Inc., Mr. Thomas C. Hise. Tom Hise's work 
on behalf of this organization has contributed to the recognition it 
has received by obtaining laudatory proclamations from Virginia 
municipal and State governments.
  Mr. Speaker, I request permission to insert into the Congressional 
Record the House joint resolution adopted by the Virginia General 
Assembly commending members of the Veterans of Underage Military 
Service, Inc.
  All Americans applaud the determination and patriotism shown by these 
underage enlistees and express gratitude and appreciation for their 
honorable service to our country.

 Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly; House Joint Resolution No. 
                                  327

       Whereas, throughout history, nations have called upon their 
     youth to fight their wars, and it is inevitable that some 
     young men and women under the age of 17, usually driven by 
     strong patriotism, have enlisted in the armed forces; and
       Whereas, in some instances, these youths were discovered 
     and separated from the service, sometimes after they had 
     already seen action and performed heroically; and
       Whereas, the Veterans of Underage Military Service, Inc., 
     was formed in 1990 to help such individuals who were 
     frequently discharged from the service and stripped of their 
     awards and their military benefits; and
       Whereas, the primary goals of the organization are to 
     contact all veterans who served in any branch of the United 
     States armed forces when they were under 17 years of age and 
     to advise and assist them in obtaining a proper discharge and 
     their veteran's benefits; and
       Whereas, a secondary goal is to establish a historical 
     record of underage veterans by publishing their names, their 
     deeds, and their stories; and
       Whereas, the organization currently consists of over 600 
     veterans who served in the armed forces before they were 17; 
     and
       Whereas, three Medal of Honor winners who enlisted before 
     they were 17 have been identified; and
       Whereas, the officers of the Virginia chapter of the 
     Veterans of Underage Military Service, Inc., Bobby Lee Pettit 
     and Thomas C. Hise, both served in the armed forces before 
     they were old enough to enlist, legally; now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That the General Assembly commend the Veterans of Underage 
     Military Service, Inc., for their attempts to locate and 
     assist all underage veterans of America's armed forces; and, 
     be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bobby 
     Lee Pettit, Commander of the Virginia chapter of the Veterans 
     of Underage Military Service, Inc., as an expression of the 
     support of the General Assembly for the worthy goals of this 
     organization.

                          ____________________