[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 35 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2307-H2308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      UPDATE ON BOSNIAN DEPLOYMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hobson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Skelton] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, the debate over the American deployment to 
Bosnia has ceased and in this, my third floor speech regarding that 
troubled part of the world, I wish to say a good word about the 
Americans in uniform stationed there.
  From briefings that I have received and hearings before the National 
Security Committee, it is evident that the uniformed Americans are 
performing exceptionally well in this challenge called Bosnia. The Air 
Force is doing its duty flying above and flying into that country, 
delivering needed materiel. The Navy and Marine Corps stand guard in 
the Adriatic, ever ready to help if called upon.
  But it is the foot soldier, stationed in the American sector--the 
northeast corner--of Bosnia, on which I center my remarks.
  The Army is fully deployed, consisting of the 1st Armored Division 
and supporting units. To begin with, twin float bridges were built 
across the swollen Sava River. No other army has ever even attempted to 
bridge such a river, especially with the high water level. The first 
float bridge is the longest one in military history.
  Junior soldiers and officers are performing at ``levels far above any 
reasonable expectation, cheerful and willing under the most trying of 
circumstances, innovative, and hard-working to the extreme,'' according 
to the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Dennis Reimer, who recently returned 
from Bosnia.
  The conditions under which our soldiers live are difficult. The 
winter snows are up to 10 inches. When the snow melts, the mud is deep. 
And yet, morale is high and military professionalism is the order of 
the day.
  The thousands of land mines in Bosnia continue to be a major problem 
for our troops. Since the peacekeeping mission began, NATO troops have 
reported 14 accidents involving mines. Five of these incidents resulted 
in injuries, including the death of one American soldier. At my urging, 
the Army has accelerated its program of mine detection under the 
leadership of the Army Vice Chief of Staff.
  The flag officers have been interviewed and quoted at length in the 
news media, but it is the enlisted ranks and junior officers that are 
making this peacekeeping deployment a success. The late Gen. William 
Tecumseh Sherman once said: ``We have good corporals and Sergeants, and 
some good lieutenants and Captains, and those are

[[Page H2308]]

far more important than good generals.'' General Sherman's words still 
ring true.
  Our soldiers in and around the Tuzla area are reflecting the best of 
our American values. Their dedication and grit enable them to endure 
the challenges of land mines, deep mud, rock slides, and raging rivers. 
Their solid presence is winning the admiration and respect of the 
former warring parties. It is my hope that when their year-long 
deployment ends, they will be able to look back and see the valuable 
contribution they made in bringing stability to a sad and tragic corner 
of the globe.
  I know that every Member of this body joins in wishing our troops 
continued success in this precedent-making deployment.

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