[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5627-S5628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 32--RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING AMERICAN 
                                 AIRMEN

  Mr. HUTCHINSON (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Helms, Mr. Faircloth, 
Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Reid, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, Mr. Santorum, Mr. 
Hagel, Mr. Craig, Mr. Mack, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Murkowski, and Mr. Ashcroft) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 32

       Whereas during World War II, 168 Allied airmen were 
     captured by the enemy and held as political prisoners at the 
     Buchenwald concentration camp in Weimar, Germany;
       Whereas the captured airmen included 82 Americans, 26 
     Canadians, 48 Britons, 9 Australians, 2 New Zealanders, and 1 
     Jamaican;
       Whereas the facts and circumstances of their confinement 
     are amply documented in the official records maintained by 
     the National Archives and Records Administration;
       Whereas a report from the International Red Cross 
     concerning Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Germany, mentioned 6 
     American airmen held at Buchenwald, including one whose name 
     does not appear on the lists maintained by the National 
     Archives and Records Administration;
       Whereas since the liberation of Buchenwald in 1945 numerous 
     personal memoirs, scholarly books, and articles have been 
     published describing the conditions at the concentration 
     camp;
       Whereas this extensive documentation records the 
     extraordinarily inhuman treatment, deprivations, and personal 
     suffering inflicted on the 168 Allied airmen and other 
     inmates at Buchenwald; and
       Whereas Allied Governments and veterans organizations 
     outside the United States have granted special recognition to 
     their citizens and servicemembers who were held as prisoners 
     of war in World War II concentration camps: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes and commends the American airmen held as 
     political prisoners at the Buchenwald concentration camp 
     during World War II for their faithful service, personal 
     bravery, and exceptional fortitude; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     recognizing and commending the service, bravery, and 
     fortitude of those airmen.

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise today, to join with my friend 
and colleague Senator Joseph Lieberman, in submitting a bill that will 
give appropriate and well-deserved recognition to a group of World War 
II veterans who were held as German political prisoners at the Nazi 
concentration camp, Buchenwald. Fittingly, today is Shavout in the 
Jewish religion. This holiday commemorates the Jews receiving the Torah 
on Mount Sinai and celebrates their fleeing from Egypt.
  First and foremost, I want to thank the original cosponsors of this 
bill: Senators Helms, Faircloth, Torri- celli, Reid of Nevada, Smith of 
New Hampshire, Santorum, Hagel, Craig, Mack, Kohl, Murkowski, and 
Ashcroft.
  Mr. President, Congressmen Dave Weldon and Peter Deutsch will be 
introducing similar legislation later today in the House of 
Representatives.
  These brave airmen were different from other Allied prisoners, 
because they were held at Buchenwald, a Nazi concentration camp--and 
therefore not subject to the protections of the Geneva Convention.
  The Nazi concentration camps will forever occupy an ignominious place 
in our human history, and we have long recognized the bravery and 
daring of many prisoners who fought their Nazi oppressors and struggled 
to win political and religious freedom.
  Tragically, Mr. President, the United States has never formally 
recognized the service, sacrifice, and bravery of these American airmen 
while they were held as political prisoners at the Buchenwald 
concentration camp.
  Our bill, which has been endorsed by the American Ex-Prisoners of War 
and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, would recognize these 82 American 
airmen and ask that the President issue a proclamation commending their 
service. Mr. President, I do have a list of the names and whereabouts 
of these 82 American airmen and I ask unanimous consent that it appear 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  List of WW II American Airmen Held at Buchenwald Concentration Camp


                              NOT LOCATED

       Freeman, E.C.
       Hanson, J.T.
       Horrigan, R.J.
       Scharf, B.T.
       Scott, G.W.


                                DECEASED

       Alexander, William
       Beck, Levit C.
       Crouch, M.E.
       Duncan, James H.
       Heimerman, L.A.
       MacLenahan, J.H.
       Mauk, W.E.
       Pecus, Steve
       Pennel, Sam
       Smith, J.W.
       Vance, Ira E.
       Wilson, P.J.
       Zeiser, J.
       Chapman, Park
       Suddock, D.E.
       Horwege, G.L.
       Edge, W.L.


                              STILL LIVING

       Bauder, W.F.
       Bedford, R.L.
       Bowen, C.E.
       Brown, R.H.
       Carr, F.W.
       Chalot, J.A.
       Chessir, D.
       Coats, B.A.
       Cowan, F.K.
       Coffman, J.D.
       Dauteul, D.F.
       Denaro, Joe
       Fore, J.W.
       Hastin, J.D.
       Hilding, R.D.
       Hunter, H.F.
       Johnson, R.T.
       King, Myles A.
       Larson, M.E.
       Little, B.S.
       Ludwig, E.F.
       McLaughlin, D.G.
       Mitchell, G.E.
       Moser, J.F.
       Pacha, A.M.
       Paxton, S.K.
       Powell, W.
       Reynolds, N.L.
       Richey, G.T. Sr.
       Ritter, E.W.
       Roberson, C.W.
       Ryherd, W.H.
       Shearer, D.R.
       Straulka, P.A. Jr.
       Sypher, L.H.
       Thompson, W.A.
       Vratney, Frank
       Watson, J.P.
       Ward, Robert
       Williams, W.J.
       Zander, A.E.
       Phelps, B.F.
       Pelletier, A.J.
       Friel, Edward J.
       Petrich, M.R.

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, of the 82 American airmen, there are 
three from my home State of Arkansas: Mr. William Powell of Bella 
Vista, Mr. Frank Cowan of Harrison, and Mr. Robert Ward of Springdale.
  Before I yield the floor, Mr. President, I want to take this 
opportunity to share the response of two of those Arkansans when they 
learned that this resolution was being introduced today.
  Mr. William Powell said:

       The recognition is long overdue. For decades, the 
     Department of Defense and the International Red Cross have 
     stated that there were no military personnel in Buchenwald. 
     Yet as someone who was imprisoned there for 4 months I know 
     of at least 55 other American soldiers who endured the 
     hardships of this camp. Two men even lost lives there. And 
     nearly all suffered diseases later in life because of the 
     treatment they received while held in Buchenwald.
       In the late 70s, early 80s, I joined with the other 
     survivors of Buchenwald to push this government to recognize 
     our service. We never wanted any money, we just wanted the 
     United States Government to say, Yes, you were there, and we 
     appreciate what you went through for our country.

  I will quote from Mr. Frank Cowan:

       It has been a long time coming, but finally our sacrifice 
     will be acknowledged. Unfortunately, many of those who were 
     at Buchenwald have passed on, nevertheless, there are many of 
     us still alive to enjoy this.

  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues today to join us in support of 
this important measure so those veterans still living, and the families 
and friends of those who have passed on, can fully realize the public 
recognition these brave men so surely deserve.

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