[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12568-S12569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              VETERANS DAY

  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Veterans 
Day, that day on which all of us are called on to honor the sacrifices 
made for our country by those who serve in her armed forces and those 
who risked or gave their lives defending her.
  It is only right, Mr. President, that we pay tribute to the brave men 
and women who put their country before themselves in time of danger. On 
the beaches of Normandy or in the jungles of Vietnam, in the South 
Pacific or the Persian Gulf, on the shores of Inchon or the deserts of 
North Africa, our soldiers and sailors have defended this country 
around the globe, in the face of bombs, bullets, disease and hunger. 
Nothing we do can repay the debt we owe them. But we must note that 
debt, recognize it and make certain our children know how great it is.
  As we remember the brave young people who have defended our nation in 
time of war, we should not forget that many of them put their lives on 
the line for America even though they were born in a different land. 
These soldiers and sailors were not born in this country. But they 
loved her enough to risk their lives to protect her.
  Over 60,000 active military personnel are immigrants to this country. 
More than 20 percent of recipients of our highest military declaration, 
the Congressional Medal of Honor, have been immigrants. And the most 
decorated combat team of World War II was a regiment made up of the 
sons of Japanese immigrants.
  Many immigrants have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 
More than once I have told audiences the story of Nicolas Minue, the 
Polish born soldier who served the United States in World War II. I 
tell this story because of the inspiring bravery that is its subject, 
because of the pride it should evoke in every American, native or 
foreign born.
  In Tunisia in 1943, private Minue's company was pinned down by enemy 
machine gunfire.
  According to the official report, ``Private Minue voluntarily, alone, 
and unhesitatingly, with complete disregard of his own welfare, charged 
the enemy entrenched position with fixed bayonet. Private Minue 
assaulted the enemy under a withering machine-gun and rifle fire, 
killing approximately ten enemy machine gunners and riflemen. After 
completely destroying this position, Private Minue continued forward, 
routing enemy riflemen from dugout positions until he was fatally 
wounded. The courage, fearlessness and aggressiveness displayed by 
Private Minue in the face of inevitable death was unquestionably the 
factor that gave his company the offensive spirit that was necessary 
for advancing and driving the enemy from the entire sector.''
  America remains free because she has been blessed with many American 
heroes, willing to give their lives in her defense. Nicolas Minue 
showed that not every American hero was born in America.
  Michigan, too, has her share of heroes. More than once, I have 
related the story of Francisco Vega, a citizen of my state who was born 
and raised in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Mexican immigrants. His 
father, Naba Lazaro Vega served in the American Army during World War 
I. I tell Mr. Vega's story because it, too, is one of inspiring bravery 
and love of country.
  Mr. Vega volunteered for the Army in October 1942 and served during 
the Second World War. He fought for the Americans in five major battles 
in Europe, including the crucial landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy. He 
was awarded bronze stars for bravery in each of these five battles. Mr. 
Vega was discharged in December 1945 and came to Michigan, where he 
attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and graduated from 
Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He retired from his own cemetery 
business in 1993 and currently resides in Grand Rapids.
  In Vietnam, also, immigrants served our nation and became heroes. For 
example, Alfred Rascon immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. At age 20, 
while a lawful permanent resident, Mr. Rascon volunteered to serve in 
Vietnam. During a firefight he twice used his body to shield wounded 
soldiers. He was nearly killed dashing through heavy enemy fire to get 
desperately

[[Page S12569]]

needed ammunition, but refused medical attention until the wounds of 
all the other soldiers in his unit were tended. Asked why he showed 
such courage even though he was not yet a U.S. citizen, Mr. Rascon 
replied ``I was always an American in my heart.'' So impressed were 
they by his bravery that fellow soldiers who witnessed his acts have 
urged that he receive the Medal of Honor.
  I could tell many more such stories. But let these three suffice to 
show the commitment to America's ideals and way of life that has been 
shown by so many brave young soldiers and sailors over the years.
  We owe a debt to all these people for keeping our nation free and 
safe in a dangerous world. And we owe a continuing debt of gratitude to 
those today who serve, guarding our country, our homes and our freedom. 
Like all good things, freedom must be won again and again. I hope all 
of us will remember those, immigrants and native born, who have won 
freedom for us in the past, and stand ready to win freedom for us 
again, if they must.
  May we never forget our debt to the brave who have fallen and the 
brave who stand ready to fight.
  I yield the floor.

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