[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7291-S7292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  321ST MISSILE GROUP, GRAND FORKS AFB

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
321st Missile Group at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, as it prepares to 
deactivate.
  As my colleagues may be aware, the 321st is one of the longest-
serving and most decorated ICBM units in the United States Air Force. 
After flying B-25 bombers in the Mediterranean theater during the 
Second World War as the 321st Bombardment Group, this fine unit 
undertook several aircraft and basing changes before coming home to the 
prairies of North Dakota at Grand Forks AFB in 1964.
  As the 321st Missile Wing, this unit was the very first to deploy the 
Minuteman II ICBM during the mid-1960s, and became one of the first to 
upgrade to the Minuteman III missile in the early 1970s. The 321st 
consistently won awards, being often regarded as the best ICBM wing in 
the Air Force. After this unit was selected for closure, its personnel 
ably continued the strategic deterrence mission, while also--ahead of 
schedule--realigning the 321st Missile Group's assets.
  North Dakotans have always had a special attachment to the 321st. 
Unlike other military units which are sometimes seen at a distance, at 
air fields and barracks behind chain-link fences, the 321st Missile 
Group has literally been based in North Dakota's backyards. Its roots 
of steel and concrete are sunk deep into the prairie soil of the 
Flickertail State.
  One hundred and fifty ICBM silos and fifteen missile alert facilities 
dot the fields of eastern North Dakota, covering an area larger than 
the state of New Jersey. As the missileers and their hardware stood at 
the very frontlines of the Cold War, we North Dakotans in our nearby 
farms and communities knowingly and proudly stood with them. For over 
three decades, we have been pleased to open our small town coffee shops 
to personnel on their way to inspect a launch facility, or to groups of 
officers returning to base after pulling long strategic alerts in 
launch control facilities beneath the wheat fields of the Red River 
Valley.
  Mr. President, the men and women of the 321st have been a part of 
North Dakota in a very special way. To everyone who has served in the 
321st over its long history at Grand Forks, I say this: you will always 
have a home in North Dakota. You are part of the family.
  There is no question that we are sad to see the 321st go. Even so, I 
think it is important that we put the departure of this unit in its 
proper context.
  The 321st is being realigned because our country won the Cold War. 
The triumph of America and its ideals over communism and tyranny is 
worth celebrating.
  As we celebrate this victory, however, we must not forget that it was 
the men and women of the 321st who provided America the strategic 
deterrence and stability that allowed the Cold War to end peacefully. 
Around the clock, year after year, the 321st stood ready to deliver 450 
nuclear warheads to targets throughout the Soviet Union in just a few 
minutes time. This made it clear to Moscow that a thermonuclear war 
with the United States would be a conflict they could never hope to 
win.
  I would urge my Colleagues in the Senate not to forget that the motto 
of the Strategic Air Command was ``Peace is Our Profession.'' Truly, 
the 321st has been an organization of ``peace professionals.''
  It is good to know that the spirit of the 321st Missile Group will 
live on at

[[Page S7292]]

Grand Forks AFB with the 319th Air Refueling Wing, a ``core'' tanker 
unit of KC-135 Stratotankers. I hope that the 319th and the Air Force 
will be with us in North Dakota for many years to come.
  Today, Mr. President, as the 321st prepares to retire its colors, I 
would send to the 321st Missile Group, all who have and do serve her, 
and the Untied States Air Force that has protected us so well, a 
message of thanks and congratulations. The Senate--and all Americans--
owe you a deep debt of gratitude.

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