[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             REFLECTIONS ON THE 53RD ANNIVERSARY OF V-J DAY

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor, thank, and 
remember the men and women who fought so bravely to protect our 
freedoms during World War II. As my colleagues know, it was 53 years 
ago today that Japan officially surrendered to the Allies, prompting 
President Truman's declaration of September 2nd as Victory-Over-Japan 
Day, or V-J Day.
  That monumental declaration marked the end of the most immense and 
devastating war the world has ever seen--a war that shaped not only the 
course of history but also the lives of the many brave Americans who, 
through their service in the U.S. military, fought to restore freedom 
to lands halfway around the world.
  These young Americans were thrust into a situation best described by 
General William Sherman when he said, quite simply, that war is hell. 
It is safe to say they experienced horrors and fear most of us cannot 
begin to comprehend.
  To gain some understanding of the realities of war and of the heroism 
exhibited during World War II, let me take you back to December 7, 
1941. The place was Pearl Harbor. George Albert Enloe, a young Navy 
flyer from Anoka, Minnesota, had just two days earlier turned 26 years 
old. Before that day he had never really known the realities of war. 
Here is part of the diary entry he made on that Sunday describing the 
surprise Japanese attack:

       I can, and will always, remember the bullets that sprayed 
     past me as I ducked into the hanger. Ensign Fox and Ensign 
     Willis were right behind me. Fox was killed; Willis got 
     through with a bullet through his head. The bullets came 
     through the hanger as though it was made of paper . . . I 
     understood then what it means to be ``under fire.'' Before, 
     these were just words. But I found myself actually there. I 
     was scared. I forced myself to stay. We kept shooting.

  Enloe survived that day and went on to serve for five more years in 
the military. In that short period, he became one of the most decorated 
combat pilots in the entire Navy and just last month, the City of Anoka 
dedicated a park in his honor.
  Unfortunately, as years pass and our nation enjoys one of its 
greatest periods of prosperity, too many Americans, especially young 
Americans, are unaware of the sacrifices made and the lessons taught to 
us by the likes of George Enloe.
  In Winona, Minnesota, for example, a young man was recently found 
guilty of vandalizing flagpoles at a veterans park. What makes this act 
even more disheartening is that, according to the corrections agent who 
handled the case, the teen ``did not really know what a veteran was.''
  Thankfully, the judge understood the importance of educating this 
young man on the sacrifices made by those who have served our nation's 
military. The sentence handed down by the judge required the teen to 
see and then write a report on the movie ``Saving Private Ryan.''
  At a time when the movies and TV are saturated with senseless 
violence, this film exposes Americans to a bleakly realistic portrait 
of war--a war in which large numbers of Americans fought heroically in 
the worst conditions imaginable and often died horrible deaths in a 
battle against oppression. ``Saving Private Ryan'' is a violent film, 
just as war is violent. It is a disturbing film, as it ought to be.
  I hope that young vandal walked out of the theater with some sense of 
what a veteran truly is. I hope ``Saving Private Ryan'' will help to 
raise that awareness in all Americans. During this time of relative 
peace, we cannot turn a blind eye to the sacrifices of the past. We 
must remember that our ability to speak freely, choose a place of 
worship, and pursue the American dream were protected by every man, 
every woman who served in World War II. Above all, we must never take 
for granted what our veterans have taught us, the lesson that is 
chiseled into the stone of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in 
Washington, DC--``Freedom Is Not Free.''
  On the anniversary of the official end of World War II, I encourage 
Americans to take time today to thank and remember our veterans. 
Whether they are a neighbor, a friend, or a grandparent, ask about 
their experiences during that turbulent time. Through their sacrifices, 
freedom and prosperity have flourished. Tell them they are appreciated.
  Mr. President, I have taken a few moments to try to put into 
perspective the magnitude of the sacrifices made by our young soldiers 
during World War II. I know that my words are wholly inadequate in 
reflecting the experiences of those brave men and women. Perhaps 
understanding ultimately lies not in words, but in actions--the actions 
of every veteran who swore an oath to defend our sacred freedom from 
``all enemies, foreign and domestic.''
  We are duty-bound to pass on those experiences to future generations 
of Americans, to ensure they know the stories, sacrifices, pain, and 
ultimate triumph of World War II. For their sake and for the sake of 
this nation, we must never let another young American forget what a 
veteran is.

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