[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A WORD OF PRAISE AND THANKS TO CAROLE KING, DAVID BALL, AND MARY CHAPIN 
                               CARPENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 19, 1999

  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, during Christmas week I went with Senator 
Daniel K. Inouye and Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen to the Middle East 
to congratulate our troops on the great work they've done in the region 
and to let them know America was remembering their efforts during the 
Holidays when so many had to be away from their families.
  We found wonderful morale among the troops and a strong commitment to 
continuing to meet U.S. goals in the region.
  I also want to praise three entertainers who gave up part of their 
Holidays to join us. As we visited in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and 
abroad the USS Enterprise, the troops were entertained by Mary Chapin 
Carpenter, Carole King, and David Ball. The troops thoroughly enjoyed 
meeting the entertainers and listening to their music. Several soldiers 
commented on how much the show brightened their holidays noting it was 
the highlight of the last 4\1/2\ months.
  These three patriotic Americans gave up part of their Christmas Week 
to deliver a message of support and concern to our troops. They clearly 
showed their support for our Nation, our troops, and our spirit of 
uniting as Americans.
  We left on a Sunday, returned on Christmas Eve, and were greeted by 
an ice storm that made travel difficult. Carole King traveled from 
Washington back to Idaho by air, then drove three hours to her home; 
David Ball missed his flight home, drove to Baltimore, and finally got 
to Nashville the next morning; Mary Chapin Carpenter lives in the 
Washington area, but it's the second straight Christmas she's visited 
troops, last year in Italy, Macedonia, and Bosnia.
  It's a pleasure for me to recognize the commitment and caring of 
these three fine Americans, and to restate the thanks of our troops and 
our Nation for their patriotism.

                          ____________________