[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING OUR AMERICAN HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEVEN T. KUYKENDALL

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 1999

  Mr. KUYKENDALL. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I spent the 
recent district work period participating in celebratory events for 
African American History Month. I saluted the heroism of Eric Davis on 
the baseball diamond and in his fight against colon cancer, John Bryant 
of Operation Hope--our first non-profit investment banking 
organization, and Vernon J. Baker, a Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, and 
Bronze Star recipient for acts of valor in World War II.
  Let me tell you a little about Vernon. Second Lieutenant Baker served 
in the Army and fought in World War II. On April 5-6, 1945, Second 
Lieutenant Baker destroyed enemy installations, personnel and equipment 
during his company's attack against a strongly entrenched enemy in 
mountainous terrain. When his company was stopped by the concentrated 
fire from several machine-gun emplacements, he crawled to one position 
and destroyed it, killing three German soldiers. Continuing forward, he 
attacked an enemy observation post and killed its two occupants. With 
the aid of one of his men, Second Lieutenant Baker attacked two more 
machine-gun nests, killing or wounding the four enemy soldiers 
occupying these positions. He then covered the evacuation of the 
wounded personnel of his company by occupying an exposed position and 
drawing enemy fire. On the following night, Second Lieutenant Baker 
voluntarily led a battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy 
fire toward the division objective.
  Like Vernon, African Americans have played an integral role in 
defending American ideals since this country's origin. Their 
willingness to serve this country dates back to the Revolutionary War 
and their service as ``privateers'' in America's first merchant marine. 
They fought in the Battle of Concord, crossed the Delaware River, and 
served in the Continental Army. Thousands served in the War of 1812, 
protected New Orleans when threatened in 1815, and fought with the 
Party of Lincoln to achieve emancipation. Almost 400,000 African 
Americans fought alongside white infantrymen in World War I, though 
they had to do so in segregated units and in the face of widespread 
misinformation that African Americans lacked the intellectual ability 
to serve their country. Today, almost 25% of our armed forces are 
African American.
  We seldom hear of the acts of individual courage displayed by our 
African American vets. Yet, the simple act of signing up to serve--and 
facing bigotry, discrimination, and segregation head on--is at least as 
heroic as the act of serving this country. Even today, though, our 
history books lack real substance about the full contributions of 
soldiers like Vernon Baker to our military legacy. Recognizing their 
contribution, even if it takes African American History Month to prompt 
us, is the first step we must take.
  Ultimately, the contribution of men like Vernon Baker should be 
remembered not as the contribution of an African American, but as the 
contribution of an American soldier. To quote Interior Secretary Harold 
Ickes, ``Not color, not race, not religion, not pedigree of family, nor 
place of birth, not social standing, not size of his bank account, not 
his trade, nor her profession'' makes one an American. ``An American is 
one who loves justice and has a deep and abiding respect for the 
dignity of men and women. An American will fight for his freedom and 
that of his neighbor. An American will forgo ease and property and 
security in order to preserve for himself and for his children the 
rights of free men and women.''
  I proudly salute Vernon Baker, as well as Eric Davis and John Bryant, 
for their fight to preserve for all the rights of free men and women. I 
salute each, not because he or she is an African American, but because 
they are Americans, fighting for collective ideals and to make the 
world safe for all of us.

                          ____________________