[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 49 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO OUR COMRADES-IN-ARMS--AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND VETERANS 
                              ON ANZAC DAY

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                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 12, 1999

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our 
Allied comrades-in-arms, the Australian and New Zealand veterans of the 
First and Second World Wars, as they celebrate Anzac Day on Sunday, 
April 25. Anzac Day is a national holiday, very similar to America's 
Memorial Day, on which citizens in Australia and New Zealand pause to 
remember those who have fallen in twentieth century combat, in the 
defense of freedom.
  Throughout Australia, one sees many memorials to the Anzacs, the 
valiant veterans of World War I. The list of those who gave their lives 
in battle for their nation often is greater than those who currently 
live in the same districts. Australia suffered a 68% casualty rate in 
the First World War, the highest in the British Commonwealth.
  The Allied soldiers were well received. General William Blackbird of 
England wrote that the Australians were reckless and debonair, would 
stick at things no matter what the odds, were proud of their 
independence, and were proud of dying bravely. He finished by writing 
that the Australians were gladiators with the eyes of children.
  This proud Australian tradition of fighting courageously was 
continued by the veterans of World War II. As the Axis Powers began to 
enslave the world in the 1930's, the young Australians responded by 
preparing for military exodus from home. Knowing that sectors of 
sparsely-populated Australia would succumb upon overwhelming Japanese 
invasion, the Australians dismantled direction signs and built 
serpentine roads to inland airfields. These winding roads were intended 
by the Australians to be used later to good effect in guerrilla 
warfare, as the citizens fought to reclaim their nation from enemy 
occupying forces.
  Well aware of the overwhelming might of the nearby Japanese armed 
forces, and knowing that they would be in Allied military service for 
an extended period of time, many Australians of fighting age destroyed 
their prized farm horses, so that the animals would not be used by the 
enemy against Australia in the future.
  Acknowledging the tradition of honoring courage on Anzac Day, I pay 
particular tribute to one of Australia's Army veterans of World War 
Two, the former Corporal John Henry Soulsby of the state of Victoria, 
who exemplifies Australia's fortitude. Jack Soulsby served in the 
Australian Commonwealth Military Forces from 1940-1948, and was an Army 
Medic in the jungles of Borneo. He was known affectionately as 
``Aspro,'' (Australian slang for aspirin), by other Australian Army 
veterans, for, at times, all that the young Medic had to give the badly 
wounded men were aspirin tablets, the sterile bandages which he had 
made, his constant care, and prayers. Strong, athletic, and blessed 
with a sunny temperament, Corporal Soulsby boiled and re-used dressings 
in his innovative drive to help his comrades in the face of scarce 
medical supplies. Later, Mr. Soulsby exclaimed fervently, ``If it 
weren't for the United States, Australia wouldn't exist today, for 
America gave us the men and the equipment to fight with!''
  This month, on April 25, perhaps we Americans, too, will pause in 
appreciation of the love of freedom and the devotion of our comrades-
in-arms, who will be celebrating Anzac Day in Australia and New 
Zealand.

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