[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4328-S4329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING NINETEEN MARINES AND EXTENDING CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE ON 
                              THEIR DEATHS

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 310, submitted 
earlier by Senator Snowe, for herself and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 310) honoring the 19 members of the 
     United States Marine Corps who died on April 8, 2000, and 
     extending the condolences of the Senate on their deaths.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise to speak on a resolution honoring 
the 19 Marines who died on April 8, 2000 during a training mission in 
Marana, AZ, and extending the condolences of the Senate to their 
families and the Marine Corps.
  I thank Senators Warner and Levin, and the 13 other Senators--from 
both sides of the aisle on the Armed Services Committee--for joining me 
in bipartisan support of this resolution.
  At approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, while conducting 
training as part of the weapons and tactics instructor course, during 
an operational evaluation of the MV-22 Osprey, the aircraft 
unexpectedly plunged to the ground during landing, killing all 19 
marines on board.
  Their deaths stunned the Nation. Among those who died were fathers, 
husbands, boyfriends, brothers, grandsons, nephews, uncles, and 
friends. These dedicated men were from Texas, Maryland, Oklahoma, 
California, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Arizona, 
Washington, Virginia, and Florida but were bound together in the 
brotherhood of arms known as the United States Marine Corps.
  Since it was first established through a resolution by the 
Continental Congress on November 10, 1775, the United States Marine 
Corps has been defined by the fearless and indomitable spirit of those 
who have served. Sharing an enviable ``esprit de corps,'' marines have 
used the Marine Corps emblem of the eagle, globe, and anchor to 
transcend race, ethnicity, gender, geographic and economic background. 
Their tenacity, uncompromising will, and outspoken pride in being a 
marine have endeared them to the nation, and we, as a nation, grieve 
their loss.
  Nowhere is this loss felt more deeply than by the families of these 
men. I thank them for their unrelenting support and sacrifice that they 
have made to their marine, to the Marine Corps, and to their Nation, 
and offer my sympathy for their loss. I also recognize the Marine Corps 
family--specifically the 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, the Marine Helicopter Squadron-1, and the Marine Wing 
Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38--who served 
side by side with these marines and will continue to carry out the 
mission without them.
  This tragic accident is a brutal reminder that there is no such thing 
as ``routine'' training for our men and women in the military. Every 
day, all around the world our armed forces risk their lives, in peace 
and in combat, to support and defend our great Nation, and they deserve 
our thanks and admiration.
  Mr. President, this resolution recognizes the sacrifices of these 
magnificent 19 marines and their families who embody the Marine Corps 
credo ``Semper Fidelis'' always faithful. It is the opportunity for the 
Senate to publically thank their families and the Marine Corps for 
their dedication, loyalty, and sacrifice to our Nation, and to extend 
our condolences on this loss.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 310) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 310

       Whereas on April 8, 2000, an MV-22 Osprey aircraft crashed 
     during a training mission in support of Operational 
     Evaluation in Marana, Arizona, killing all 19 members of the 
     United States Marine Corps onboard;
       Whereas the Marines who lost their lives in the crash made 
     the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the United States 
     and the Marine Corps;
       Whereas the families of these magnificent Marines have the 
     most sincere condolences of the Nation;
       Whereas the members of the Marine Corps take special pride 
     in their esprit de corps, and this tremendous loss will 
     resonate through the 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st 
     Marine Division, Marine Helicopter Squadron-1, and Marine 
     Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 
     and the entire Marine Corps family;
       Whereas the Nation joins the Commandant of the Marine Corps 
     and the Marine Corps in mourning this loss; and
       Whereas the Marines killed in the accident were the 
     following:
       (1) Sergeant Jose Alvarez, 28, a machinegunner assigned to 
     3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, of 
     Uvalde, Texas.
       (2) Major John A. Brow, 39, a pilot assigned to Marine 
     Helicopter Squadron-1, of California, Maryland.
       (3) Private First Class Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21, a 
     machinegunner assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 
     1st Marine Division, of Picher, Oklahoma.
       (4) Private First Class Alfred Corona, 23, a machinegunner 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of San Antonio, Texas.
       (5) Lance Corporal Jason T. Duke, 28, a machinegunner 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of Tempe, Arizona.
       (6) Lance Corporal Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27, an 
     assaultman assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st 
     Marine Division, of San Diego, California.
       (7) Major Brooks S. Gruber, 34, a pilot assigned to Marine 
     Helicopter Squadron-1, of Jacksonville, North Carolina.
       (8) Lance Corporal Seth G. Jones, 18, an assaultman 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of Bend, Oregon.
       (9) 2d Lieutenant Clayton J. Kennedy, 24, a platoon 
     commander assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st 
     Marine Division, of Clifton Bosque, Texas.
       (10) Corporal Kelly S. Keith, 22, an aircraft crew chief 
     assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron-1, of Florence, South 
     Carolina.
       (11) Corporal Eric J. Martinez, 21, a field radio operator 
     assigned to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine 
     Air Control Group 38, of Coconino, Arizona.
       (12) Lance Corporal Jorge A. Morin, 21, an assaultman 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of McAllen, Texas.
       (13) Corporal Adam C. Neely, 22, a rifleman assigned to 3d 
     Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, of 
     Winthrop, Washington.
       (14) Staff Sergeant William B. Nelson, 30, a satellite 
     communications specialist with Marine Air Control Group 38, 
     of Richmond, Virginia.
       (15) Private First Class Kenneth O. Paddio, 23, a rifleman 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of Houston, Texas.
       (16) Private First Class George P. Santos, 19, a rifleman 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of Long Beach, California.
       (17) Private First Class Keoki P. Santos, 24, a rifleman 
     assigned to 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
     Division, of Grand Ronde, Oregon.
       (18) Corporal Can Soler, 21, a rifleman assigned to 3d 
     Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, of Palm 
     City, Florida.
       (19) Private Adam L. Tatro, 19, a rifleman assigned to 3d 
     Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, of 
     Kermit, Texas: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) has learned with profound sorrow of the deaths of 19 
     members of the United States Marine Corps in the crash of an 
     MV-22 Osprey aircraft on April 8, 2000, during a training 
     mission in Marana, Arizona, and extends condolences to the 
     families of these 19 members of the United States Marine 
     Corps;
       (2) acknowledges that these 19 members of the United States 
     Marine Corps embody the

[[Page S4329]]

     credo of the United States Marine Corps, ``Semper Fidelis'';
       (3) expresses its profound gratitude to these 19 members of 
     the United States Marine Corps for the dedicated and 
     honorable service they rendered to the United States and the 
     United States Marine Corps; and
       (4) recognizes with appreciation and respect the loyalty 
     and sacrifice these families have demonstrated in support of 
     the United States Marine Corps.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the Commandant of the 
     United States Marine Corps and to the families of each member 
     of the United States Marine Corps who was killed in the 
     accident referred to in the first section of this resolution.

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