[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RETIRED MARINE COLONEL BRIAN QUIRK SEEKS PROPER BURIAL FOR WWII WAR 
                              HERO REMAINS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dear friend of 
mine, retired Marine Colonel Brian Quirk, on his endless desire to 
preserve the lives of our fallen war heroes.
  At the annual convention of the Marine Corps League in New Orleans, 
Louisiana, Colonel Quirk proposed a resolution that the United States 
Congress demands an apology from the Japanese government. This proposal 
arose because of unanswered questions regarding incidents on the small 
Pacific island called Makin Island between August and October of 1942.
  In August of 1942, Colonel Quirk was on the submarine with Donnie 
Roberton of Franklin, Louisiana, a Marine who is thought to have been 
beheaded by the Japanese on Makin Island. Colonel Quirk and Private 
Roberton were comrades during WWII en route to Makin Island. They were 
both privates and members of the Carlson's Raiders, a group of 220 
Marines headed by a celebrated fighter who had done a tour with the 
Chinese Army against the Japanese in the 1930s. They were under the 
command of James Roosevelt, the son of President Franklin Roosevelt. 
The mission of the Carlson's Raiders in August of 1942 was to attack 
the Japanese on Makin Island. It was believed that there were only 100 
Japanese on the island. The battled lasted one morning and all the 
Japanese were believed to be dead.
  About 140 wounded American Marines left the island by boat, which 
left behind about 60 Marines on Makin Island. Private Roberton and four 
other Marines volunteered to leave the submarine to rescue the 
remaining men on the island. The five men journeyed in a rubber boat 
back to the island, but were spotted by Japanese aircraft and bombed in 
the water. The five men were presumed dead.
  From this point on in the story little more is known. However, there 
is record that nine or ten Marines had surrendered to the Japanese on 
Makin Island at the end of September. There is also record that nine 
Marines were beheaded in October of 1942. This leaves many unanswered 
questions for the family and friends of our fallen war heroes who may 
have been involved in this attack.
  Colonel Quirk is now actively seeking answers, more importantly, an 
apology from the Japanese government for their inhumane treatment of 
our Marines. This is a 58-year-old mystery that Colonel Quirk is 
determined to discover the truth. I commend Colonel Quirk on his quest 
for the truth.

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