[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H426-H429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE MADE BY 28 UNITED STATES SOLDIERS 
                  KILLED DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 39) honoring the 
ultimate sacrifice made by 28 United States soldiers killed by an Iraqi 
missile attack on February 25, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, and 
resolving to support appropriate and effective theater missile defense 
programs.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 39

       Whereas, during Operation Desert Storm, Iraq launched a 
     Scud missile at Dhahran,

[[Page H427]]

     Saudi Arabia early in the evening of February 25, 1991;
       Whereas one Patriot missile battery on a Dhahran airfield 
     was not operational and another nearby battery did not track 
     the Scud missile effectively;
       Whereas the Scud missile hit a warehouse serving as a 
     United States Army barracks in the Dhahran suburb of Al 
     Khobar, killing 28 soldiers and injuring 100 other soldiers;
       Whereas the thoughts and prayers of the Congress and the 
     country remain with the families of these soldiers;
       Whereas this single incident resulted in more United States 
     combat casualties than any other in Operation Desert Storm 
     and since;
       Whereas Scud missile attacks paralyzed the country of 
     Israel during Operation Desert Storm;
       Whereas the Patriot missile batteries, which were used in 
     Operation Desert Storm for missile defense, were not 
     originally designed for missile defense;
       Whereas the United States and our allies still have not 
     fielded advanced theater missile defenses;
       Whereas missile technology proliferation makes missile 
     attacks on United States forces increasingly possible; and
       Whereas February 25, 2001, is the 10th anniversary of the 
     Scud missile attack which caused the deaths of these brave 
     soldiers who died in service to their country: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) on behalf of the American people, extends its sympathy 
     and thanks to the families of Specialist Steven E. Atherton, 
     Corporal Stanley Bartusiak, Specialist John A. Boliver, Jr., 
     Sergeant Joseph P. Bongiorni III, Sergeant John T. Boxler, 
     Specialist Beverly S. Clark, Sergeant Allen B. Craver, 
     Corporal Rolando A. Delagneau, Specialist Steven P. Farnen, 
     Specialist Duane W. Hollen, Jr., Specialist Glen D. Jones, 
     Specialist Frank S. Keough, Specialist Anthony E. Madison, 
     Specialist Steven G. Mason, Specialist Christine L. Mayes, 
     Specialist Michael W. Mills, Specialist Adrienne L. Mitchell, 
     Specialist Ronald D. Rennison, Private First Class Timothy A. 
     Shaw, Specialist Steven J. Siko, Corporal Brian K. Simpson, 
     Specialist Thomas G. Stone, Specialist James D. Tatum, 
     Private First Class Robert C. Wade, Sergeant Frank J. Walls, 
     Corporal Jonathan M. Williams, Specialist Richard V. 
     Wolverton, and Specialist James E. Worthy, all of whom were 
     killed by an Iraqi missile attack on February 25, 1991, while 
     in service to their country; and
       (2) resolves to support appropriate and effective theater 
     missile defense programs to help prevent attacks on forward 
     deployed United States forces from occurring again.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon).


                             General Leave

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 39.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago 2 days ago on Sunday, February 25, the 
largest loss of American life in military conflict in the last 10 years 
took place in Desert Storm as a group of American soldiers were 
involved in setting up an operation to support Operation Desert Storm. 
Unfortunately, a Scud missile was launched by Saddam Hussein's units 
into the barracks, and as a result, 28 young Americans were killed and 
99 others were seriously injured.
  Today we offer this resolution jointly as a bipartisan memorial to 
these brave individuals. I am pleased to be the original cosponsor with 
our good friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), whose 
district half of these brave young Americans resided in.
  We are also pleased to have the distinguished ranking member of the 
Committee on Armed Services with us, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton), who is one of the sponsors of this legislation, and our good 
friend, the gentleman from El Paso, Texas (Mr. Reyes).
  Mr. Speaker, what a tragedy this was as 28 young Americans were 
snuffed out in the prime of their lives because of Saddam Hussein's 
attack on them in a cowardly manner, without any forewarning. In fact, 
it was 8:40 p.m. on February 25 when parts of a Scud missile destroyed 
the barracks housing members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment in 
the single most devastating attack on U.S. forces during that war. 
Ninety-nine others were killed. The 14th Quartermaster Detachment from 
Pennsylvania lost 13 soldiers and suffered 43 wounded. Casualties were 
evacuated to medical facilities in Saudi Arabia and Germany. The 14th, 
which had been in Saudi Arabia only 6 days, suffered the greatest 
number of casualties of any allied unit during Operation Desert Storm. 
Eighty-one percent of the unit's 69 soldiers had been killed or 
wounded.
  During the ensuing 10 years, Mr. Speaker, a number of significant 
events have taken place to honor the memory of these brave individuals.
  Tonight we pay special recognition on the 10th anniversary to 
Specialist Steven Atherton, 26 years old; Specialist John Boliver, 27 
years old; Sergeant Joseph Bongiorni, III, 20 years old; Sergeant John 
Boxler, 44 years old; Specialist Beverly Clark, 23 years old; Sergeant 
Allen Craver, 32 years old; Specialist Frank Keough, 22 years old; 
Specialist Anthony Madison, 27 years old; Specialist Christine Mayes, 
22 years old; Specialist Stephen Siko, 24 years old; Specialist Thomas 
Stone, 20 years old; Specialist Frank Walls, 20 years old; Specialist 
Richard Wolverton, 22 years old, all from the 14th Detachment.
  From other units: Corporal Stanley Bartusiak, 34 years old; Corporal 
Rolando Delagneau, 30 years old; Specialist Steven Farnen, 22 years 
old; Specialist Glen Jones, 21 years old; Specialist Duane Hollen, Jr., 
24 years old; Specialist Steven Mason, 23 years old; Specialist Michael 
Mills, 23 years old; Specialist Adrienne Mitchell, 20 years old; 
Specialist Ronald Rennison, 21 years old; Private First Class Timothy 
Shaw, 21 years old; Corporal Brian Simpson, 22 years old; Specialist 
James Tatum, 22 years old; Private First Class Robert Wade, 31 years 
old; Corporal Jonathan Williams, 23 years old; and Specialist James 
Worthy, 22 years old.
  Mr. Speaker, tonight we pay a special tribute to these brave 
Americans who paid the ultimate price and made the supreme sacrifice on 
behalf of their country. But Mr. Speaker, the outrage is that 10 years 
later America still has not yet deployed a highly effective theater 
missile defense system to protect our troops from further attacks of 
this type.
  Mr. Speaker, that is a national embarrassment and a national 
disgrace, that 10 years after we had the largest loss of life from the 
military forces of this country in a Scud attack, a low-complexity Scud 
attack, we still have not deployed the highly effective system to 
protect our troops from further attacks of this type.
  Mr. Speaker, we must do better. I ask our colleagues to join with us 
in this battle for effective missile defense.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate this, and I rise in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 39. This bill is cosponsored by my two friends, 
the gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Mr. Murtha and Mr. Weldon. I 
compliment the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) on his efforts.

                              {time}  1530

  This bill honors the 28 American soldiers who were killed by an Iraqi 
SCUD missile on February, 25, 10 years ago, 1991, during the Persian 
Gulf War. This missile attack caused more United States casualties than 
any other single incident during the conflict, and it is altogether 
fitting that we pay tribute to those who gave their lives for their 
country as a result of this attack. It is particularly poignant when 
nearly all of those killed come from the single unit, from a single 
geographic region, in a single State, in this case, the State of 
Pennsylvania.
  I might add that those 28 young Guardsmen all left families, all 
suffered the pain and anxiety of loss of a loved one.
  Mr. Speaker, if I may, I well remember experiencing a family going 
through that same agony. In April of 1941, Fort Hood, Texas, I was 
present when the parents of a young soldier named Cooper were presented 
a Silver Star posthumously as this young Cooper, as on that same 
occasion of Desert

[[Page H428]]

Storm, threw himself on top of a downed American soldier and incoming 
artillery shell killed him.
  So I understand. My sympathy goes out to the families.
  At this time, though, I would add, Mr. Speaker, that recognizing 
those specific ones that are mentioned here, or the ones that I 
mentioned, in no way diminishes the honor or the reverence that we hold 
for the other service members who were killed or were wounded during 
Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm.
  I publicly extend the same sympathy and thanks to all the families of 
those who lost loved ones during the Persian Gulf War. This is not just 
a commemoration, Mr. Speaker. By adopting this resolution, we resolve 
to support appropriate and effective theater missile defense so 
American forces deployed forward will not be vulnerable to similar 
missile attacks in the future.
  Improving our theater missile defense capability is and should be an 
integral part of our weapons modernization effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that since the Persian Gulf War, we 
have fielded the next generation of Patriot missiles known as PAC-3, 
and we are rapidly developing the Medium Extended Air Range Defense 
System which is known as MEADS. As a result, our forces today are far 
better prepared to defend against the theater missile attack than it 
was during the 1991 conflict.
  These efforts have enjoyed strong support on both sides of the aisle. 
This is a good bill. It honors outstanding Americans. It proposes a 
sound policy.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and 
I thank the gentleman for yielding the time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Reyes).
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton) for yielding me the time and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Weldon).
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of loss that I rise to remember 
the 28 U.S. soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the evening of 
February 25, 1991 when a Scud missile hit and destroyed the converted 
warehouse where they were housed.
  These men and women, most from the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, an 
Army Reserve unit from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, had answered the call 
and were serving their Nation when and where they were needed.
  Although our air defenders tried valiantly to use the Patriot system 
to protect our soldiers and our allies during the Gulf War, that system 
was simply not designed for missile defense.
  Since then, however, we have made great strides in the Patriot 
program and are nearly ready to deploy the advanced Patriot system 
called PAC-3. The PAC-3 system is proven to engage and destroy 
ballistic missiles like Scuds. If this missile system had been in our 
inventory 10 years ago, it could have prevented this Scud missile 
tragedy.
  Mr. Speaker, while we still have a long way to go to ensure the 
safety, both here and abroad, from short-range ballistic missiles like 
Scuds and from the expanding threat of longer-range ballistic missiles 
like the No Dong missile. I believe we must continue to field the PAC-3 
system throughout the Patriot force as quickly as possible.
  We must continue our support for programs like THAAD, MEADS, and our 
Navy theater missile defense program.
  While in war-time, no system guarantees security. This, I find, would 
be one of the best tributes to these 28 U.S. soldiers that we would 
never run that risk again, simply by paying tribute to them through 
prudent and careful exercising of deployment of the PAC-3 system.
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to rise and acknowledge and support the comments 
of my colleagues and say that we are making progress. I fully support 
the PAC-3, the MEADS program which we are doing cooperatively with 
Italy and Germany is moving along.
  We have had tremendous success with the Arab program with Israel, and 
we are now beginning discussions with our European friends and even our 
Middle Eastern friends and our Far East Asia friends on how to promote 
effective missile defense.
  But I have to underscore the fact, Mr. Speaker, that missiles are the 
weapon of choice of tyrants and dictators. Many of our colleagues talk 
about the threats coming from a weapon of mass destruction or coming 
from the illegal use of computer systems, and my colleagues and I have 
been the first to acknowledge that they are real threats, the threats 
of chemical, biological or nuclear attacks or the threats posed by a 
cyberattack on our SMART systems. But the fact remains that the weapon 
of choice of tyrants is the missile.
  When Saddam Hussain chose to rain terror in Israel, he did not pick 
suitcase bombs. He did not pick chemical or biological agents. He 
picked the missiles to rain terror in Israel to which they could not 
properly defend themselves against.
  When Saddam Hussain decided to take out American soldiers, it was a 
Scud missile he chose, a low-complexity Scud missile. He snuffed out 28 
young lives, 6 days after they arrived. These were young people who 
were mothers and sisters and sons and fathers. They were volunteer 
firefighters, and they were local businesspeople who were called up as 
reservists to serve the country. Yet America was not able to provide 
the level of protection against those missiles.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, over 70 nations in the world have missiles that 
pose direct threats to our troops, our allies, and the people of 
America.
  Over 22 Nations today, Mr. Speaker, are building missiles and have 
the capability of building enhanced missiles. In fact, Mr. Speaker, 
that Scud missile that was used 10 years ago has been enhanced three 
and four times by the North Koreans, by the Iranians, and by the 
Iraqis. In fact, Iran is now working on a medium-ranged missile that 
will soon threaten all of Israel.
  The growth in the threat of these missiles has been unbelievably 
aggressive. In fact, just since last September, when President Clinton 
made a decision on our National Missile Defense Program, September 21, 
Iran tested a brand-new Shehab 3 missile. The Shehab 3 missile is a 
couple of steps above the Scud missile that killed our troops in Desert 
Storm.
  On September 24, Libya received its first 50 Nodongs. The Nodong is 
an enhanced version of the Scud missile. Now Libya has at least 50 of 
these missiles. In October, Russia tested mobile and silo-based TOPOL 
MICBMs with a 6200 nautical mile range. In November, China conducted 
tests, their second tests of the DF31. That test also included decoys 
in the warhead.
  In January, India conducted a second Agni test, another theater 
missile.
  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, around the world, the threat of offensive 
missiles remains very real and very dangerous.
  As we honor these brave Americans tonight, as we honor and pay 
respects to not only what they did, but to their families for the 
sacrifice that they made in having one of their loved ones stand up for 
America at a time of need, and have their life snuffed out in the 
process, it is absolutely essential that this House go on record as 
saying with their votes that we want our government and our military to 
continue the work that people like the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) and the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) and Members on our side have been 
proposing.
  Aggressive theater missile defense systems that can protect our 
troops and moving forward with missile defense programs that can 
protect America and our allies, that is the least we can do, Mr. 
Speaker, on this the anniversary of the loss of these brave Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining with us. I thank the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for his outstanding leadership on 
behalf of the Nation's warriors and patriots.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr.

[[Page H429]]

Weldon) for working so well and putting this bill before us. It is a 
fitting tribute to those young Americans that died 10 years ago in 
Desert Storm. I hope it is some solace to those families and not just 
to those families but to the other families who lost loved ones in that 
conflict. America is great, as Tocqueville once wrote, because America 
is good. And America was there in the Persian Gulf because we stood for 
good values.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) for 
offering this resolution, because it does reflect the best that comes 
from America.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my genuine sympathy to 
the families of U.S. service members killed in Saudi Arabia in 1991.
  I too honor their sacrifice. The greatest tribute we could provide to 
these brave men and women is to work for nuclear disarmament and world 
peace.
  Nuclear proliferation is a real danger today. That is why I believe 
it is imperative that the United States abide by its own treaties and 
the principles of nonproliferation.
  The proposed missile defense systems will increase the nuclear 
threats we face, not diminish them.
  We should not spend billions of dollars on an unworkable missile 
system, when we have real security needs that must be met, when we have 
soldiers on food stamps, when we have gulf-war veterans denied badly 
needed medical care, and when we face such serious healthcare, 
educational, and housing problems here at home that undermine both the 
general welfare of the country and our common defense.
  I join my colleagues in expressing our sympathy to the families of 
those killed in 1991. My hope is that we do not put any more men and 
women in harm's way. I must oppose any missile system that makes the 
world a more dangerous place.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 39, a bill to honor the sacrifices of Operation Desert Storm. I 
urge my colleagues to join in supporting this worthwhile legislation.
  This year marks the tenth anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, a 
military operation undertaken by a United States-led coalition to drive 
Saddam Hussein's Iraqui Army out of Kuwait. This objective was achieved 
decisively with a minimum of allied casualties.
  Regrettably, however, no military action occurs without some losses, 
and while the number of United States deaths during Desert Storm was 
low, that does nothing to detract from the 299 servicemembers who gave 
their lives in defeating Iraq.
  One incident in particular stands out from the conflict. On February 
25, 1991, Iraqi forces launched a Scud missile at the city of Dhahran 
in Saudi Arabia. The missile struck a warehouse which was serving as a 
U.S. Army barracks in the suburb of Al Khobar, killing 28 soldiers and 
injuring 100 others. This incident resulted in more U.S. combat 
casualties than any other in Operation Desert Storm, or in subsequent 
operations.
  This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress on behalf 
of the American people extending its sympathy and thanks to the 
families of the 28 soldiers who were killed in that attack. It further 
resolves to support appropriate and effective missile defense programs 
to help prevent a similar unnecessary loss of lives from occurring 
again. Had a more effective missile defense system been in place on 
that February night in 1991, in all likelihood those 28 Americans would 
have survived.
  It is fitting that we honor those soldiers who made the ultimate 
sacrifice for their country, as we are doing today. The best way for us 
to honor their sacrifice is to ensure that history does not repeat 
itself in any future war. For this reason, we should rededicate 
ourselves to the task of developing and deploying an effective theater 
missile defense system. Once this has been accomplished, future 
generations of young Americans will be safer in regional military 
conflicts.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this 
resolution.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
39.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. WELDON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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