[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING SAM SPECTOR AND THE OSS-101 ASSOCIATION, ROME, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2001

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the OSS-101 Association Inc. 
represents the men of World War II Detachment 101 of the Office of 
Strategic Services (predecessor to today's CIA), who served in 
guerrilla warfare behind the Japanese lines in Burma. Mr. Sam Spector, 
of Rome, Georgia, is President of this association. He and the other 
fighting men of ``Merrill's Marauders'' have remained extremely 
grateful to the Kachin people of Burma, for the crucial help provided 
by them during the war.
  By 1942 the Japanese were well experienced in jungle fighting. Burma 
was one of the world's most hostile environments. It was also the home 
of a very special group of people--the Kachins. They lived in the 
northern-most state of Burma, and they cherished their freedom as do 
we. Though the Japanese occupied most of Burma in 1942, they were 
unable to secure the Kachin State. The Kachins took a stand, and became 
what was known as Detachment 101 of the U.S. Office of Strategic 
Services, also known as the American-Kachin Rangers. This was the first 
United States unit to form an intelligence screen and employ a large 
guerrilla army deep in enemy territory. General Dwight D. Eisenhower 
commended Detachment 101 of its exemplary performance.
  After the war, members of Detachment 101 distinguished themselves in 
all services and in private life. An association was formed to join ex-
101ers, fraternally, as well as to maintain ties with the Kachins, in 
Burma (now Myanmar). This friendship has been maintained in spite of 
the distances and years.
  In 1995, 18 Americans, including 12 American veterans of 101, decided 
to spend their 50th Anniversary in Burma with their Kachin friends. 
There was a celebration of the American-Kachin Rangers. Among those 
attending were 3800 Kachins and more than 250 WW II Kachin veterans. 
Since that time, the Association has printed and distributed thousands 
of translated grade school readers, a book on Kachin history, and a 
first aid book; and is active in teaching agriculture.
  During March 2001 the group visited the air strip captured by 
Merrill's Marauders to place a wreath. At that time they noted the 
Japanese had erected a memorial to their dead, and the group decided it 
would like to place a memorial to the Americans (Merrill's Marauders, 
Mars Task Force, the 19th Air Force, and Detachment 101 USA Kachin 
Rangers). There are no memorials to our veterans in Southeast Asia, 
although there are many in Europe, and one in the Philippines that 
honors those Americans and Philippines who died.
  I urge all my colleagues, and Americans everywhere to join me in 
saluting these brave Americans and Kachin heroes, for their sacrifices 
that were so vital in our victory in the Asian theatre in World War II. 
I especially salute Rome, Georgia's Sam Spector, who is a leader in 
this effort.

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