[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 102 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S8010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF THE SIXTH NAVAL BEACH BATTALION

  Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I rise today to recognize the bravery 
and fortitude of the Sixth Naval Beach Battalion, many of whom gave 
their lives for their country on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Recently, a small 
group of the living members of the Battalion gathered in Normandy, 
France to unveil a commemorative plaque dedicated to their fellow 
sailors who paid the ultimate price for the defense of liberty. This 
memorial will serve as a small reminder of the tremendous sacrifice 
that these men made in order to secure the freedoms that we, as a 
nation, now enjoy.
  Unfortunately, for many years, the Sixth Naval Beach Battalion was 
known as the ``Forgotten Sailors.'' While many of its members were 
individually recognized for their bravery, the Battalion as a whole had 
never been recognized. However, thanks to the persistent efforts of its 
living members, the Battalion was finally honored last year with the 
Presidential Unit Citation. This great honor was presented to the 
Battalion at its annual reunion last year, and I am proud that the 
valiance of these men has finally been recognized.
  The World War II generation is frequently referred to as America's 
``Greatest Generation,'' and this is no more true of the Sixth Naval 
Beach Battalion. They landed on Omaha Beach early in the morning of 
June 6 and faced extraordinary peril on that historic day. Yet, the 
Battalion demonstrated its courage and fought gallantly despite 
overwhelming odds. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all of the 
members of the Battalion, both living and deceased, for the hard-fought 
victory over tyranny that was achieved on that day.
  I would like to share my gratitude for the bravery and selflessness 
of the Sixth Naval Beach Battalion. I would hope that America never 
forgets the great sacrifice that the Battalion's members made in the 
defense of our liberty. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
speech given by Lieutenant Commander Joseph Vaghi at the unveiling of 
the commemorative plaque be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  Dedication Address of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion Plaque at Omaha 
                        Beach--Normandy, France

                 (By LCDR Joseph P. Vaghi, USNR (Ret.))

       We are here today this 5th day of June 2001, to unveil a 
     plaque dedicated in memory of the men of the 6th Naval Beach 
     Battalion who gave their lives on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
       A small remnant of living members of our Battalion is also 
     here today to pay tribute to their comrades, who have fallen 
     and paid the ultimate price by giving their lives.
       Each and every person here for this unveiling shares in the 
     victory of freedom over tyranny by the selfless action which 
     took place 57 years ago on this sacred soil of Omaha Beach.
       You will remember that for four long years the fate of 
     freedom flickered in the shadow of the world's aggressions.
       We watched as the war in Europe spread across the English 
     Channel to Britain. Then came Pearl Harbor. We as a nation 
     were at war.
       It was on these beaches of Normandy that the 6th Naval 
     Beach Battalion made its contribution in the fight for 
     liberty and against tyranny. This became the greatest 
     military operation in all of history.
       The men of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion had great faith 
     that what was head of us was right and just. We knew what we 
     were doing had to be done.
       It made little difference if we were 18 or 38 years of age. 
     We knew that what we were about to do was in some manner 
     exactly what God wanted us to do.
       The men of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion prepared for D-Day 
     at Camp Bradford, VA., and Fort Pierce, FL., on the beaches 
     of Slapton Sands, England, and in training with the 5th 
     Engineer Special Brigade in Swansea, Wales.
       At each step, we become more aware of the responsibility we 
     would be asked to assume as we landed on the shores of 
     France.
       Elements of our battalion who were part of the Underwater 
     Demolition Team landed at H-Hour (6:30 in the morning) with 
     the main body of the battalion coming ashore an hour and five 
     minutes after H-Hour at 7:35 a.m.
       Of the thousands of men who came ashore that day, 9386 are 
     at rest in the cemetery above the cliffs behind us.
       This plaque we dedicate today is in memory of our comrades, 
     and in extension is in memory of all who were laid to rest in 
     the hallowed ground of the Normandy Cemetery. The plaque will 
     be a perpetual reminder of the sacrifices made here on this 
     beach, not only the 6th Naval Beach Battalion but the Coast 
     Guard and Army too.
       Last year at the 12th annual reunion of our battalion we 
     were presented with the Presidential Unit Citation. It had 
     been recommended by the Joint Command of Operation Overlord, 
     which was the code name for the invasion of France, both the 
     Army and Navy issued approval and recommendations that the 
     6th Naval Beach Battalion be honored with the citation.
       When inquiries were made by some of our men, the Defense 
     Department began looking into the situation and in September 
     of last year there followed a full ceremony for the 
     presentation of the award.
       For 56 years we of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion were known 
     by writers as the ``Forgotten Sailors.'' Many of the officers 
     and men of the Battalion had been recognized for individual 
     heroism but not the Battalion as a unit.
       Our being here today is the cap-stone of our reson d'etre, 
     the 6th Naval Beach Battalion stands with all the great body 
     of men who have been immortalized here on these beaches. 
     Permit me to close by quoting President Roosevelt, ``The 
     quality of our American fighting men is not all a matter of 
     training, or equipment, or organization. It is essentially a 
     matter of Spirit. That Spirit is expressed in their faith in 
     America!''
       That was the faith we had then and the faith we have today. 
     Thank you, may God bless America.

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