[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 108 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE U.S. MILITARY'S HUMANITARIAN WORK IN EAST TIMOR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege to be in East 
Timor on July 2-5, 2001 to assess the current humanitarian situation 
and see first hand how American tax dollars are being spent. I was 
quite impressed with the work of the United States military and its 
ongoing humanitarian assistance in East Timor. This is a story which is 
not getting told to the American people. The U.S. military is doing 
incredible work at improving peoples' lives and generating good will 
towards the United States.
  The U.S. military presence is coordinated through the United States 
Support Group in East Timor (USGET). Colonel Charles E. Cooke, U.S. 
Marine Corps, is Commander of USGET and is doing a superb job. 
Commanders for USGET have a three month rotation. USGET's purpose is to 
be a visible U.S. presence in East Timor and to plan/execute rotational 
humanitarian assistance missions. Since its inception in September 
1999, USGET has conducted community relations and engineering projects, 
provided free medical and dental care, coordinated U.S. military ship 
visits, and repaired schools and medical clinics. For example, in April 
2001, the USS Boxer visited East Timor. It was the largest effort in 
USGET history. The ship personnel provided medical assistance to 2,028 
patients, completed five community relations projects, delivered 165 
tons of humanitarian assistance by air and 86 tons of humanitarian 
assistance by sea. The ship crew also delivered $53,000 in direct 
donations from the United States.
  My trip to East Timor coincided with the visit of USNS Niagara Falls. 
Thirty personnel from the ship were detailed to repair a school in Dili 
which was burned down by the militias in 1999. They rebuilt and painted 
the school, and installed a new electrical system while East Timorese 
children looked on, excited to get their school back, and thankful to 
the U.S. military. It was quite an impressive thing to see.
  On the morning of July 4th, I traveled on a helicopter from the USNS 
Niagara Falls to observe food delivery to the city of Lospaios in the 
Lautem district. In June, flooding destroyed many homes in this 
district and washed out the main bridge which connected the area with 
East Timor's capitol city of Dili. The U.S. military, working with the 
World Food Programme, was ensuring that food and supplies were getting 
into the region.
  I am extremely proud of these men and women in the U.S. military for 
their humanitarian work in East Timor. They represent the best which 
our great nation has to offer. I salute them for their work and hope it 
will continue into next year.

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