[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1167-E1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF HEROES WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ALBERT RUSSELL WYNN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, as we approach Independence Day, I submit for 
the Record a speech given in my Congressional District on Memorial Day, 
by James E. Merna of 7503 Dover Lane, Lanham, Maryland, honoring the 
heroism of veterans from Prince George's County, Maryland, that have 
fought to protect our freedoms.

Honoring Five Sons of Prince George County, Maryland, That Have Fought 
                        to Protect Our Freedoms

  (By James E. Merna, Former Maryland State Commandant, Marine Corps 
                                League)

       Thank you Mayor Harrington, Councilwoman Marion Hoffman, 
     Bill Hickey, other Town of Bladensburg elected and appointed 
     officials, members of American Legion Post 131, leaders of 
     other veterans organizations, and fellow veterans. Thank you 
     for inviting me. I am pleased to be here.
       The town and citizens of Bladensburg should take great 
     pride for the many years you have conducted ceremonies such 
     as this. Bladensburg is not only a historic town--a famous 
     port town--it is also a very patriotic town. Thanks also to 
     Colmar Manor American Legion Post 131 for helping to make 
     these events happen.
       Memorial Day, as it is now observed, is a special day set 
     aside to remember the service and sacrifice made by Americans 
     who answered their country's call to duty in all wars--those 
     who gave their lives, those who served and returned, those 
     who were injured or disabled as a result of their service 
     those who remain missing in action, and those who serve today 
     in Afghanistan and around the world to defend freedom and to 
     fight terrorism.
       In my remarks today, I want to talk about five brave Sons 
     of Prince George's County, who answered their nation's call, 
     and of their courage, devotion to duty, and personal 
     sacrifice. I believe it is a message for all, but especially 
     for our young people, Better role model other than their 
     parents or close relatives, they could not have.
       I stress younger people in light of an announcement from 
     the U.S. Department of Education this mouth that said ``More 
     than half of America's high school seniors do not have even 
     the most basic grasp of U.S. history, showing no improvement 
     in a nationwide test since 1994.''
       The Education Department issued a national history ''report 
     card`` which measured the performance last year of fourth, 
     eighth and 12th graders in history. Students did not know, 
     for instance, that America's fundamental belief in individual 
     liberty was expressed in the Declaration of Independence, or 
     that the image of UNCLE SAM was used to appeal to patriotism 
     during wartime.
       Educators said the results were ``truly abysmal,'' pointing 
     out that the higher the grade and closer a student was to 
     voting age, the lower the understanding of U.S. history.
       In grade 12, only 43 percent of students had a basic or 
     proficient knowledge of history. More than a third of fourth 
     graders and nearly 40 percent of eighth graders also did not 
     have a basic understanding of the subject. The Secretary of 
     Education, Rod Paige, stressed that ``basic'' is the bottom 
     of the achievement ladder. And, he said, they didn't even 
     reach that--``the lowest rung.''
       In this complex day and age, this is troublesome. History 
     is a key component of our nation's school curriculum, and it 
     is through history that we understand our past and 
     contemplate our future. Especially following the September 11 
     attacks that targeted U.S. democracy. It is appalling that 
     some of the questions that stumped students involved the most 
     fundamental concepts of America's democracy. Our work is cut 
     out for us--we need more enlightened students--and better 
     trained history teachers.
       The first notable Son of Prince George's County that I want 
     to mention, is one of your very own, a life-long resident of 
     Bladensburg. When I think of him, I'm reminded of the many 
     great songs that were popular during World War II. And I'm 
     referring to records, not CD's, tapes, or DVD's.

[[Page E1168]]

     Among the best in my opinion, were three: (1) There'll be 
     Bluebirds Over, the White Cliffs of Dover,'' sung by Vera 
     Lynn (2) ``Long Ago and Far Away,'' made famous by Jo 
     Stafford, and (3) ``When the Lights Go On Again, All Over 
     the, World,'' sung by Vaughn Monroe.
       This individual, I am about to name, and many others of his 
     generation exemplified the very ideals inscribed at the base 
     of this Peace Cross Memorial: endurance, courage, devotion, 
     and valor. Because of their wartime service and sacrifice, 
     they made it possible for the bluebirds once again to fly 
     over the White Cliffs of Dover, for the lights to come on 
     again all over the world, in a global struggle long ago and 
     far away.
       Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to join with me in applause 
     for one of your finest citizens, a World War II Navy veteran 
     of many battles in the Pacific, a venerable gentleman who 
     will celebrate his 88th birthday in August, the Chairman-
     Emeritus of Bladensburg's Promotions Committee--Mr. Bill 
     Hickey.
       Let us never forget that we have yet to erect a Memorial on 
     the Mall in Washington for our World War 11 veterans, and 
     we're losing these veterans at an astounding rate of 1500 a 
     day. Like all of you, I want to see that overdue Memorial 
     built--and soon, as a tribute to the Bill Hickey's and all 
     our World War II veterans. I have a personal interest in this 
     Memorial as well. My oldest brother George was killed in 
     action in World War II. He went down with his ship, LST 577, 
     sunk by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine in the 
     Philippines, on February 11, 1945. He was 19 years old
       Let me mention another truly outstanding Son of Prince 
     George's County--one who epitomized the motto of those long 
     ago great Notre Dame football teams coached by the legendary 
     Knute Rockne. Coach Rockne once said the motto of his teams 
     was: Don't Let Your Buddy Down''--a motto which he admitted 
     he borrowed from our Marine Corps on the battlefields of 
     World War I.
       Captain Jim Graham grew up in Prince George's County, in 
     Accokeek, finished high school in Brandywine, and graduated 
     from Frostburg State College in 1963. His family later lived 
     in Forestville. He was a career Marine officer serving in 
     Vietnam in 1967. Listen to this stirring account of Captain 
     Graham's heroic actions as described by General Lewis W. 
     Walt, former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps: 
     ``Captain Jim Graham was a young company commander serving 
     with our 5th Marine Regiment in Vietnam. His company, while 
     in the attack, came under heavy fire from mortars and small 
     arms which immediately inflicted large numbers of casualties 
     in his Second Platoon. Graham, upon seeing this, organized 
     and boldly led a fierce assault through the Second Platoon's 
     position, forcing the enemy to abandon the machine gun 
     position, thereby relieving some of the pressure on the 
     platoon and enabling evacuation of the wounded to a more 
     secure area. During the afternoon and early evening, Graham's 
     small force stood steadfast in its hard-won enclave. He was 
     wounded twice while personally accounting for 15 enemies 
     killed. His battalion commander ordered him to withdraw to 
     friendly lines. Graham reacted by sending all of his men back 
     except one man who could not be moved due to the seriousness 
     of his wounds. He apologized to his battalion commander for 
     not completely carrying out the order to withdraw, but said 
     ``I just can't leave this young Marine, keep the firing 
     coming through Colonel, we are hurting them.'' About 20 
     minutes later, Captain Graham radioed: ``This is my last 
     transmission. I am being assaulted by at least 25 of them. 
     It's been a pleasure soldiering with you.'' Captain Jim 
     Graham was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his 
     heroic deeds that day.''
       A year later, I had the privilege to attend a ceremony at 
     8th and I, Marine Barracks, Washington, DC when Captain 
     Graham's widow, Janice, accepted the Nation's highest award, 
     the Congressional Medal of Honor, in her husband's name. It 
     was the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to a Marylander in 
     the Vietnam War.
       Another Prince George's great, the late Maryland State 
     Senator Ed Conroy, was a highly decorated army Korean War 
     hero who led the defense of Heartbreak Ridge. He was severely 
     wounded twice, lost an arm and sustained burns over 90 
     percent of his body. Among his decorations were the Silver 
     Star, and two Purple Hearts. Ed had a miraculous recovery and 
     went on to earn a law degree from Georgetown University. He 
     never forgot his fellow veterans and was known in the 
     Maryland Senate as the champion legislator for all veterans 
     legislation. I had the pleasure to organize a testimonial 
     dimer for Ed when he was elected as National Commander of the 
     Disabled American Veterans. On many occasions when I would 
     introduce him, he would have me say with pride that he was 
     ``the closest to a Marine without being a Marine.'' We miss 
     Ed and his tireless energy. A great patriot. Many of you, I'm 
     sure, know Ed's widow, Mary Conroy. She serves Prince 
     George's County today with much distinction, as a Member of 
     the House of Delegates in Annapolis.
       Moving along, I want to mention two other notable Sons of 
     Prince George's County who served their nation with honor in 
     Vietnam: Charles E. ``Butch'' Joeckel, Jr., and John 
     Clements, both distinguished combat Marines.
       Butch Jeckel was raised in Colmar Manor, within walking 
     distance of this monument. He graduated from Bladensburg High 
     School in 1965, joined the Marines in 1966, and went to 
     Vietnam in 1967. He was a 20-year-old squad leader and only 
     in Vietnam three months when his river boat was ambushed 
     during the Tet Offensive in January 1968. While searching out 
     a suspected enemy position ashore, one of his men 
     inadvertently stepped on a land mine, triggering an explosion 
     which blew off both of Butch's legs above the knee. Seven 
     other Marines were wounded by the blast. Despite his severe 
     injuries, Butch maintained exceptional presence of mind and 
     called for a medical evacuation and directed the clearing of 
     a helicopter landing zone.
       As is the case with all seriously wounded servicemen and 
     those killed in action, a military officer is usually 
     assigned to make personal contact with the family. The 
     casualty notification officers, as they are called, was in 
     Butch's case, a Marine Lieutenant just back from Vietnam. It 
     was my brother, Jerry Merna. When Jerry got back home that 
     night, in Alexandria, Va., he called to let me know he had 
     just been in Colmar Manor, visiting with Butch's parents. He 
     let me know of the severity of Butch's wounds.
       For me, that was the beginning of a 34-year friendship, to 
     this day, with Butch. I soon rounded up a few other former 
     Marines and we visited Butch at the Philadelphia Naval 
     Hospital. In fact, we brought him home once he was 
     discharged, back to his boyhood home--at 3605 40th Place, in 
     Colmar Manor, where his dad, a World War II veteran, still 
     lives. On the way home, we made a detour, to Peter Connell's 
     Restaurant on Annapolis Road, now called The Italian Inn, for 
     ``refreshments.''
       I was with Butch at a ceremony at Headquarters Marine Corps 
     when he was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third 
     highest award for bravery in combat. It was presented to him 
     by four-star General Lewis W. Walt, Assistant Commandant of 
     the Marine Corps. Earlier, in the Korean War, General Walt 
     was my Commanding Officer, when he commanded the 5th Marine 
     Regiment, First Marine Division. When pinning the medal on 
     Butch, General Walt said, ``This is one of the proudest 
     moments of my military career, for I am more proud of Butch 
     than of any Marine I know.'' That was quite a compliment 
     coming from someone like General Walt, who during his 
     military career, won two Navy Crosses and the Silver Star in 
     World War II, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star in 
     Korea, and the Distinguished Service Medal as the Commander 
     of Marines in Vietnam.
       This was not the first meeting Butch had with General Walt. 
     Back on July 6, 1968, thirty-four years ago, I had the 
     pleasure of organizing a Welcome Home Parade for Butch. The 
     parade commenced right here at this very site, the Peace 
     Cross, and marched all the way down Bladensburg Road to the 
     DC line. My Prince George's County Detachment of the Marine 
     Corps League and the American Legion Post 131 in Colmar 
     Manor, co-chaired the event. We had the county proclaim that 
     day, July 6, 1968, as Butch Joeckel Day. Youth groups, 
     veterans groups, community service organizations, high school 
     marching bands, the Marine Corps Band, and troops from each 
     of the military services marched proudly in Butch's honor 
     that day. The grand marshal of the parade was General Walt, 
     just back from Vietnam himself. Admittedly, and 
     unfortunately, there weren't many parades for returning 
     Vietnam Veterans in those days, but we had one, right here in 
     Prince George's County. It was a huge success, and was 
     nationally televised by ABC-TV.
       One last word about Butch. He went on to a very 
     distinguished career. He earned his college degree, then 
     decided he wanted to help his fellow veterans. He took a low-
     level position in the Washington office of the Disabled 
     American Veterans, and then went on to head up not only the 
     Washington office, but the entire national organization 
     itself, with more than one million members strong. He lives 
     in Annapolis now, is married with two grown children, and is 
     a grandfather. He's currently serving on a presidential 
     disability commission. But he's never forgotten his roots. In 
     an interview with the Capital newspaper in Annapolis not too 
     long ago, he said, ``I've been working in veterans affairs 
     since I came back in 1968. It's in my heart. I felt like I 
     had to give back to my community because they were great to 
     me. I got a welcome home parade in my hometown. Not many 
     did.''
       Finally, a word about John Clements. John was raised in 
     Cheverly, and graduated from DeMatha High School. John was a 
     contemporary of Butch's, and like Butch, joined the Marines 
     right out of high school. He went off to Vietnam where he won 
     three Purple Hearts. He was seriously wounded and spent a 
     long time hospitalized. I visited John at Bethesda Naval 
     Hospital a number of times. The doctors wanted to amputate 
     one of John's legs, but through perseverance and much prayer, 
     he was able to convince them otherwise. John has gotten by 
     since then with the use of a cane. Like Butch, John too 
     wanted to help his fellow veterans, and went on to a 
     successful career with the Veterans Administration designing 
     prosthetic equipment for disabled veterans.
       In closing, as we leave here today, let us affirm to 
     remember Memorial Day for what it was intended to be--a day 
     of recognition, honor, and respect, and not just a three-day 
     holiday.
       Let us remember our fallen comrades--those who fought and 
     died for freedom, and

[[Page E1169]]

     the children, spouses and parents they left behind. Let us 
     never forget those who returned, many disabled. If we can 
     remember these worthy veterans on Memorial Day, we ought to 
     honor them on Election Day. Let's do all in our power to put 
     more upcoming Ed Conroy's in City Hall, on the County 
     Council, in our State House, and in the Congress. We have the 
     opportunity to do so with elections coming up in the Fall. 
     They served us so well in war--and they would do as well in 
     preserving the peace.
       Our very own heroes--Bill Hickey in World War II, Ed Conroy 
     in Korea, and Captain Jim Graham, Butch Joeckel, and John 
     Clements in Vietnam--they represent the best that America has 
     to offer. They are object lessons themselves. They made 
     history. Hopefully, our young people will be inspired by 
     their example.
       If America is to remain great, it may indeed depend on how 
     well we continue to inspire our youth to excel. Our noted 
     Sons of Prince George's County have shown the way.
       Thank you--and God Bless America.

       

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