[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO ALPHA COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 141ST INFANTRY

 Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, it is my distinct honor and 
privilege to recognize the Texans from San Antonio. Alpha Company, 1st 
Battalion, 141st Infantry, commanded by CPT Scott M. Mac Leod, 
distinguished themselves as a premier force protection unit in 
providing flawless security for one of the U.S. Army's chemical 
munitions stockpiles. Captain Mac Leod's Texas Army National Guard Unit 
was federalized in October 2001 and has provided force protection to a 
homeland security mission at Pine Bluff Arsenal, the only active Army 
installation within the State of Arkansas.
  Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry 
headquartered in San Antonio, TX, along with other elements of the 
141st Infantry Brigade were mobilized as part of President Bush's 
homeland defense initiative and the war on terrorism. Under the 
professional and effective leadership of CPT Scott Mac Leod, First 
Lieutenant Joaquin Campos and First Sergeant Jose Villarreal, the 
Chemical Site Defense Force surpassed their mission requirements from 
predeployment, through deployment, to postdeployment. During 
predeployment, these citizens quickly and selflessly assumed their role 
as full-time soldiers, and while deployed these soldiers braved the 
elements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All the while, the unit's 
morale remained high, and after 1 year, several soldiers volunteered 
for another year. This impressive accomplishment is particularly 
noteworthy since these citizen-soldiers were given a critical and 
extremely grueling assignment that kept them away from home for an 
entire year. When called on by their Commander in Chief, this proud 
group of Texans came to Arkansas, carved out defensive positions in the 
Arkansas wilderness, and put forth an inexhaustible effort toward the 
defense of our homeland. They literally have lived up to their motto, 
``Remember the Alamo.''
  It is with great pride that I have risen today to pay tribute to the 
more than 130 soldiers who make up the Texans from the Alamo. They have 
selflessly put their private lives on hold to answer the call of duty. 
Their presence at the Pine Bluff Arsenal has been a powerful deterrent 
to domestic terrorism and contributed immeasurably toward the domestic 
assurance of peace. The people of Arkansas are grateful for each 
soldier's dedication, and we are extremely proud to have had these 
great Americans as guests in our State over the last year. Alpha 
Company's remarkable performance in this critically important mission 
reflects great credit on the State of Texas and the U.S. Army.

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