[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1340]]
        COMMENDING THE TROOPS AT U.S. NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2002

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
patriotism of 100 of my fellow Rhode Islanders, who are members of the 
43rd Military Police Brigade of the Rhode Island Army National Guard. 
As I speak, these fine men and women are deployed to U.S. Naval Base 
Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where they are part of Joint Task Force-160. 
The mission of Joint Task Force-160 is to oversee the care, custody and 
control of the detainees who have been apprehended by United States and 
international forces in the global war on terrorism. The 43rd Military 
Police Brigade is serving as the core staff and headquarters for the 
entire Joint Task Force, as well as providing critical security 
requirements for Camp Delta, where the detainees are being held. 
Additionally, they support the efforts of Joint Task Force-170, which 
includes both the FBI and the CfA, who are handling interrogation of 
the detainees. In deploying to Guantanamo Bay, they have been reunited 
with their commander and fellow Rhode Island Guardsman, Brigadier 
General Rick Backus, who became the Task Force Commander in March of 
this year.
  U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay is over 45 square miles and is not 
only the oldest U.S. base overseas but it is also the only one in a 
Communist country. It is located on the southeast corner of Cuba, and 
is about 400 air miles from Miami, Florida. For these Guard members it 
is home because it is where their country needs them to be. They are an 
integral part of the 1,700 members of Joint Task Force-160, made up of 
servicemen and women from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast 
Guard, and they are all unsung heroes of the war on terrorism.
  The 43rd Military Police is a mobilized National Guard unit from my 
hometown of Warwick, Rhode Island. They recently made history when, on 
May 20, 2002, they became the first National Guard unit to assume the 
role of a joint task force command. Clearly this demonstrates the 
ability of the National Guard to seamlessly transition into an active 
duty command. This complete integration of a National Guard Unit into a 
Joint Task Force is a tribute to both the National Guard Bureau and the 
U.S. Army.
  A member of my staff recently had the privilege of visiting these 
Guard members at Guantanamo. He told me that it was impossible not to 
be struck by the professionalism and dedication of these men and women. 
Their morale is excellent, despite the incredibly stressful task they 
have. They make every daily decision, which affects the lives of 1,700 
troops and 564 detainees, and they are our next-door neighbors. They 
are accomplishing something they have constantly prepared for but never 
imagined would become reality in this way. They have been assigned an 
awesome challenge and have risen to the occasion.
  In recognizing these members of the Rhode Island National Guard, I 
also want to acknowledge the outstanding support that they receive from 
their families and their employers. Most of these Guard members are 
traditional members, or ``weekend warriors'', as they are often known. 
Many are self-employed or hold critical positions in their companies. 
The extremely unique demand of this war on terrorism is a duty that is 
shared by employers and employees alike. Many Guard members expect to 
be away from their families and jobs for four months, which could 
impose a significant financial and psychological burden on members at a 
time when they need to be functioning at 100 percent. The support they 
receive is critical to the success of their mission.
  I am proud as an American and a Rhode Islander to recognize this 
partnership in patriotism displayed by the guardsmen of the 43rd 
Military Police Brigade, their families and their employers in their 
deployment as part of Joint Task Force 160.

                          ____________________