[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3877-S3878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                                ROY ROWE

 Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a true 
American hero from my State--Mr. Roy Rowe of Mena, AR. In the coming 
weeks, Mr. Rowe will be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for his 
service in the U.S. Army during the Second World War, an honor that is 
richly deserved.
  Roy Rowe was inducted into the U.S. Army in October 1942. Serving in 
the Pacific theater, Mr. Rowe was assigned to the 96th Infantry 
Division. Over the course of three months beginning in April 1945, the 
96th Division landed on the beaches of Okinawa as part of the greatest 
concentration of land, sea, and air power ever assembled in the 
Pacific. The battle for Okinawa was the costliest single battle of the 
Pacific war for both sides. In terms of U.S. casualties, Okinawa was 
second only to the Battle of the Bulge. Of U.S. Army personnel, 4,436 
were killed in action, and 17,343 were wounded. Of U.S. Marines, 2,793 
were killed and 13,434 were wounded. Japanese casualties numbered 
107,539 killed in action and 10,755 captured. It was a terrible price 
to pay for both sides, but the result brought the Allied forces to 
Japan's doorstep

[[Page S3878]]

and helped to precipitate the war's end in August 1945. I should also 
note that, following the war's end, the United States and Japan entered 
into a long period of geopolitical alliance, cultural goodwill, and 
economic partnership, and to this day we count the Japanese people 
among our closest friends in the world community--a fortunate result 
stemming from a long and difficult war.
  As rifleman, Roy Rowe fought alongside his fellow soldiers to secure 
Okinawa as a base for launching an attack on Japan. He was awarded 
numerous decorations for his service, including the Purple Heart, the 
Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the American 
Theater of Operation Ribbon, and the Silver Star Medal. Mr. Rowe's 
service ended in October 1945, three years after it had begun. His is a 
service record that he can be proud of, and we're proud of him for it. 
Through his service to his country and his willingness to endure great 
personal sacrifice to defend our freedoms, Roy Rowe represents the most 
admirable qualities in the American spirit.
  In this new century, in these difficult times, when a new generation 
of young Americans is taking up arms to defend our freedoms against the 
threats posed by international terrorism and rogue nations, let's 
remember Roy Rowe's example of courage, patriotism and selflessness. I 
am honored to pay tribute to him on the floor of the Senate 
today.

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