[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THE MARINES FROM THE 2ND BATTALION, 23RD MARINE REGIMENT, 
                          4TH MARINE DIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Marines 
from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, 
headquartered in Encino, CA and to their families who support them, 
give them strength, and struggle heroically to keep things going at 
home while they serve overseas.
  I am particularly pleased to join Major General John J. McCarthy, 
Commanding General, 4th Marine Division, Judge Harry Pregerson and all 
of the family members of this Battalion in celebrating our own special 
``Marine Family Day,'' an event which is planned both to provide some 
recreation for the family members of our reservists and to honor the 
more than 900 members of this Marine Forces Reserve unit who served in 
Iraq, and especially those 38 who were wounded in action. Sadly, one 
Marine, Staff Sergeant James Cawley was killed in action during this 
conflict.
  Since the creation of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines in July 1942, 
the battalion has valiantly fought in numerous campaigns from World War 
II where its members saw action at Iwo Jima and Saipan to Desert 
Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and, of course, Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. They were deployed in February of this year, and have earned 
the distinction of being the longest-serving reserve unit in theater. 
While this status has earned them honor and respect, it was gained at 
enormous sacrifice on the part of both them and their loved ones.
  Not only have these reservists risked their lives, many have taken 
steep pay cuts and put their careers on hold to do so. They have missed 
birthdays, holidays, and other important family events. These men and 
women are police officers, firemen, doctors, lawyers, executives, and 
workers of every stripe and variety; people who make up the fabric of 
our communities. They are our husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, 
brothers, sisters and friends. They are patriots.
  I am proud that many of these reservists and their families live and 
work in my congressional district and I am honored to be celebrating 
with them this Saturday. I ask my colleagues to join with me in 
saluting the men, women, and families of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine 
Regiment, 4th Marine Division.

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