[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE MEMBERS OF THE 28th BOMB WING

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to welcome home the members 
of the 28th Bomb Wing stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
  The B-1 bombers and crews of the 28th Bomb Wing are returning home 
today, and over the next few weeks, from their service in Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. As they did in Kosovo and Afghanistan, the B-1 bombers 
performed superbly in the war in Iraq. They have once again 
demonstrated that they are the backbone of America's bomber fleet. The 
B-1's unique ability to linger over the battlefield and provide 
responsive firepower at the time and place required by military 
commanders was an integral part of our victory in Iraq.
  I want to specifically honor four members of a B-1 crew stationed at 
Ellsworth Air Force Base who were acknowledged for their service during 
the war. CPT Chris Wachter, LTC Fred Swan, CPT Sloan Hollis, and 1LT 
Joe Runci were each awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for 
their April 7 attack on a suspected hideout of Saddam Hussein.
  While in the course of another assigned mission, this four-member B-1 
crew was tasked with striking a building in which current intelligence 
indicated Saddam Hussein was meeting with top Iraqi officials. This 
information was relayed to the B-1 crew which confirmed the 
coordinates, flew to the target, and accurately released four 2,000-
pound bunker-buster bombs. This all occurred within 12 minutes. Having 
successfully hit this leadership target, the B-1 and her crew went on 
to strike an additional 17 targets in two separate locations.
  Although B-1s flew fewer than 2 percent of the combat sorties in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, they dropped more than half the satellite-
guided Air Force Joint Direct Attack Munitions, JDAMs. The B-1s were 
tasked against the full spectrum of potential targets in Iraq, 
including command and control facilities, bunkers, tanks, armored 
personnel carriers, and surface-to-air missile sites. They also 
provided close air support for U.S. forces engaged in the field. The 
bombers and crews accomplished all of this while maintaining over an 80 
percent mission capable rate. This record of success proves B-1 is a 
vital, versatile, and potent component of our military force structure.
  Like all South Dakotans, I am proud of the men and women who are 
stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They are an essential part of 
our South Dakota community, and are doing their duty to keep our Nation 
safe. I am pleased CPT Wachter, LTC Swan, CPT Hollis, and 1LT Runci 
were each recognized for their remarkable actions during Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. But I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge all 
the men and women at Ellsworth who keep the B-1s in the air and ready 
to respond. It is the work of all the crews and all the support teams 
that keep the B-1 at the forefront of our military.
  Once again, I want to welcome home the members of the 28th Bomb Wing, 
and thank them for their service to our Nation.

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