[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15956-S15957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 101st AIRBORNE AIR ASSAULT DIVISION OF THE GLOBAL 
                            WAR ON TERRORISM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to honor the Screaming Eagles of 
the 101st Airborne, Air Assault Division, based at Fort Campbell, KY. 
As you all know, two Black Hawk helicopters from the 101st Airborne 
collided in the night sky over Mosul, Iraq on November 15, 2003. 
Tragically, all 17 soldiers on board the helicopters perished in the 
incident. This last Saturday, two additional soldiers from the Division 
were killed while they patrolled the streets of Mosul.
  These tragic incidents bring the total number of Screaming Eagles 
lost in Iraq to 55. My prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the 
families and friends of these brave Americans.
  Last month, in one of the most moving experiences of my career, I met 
with some of these soldiers in Mosul, where the 101st is responsible 
for keeping the peace in the northern part of Iraq.
  These heroes shared with me their thoughts about America's struggle 
to bring peace and security to a long-oppressed nation, and their 
patriotism and passion for their mission shone through the dust and 
grime that accumulates with sustained operations far from the comforts 
of home.
  Truth be told, I did not expect to encounter the extraordinary high 
levels of dedication and morale I witnessed in Mosul and elsewhere in 
Iraq. Throughout that country, I conversed with soldiers who witnessed 
first-hand the reality of war, and who knew friends injured or killed 
in combat.
  It was obvious that the thoughtful young men and women I met in Iraq 
have spent long hours coming to grips with these harsh realities, yet 
remain committed to their mission and deeply believe that what they are 
doing is right and just. An example: at the 101st Airborne's 
headquarters in Mosul, I witnessed a video that detailed the Division's 
operations in Iraq. The moving video is dedicated to--and features 
footage of--Screaming Eagles who have lost their lives during the 
liberation of Iraq, and it is clear these lost heroes are never far 
from the thoughts of the soldiers of the 101st. Indeed, these heroes 
remain a source of poignant motivation for their comrades.
  For our Armed Forces, sad memories of fallen colleagues are 
inescapable, but so too is the evidence that the Screaming Eagles are 
on the right side of history. From water coolers in Washington, DC to 
New York City newsrooms, many of us forget that our troops were present 
at the moment Iraq was liberated from the tortuous grip of Saddam 
Hussein. They have since witnessed firsthand the birth of a democratic 
process and the reawakening of a people enslaved for generations by 
fear and oppression. The Screaming Eagles have worked side by side with 
Iraqis to help rebuild a shattered country, and their joint success in 
this regard is truly remarkable.
  The brave soldiers I met in Mosul know America is in Iraq for the 
right reasons, and that despite setbacks and tragic incidents we are 
winning the peace in Iraq, just as surely as we won the war.
  At one point during my visit, one of the Screaming Eagles came up to 
me and introduced himself as a captain who hailed from my hometown of 
Louisville. In the entryway of one of Saddam's former palaces--now 
serving as the 101st Airborne's division headquarters--he presented me 
with a flag of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and recalled how he 
brought it with him as the division left Fort Campbell and fought north 
from Kuwait, up through Baghdad, and on to Mosul.

  This captain spoke with well-earned pride about the role he and his 
fellow soldiers played in liberating the Iraqi people and winning the 
war. And he spoke of the progress they were making in winning over the 
hearts and minds of these newly free people by treating the Iraqis with 
a level of dignity and respect they have not received for generations.
  While in Mosul, I met with the newly elected governing council of 
Iraq's Nineveh Province, and I can tell you that the respect and 
appreciation these democratically elected leaders have for the U.S. 
efforts is ample evidence the Screaming Eagles are indeed winning the 
hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.
  Indeed, both this democratically elected new government and that 
young captain would want us all to understand that America did the 
right thing to help 25 million Iraqis to realize a life without fear. I 
can assure you that this captain and his fellow soldiers--although 
mindful of the great risks and danger inherent in their work--are 
committed to finishing the job by winning the peace and helping the 
Iraqis to get back on their feet.
  I keep this soldier's flag--still covered in dust and dirt from its 
historic travels--in my office as a reminder that when America sets out 
to accomplish a difficult task, it finishes the

[[Page S15957]]

job. And when I hear discouraging or saddening news from Iraq, I think 
of this young captain's dedication to this mission, and know that 
America must--and will--stay the course.
  Mr. President, the entire Fort Campbell community grieves the loss of 
every single Screaming Eagle, and we long to welcome the division home 
to the fertile farmland of western Kentucky.

  But when the division returns to Kentucky, it will have left an 
indelible mark on the memories of the people of northern Iraq. The 
101st has treated the Iraqi people with respect and honor. They have 
acted not as occupiers, but as allies to the victims of Hussein's 
brutal reign. When the Screaming Eagles come home, Iraqis will see 
their legacy around every corner: in the hundreds of newly refurbished 
schools, in the electricity that now is available 24 hours a day, in 
the swimming pool renovated for Iraqi kids by the division, in the 
repaired irrigation canals that bring water to the wheat fields near 
Mosul, in the soccer fields that are no longer killing fields, and in 
the proud Iraqis now patrolling the streets of a free Iraq as policemen 
respectful of the human rights and dignity of their fellow citizens.
  Mr. President, Iraq is now free--and an evil despot no longer 
threatens the United States and his neighbors--because of the selfless 
actions of the individual soldiers of units like the 101st Airborne. I 
pray that the families of those Americans who have lost their lives in 
this conflict find comfort and solace in their time of need. Their 
loved ones are American heroes, and I will never forget their 
sacrifice.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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