[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E619-E620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 1ST BATTALION, 69TH INFANTRY OF THE NEW YORK 
                             NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the soldiers of the 
1st Battalion, 69th Infantry of the New York National Guard, who are 
currently preparing to serve their country in Iraq. Additionally, I 
would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to all of our brave 
National Guard and Reserve soldiers, whose time, energy and sacrifice 
do so much to ensure the safety of our nation and fellow citizens.
  Today's National Guard soldiers are part of a rich tradition in 
American life that stretches back to the Revolutionary War. At that 
time, our Founding Fathers placed the country's security in the hands 
of citizen-soldiers who organized and trained in their home states. The 
members of our current National Guard, in addition to demonstrating 
leadership in private enterprise, public service and a variety of other 
professions, must also be ready to put their ordinary lives ``on 
hold''--often at a moment's notice--to serve their country.
  The 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry has a distinguished history in both 
battle and disaster response. As part of the Irish Brigade during the 
Civil War, the 69th Infantry was famous for its tenacity on the 
battlefield and earned its nickname, ``The Fighting 69th,'' from 
Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The 69th also took part in the 
Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II, where its soldiers 
fought in the battles of Makin, Saipan and Okinawa.
  The regiment was initially formed by Irish-American residents of New 
York City; through the years, the unit has taken great pride in being a 
reflection of New York and its immigrant population. Today, the 
Battalion is an incredibly diverse group whose common goal is the 
protection of the American people.
  The Fighting 69th are infantry soldiers--the ``guns on the ground''--
whose mission is to engage and destroy enemy forces in close combat. 
Upon deployment to Iraq, the Battalion will likely be asked to perform 
highly difficult and dangerous assignments. Despite the challenges that 
these men and women will likely encounter, their spirit and resolve is 
remarkable. Indeed, they are ready and eager to serve their country.
  The Battalion has also mobilized during emergencies in their home 
state of New York. The Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Slack, 
informs me that the Fighting 69th was

[[Page E620]]

the first National Guard unit to arrive on the scene following the 
attacks of September 11, 2001. In the hours after the attacks, the 
Battalion assisted medical teams treating the wounded and helped 
significantly in rescue and recovery operations. The Battalion worked 
through the night and into the morning of September 12th, when they 
were directed to secure the perimeter around Ground Zero. This mission 
continued for the next 315 days. During this time, Battalion soldiers 
were also deployed to secure the bridges and tunnels leading to and 
from Manhattan. Additionally, the unit's armory was the initial support 
center for family members of World Trade Center victims.
  In closing, I ask that my colleagues also recognize and honor the 
tremendous courage of Lt. Gerard Baptiste, a Fighting 69th soldier who 
died on September 11th while on duty as a New York City Firefighter. 
Lt. Baptiste gave his life to help rescue those who were trapped in the 
north tower of the World Trade Center. I hope that Lt. Baptiste's 
friends, family and fellow soldiers will accept my sincere condolences 
for their loss.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that my distinguished colleagues rise and pay 
tribute to the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry of the New York National 
Guard. All Americans should be grateful for the dedication demonstrated 
every day by both the men and women of the Fighting 69th and all of the 
brave soldiers serving in National Guard and Reserve units throughout 
our nation.

                          ____________________