[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1091-E1092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ABU GHRAIB PRISON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, last week the Bethany United Church of Christ 
in Mendon, IL, sent me this letter regarding Major General Antonio 
Taguba's report on the incidents at Abu Ghraib prison. I respectfully 
request that this letter be entered into the Record.

       Dear Congressman Evans: On pages 49 and 50 of the Executive 
     Summary of his report, Article 15-6 Investigation of the 
     800th Military Police Brigade Major General Antonio M. Taguba 
     writes:
       3. (U) Throughout the investigation, we observed many 
     individual soldiers and some subordinate units under the 
     800th Military Police Brigade that overcame significant 
     obstacles, persevered in extremely poor conditions, and 
     upheld Army Values. We discovered numerous examples of 
     soldiers and sailors taking the initiative in the absence of 
     leadership and accomplishing their assigned tasks.
       a. (U) The 744th Military Police (MP) Battalion, commanded 
     by LTC Dennis McGlone, efficiently operated the HVD Detention 
     Facility at Camp Cropper and met mission requirements with 
     little to no guidance from the 800th, Military Police 
     Brigade. The unit was disciplined, proficient, and appeared 
     to understand their basic tasks.
       b. (U) The 530th MP Battalion, commanded by LTC Stephen J. 
     Novotny, effectively maintained the MEK Detention Facility at 
     Camp Ashraf. His soldiers were proficient in their individual 
     tasks and adapted well to this highly unique and non-
     doctrinal operation.
       c. (U) The 165th Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion 
     excelled in providing perimeter security and force protection 
     at Abu Ghraib (BCCF). LTC Robert P. Walters, Jr., demanded 
     standards be enforced and worked endlessly to improve 
     discipline throughout the FOB.
       4. (U) The individual soldiers and sailors that we observed 
     and believe should be favorably noted include:
       a. (U) Master-at-Arms First Class William J. Kimbro, US 
     Navy Dog Handler, knew his duties and refused to participate 
     in improper interrogations despite significant pressure from 
     the MI personnel at Abu Ghraib.
       b. (U) SPC Joseph M. Darby, 372nd MP Company discovered 
     evidence of abuse and turned it over to military law 
     enforcement.
       c. (U) 1LT David O. Sutton, 229th MP Company, took 
     immediate action and stopped an abuse, then reported the 
     incident to the chain of command.
       By this letter we express our admiration and appreciation 
     for the courageous and decent execution of military duties by 
     these individuals and units, as we admire and appreciate the 
     work of MG Taguba and his staff and assistants.
       It is painfully and visibly evident that there have been 
     abuses and violations of legal, Christian, and humane 
     standards of conduct. We are shamed by the facts, and we know 
     only too well how long the world's memory is likely to be. In 
     the midst of the darkness, however, we take particular 
     comfort from knowing that in spite of the pressures and in 
     spite of the many bad examples, and perhaps even bad orders, 
     there were men and women whose deeds may inspire us all to 
     live up to all that is noble and right.
       We share with all people of faith, and especially with 
     other Christians, Jews, and Muslims, many understandings of 
     what divine direction and purpose call us to do and be. In 
     our own language, ``The light shines in the darkness, and the 
     darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:4, NRSV)'' We are 
     grateful that God has called men and women in even the most 
     difficult of circumstances to respect the dignity and 
     intrinsic worth of others.
       We ask you to reflect our tribute in an official way, by 
     reference or quotation in the Congressional Record perhaps. 
     If there is a way for Congress to honor the units and 
     individuals who have distinguished themselves

[[Page E1092]]

     and preserved honor for all of us, we ask you to support it 
     or lead it energetically.
           Sincerely yours,
     Rev. Nancy Holmes Nyberg,
                                                           Pastor.
     Christine Roskamp,
                                                        President.
     Teresa Beeler,
                                                        Treasurer.
     Stephen R. Mulch,
                                                   Vice-President.
     Shirley M. Roskamp,
                                                        Secretary.
     Anna MacArthur,
     Memorial Fund.

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