[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 113 (Monday, September 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           DEDICATION OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, over the weekend, South Dakota honored 
a debt long overdue.
  With the dedication of the South Dakota Korean War Memorial on the 
capitol grounds in Pierre, our State paid tribute to the extraordinary 
heroism of those men and women who defended freedom and democracy on 
the Korean peninsula.
  More than 1.8 million Americans fought in the Korean war, facing some 
of the fiercest fighting the world has ever seen.
  More than 36,500 soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in this effort, 
including nearly 200 South Dakotans. Another 103,000 Americans were 
wounded.
  The cause for which they fought, and the freedom they won, is clear 
today for all to see.
  On the south side of the 38th parallel lives a prosperous, free 
nation, fully welcomed into the family of nations.
  On the north side, 22 million Koreans live under tyranny and in 
hunger.
  The regime is rightly condemned for its abuse of its own citizens and 
their fundamental rights, and is an international outcast due to its 
spreading of missile technology and weapons-of-mass-destruction 
technology throughout the world.
  The map shows nothing more than a line separating the two. But in a 
real sense, what separates North from South Korea is the heroism of the 
American soldiers who fought there.
  Several years ago, under the direction of Sheila Hansen, a teacher in 
the Spearfish Middle school, the children of South Dakota set out to 
tell the stories of each of the 2,200 South Dakotans who gave their 
lives in World War II.
  The project is called Fallen Heroes, and the stories of heroism these 
children uncovered taught all South Dakotans a lesson about the true 
meaning of patriotism and service.
  Recently, Sheila Hansen asked her class to do the same for those 
South Dakotans who gave their lives in the Korean war.
  I commend and thank Sheila and her eighth grade class at Spearfish 
Middle School, as well as Stanley County Middle School teacher Shirley 
Swanson, whose seventh grade class joined in the effort.
  Together, the students prepared biographical profiles for those South 
Dakotans who lost their lives in service to their country during the 
Korean war.
  One of the young men and women profiled was Walter Baptist LaPointe, 
from Mosher, SD.
  Walter was the youngest of eight children born to Albert and 
Elizabeth Ringing Shield LaPointe.
  Like so many Native Americans in South Dakota and across our country, 
Walter felt an obligation to serve his country.
  Walter enlisted at the age of 19 and was sent overseas in 1951. Just 
4 months after arriving in Korea, Walter was killed in an intense 
firefight near Homang-ni. He was awarded a posthumous Silver Star for 
``gallantry in action'' and I would like to read from his citation.
  It says:

       As Company F attacked Hill 347, Private LaPointe moved 
     ahead of the company line, seeking out and firing on enemy 
     emplacements.
       Ignoring the intense fire the foe was directing on the 
     area, Private LaPointe displayed superb courage and 
     determination by advancing whenever possible and setting up 
     his weapon in unprotected but commanding positions.
       He bravely continued in this manner, providing much needed 
     automatic weapons fire for his comrades, until mortally 
     wounded. Private LaPointe's gallantry reflects the highest 
     credit on himself and the military service.

  Walter was buried at the Advent Cemetery near his home in Mosher. His 
mother Elizabeth was touched by the warmth local veterans displayed at 
her son's passing.
  The following Spring, Elizabeth decided to serve lunch to the local 
American Legion Post. She decided to make it a tradition, and each year 
since the Legion Post in Mosher has enjoyed a luncheon served by the 
LaPointe family.
  Even after Elizabeth's passing, the tradition continues, and still 
today the members of the local Legion Post know the enduring gratitude 
of the LaPointe family.
  Many friendships have been built over the years and a special 
connection between the family and Mosher's veteran community has grown. 
Speaking of the tradition, a family member recently said:

       In this manner, we will forever preserve [Walter's] memory.

  Indeed, they have done much more than that. With their generosity, 
they have strengthened the ties of friendship between the citizens of 
South Dakota and the men and women who fight to protect them. They have 
shown our veterans that their service will never be forgotten.
  This, too, is the ultimate contribution of the Fallen Heroes project 
and the South Dakota Korean War Memorial dedicated this past Saturday.
  Because our country was still war-weary from the end of World War II, 
few returning Korean war veterans were greeted with the ticker-tape 
parades and community celebrations that were common after World War II. 
The Korean war became known as the Forgotten War.
  For the 12,000 Korean war veterans still living in South Dakota, and 
all those with whom they served, we have a simple message--you will 
never be forgotten.
  The statue that stands on the capitol grounds in Pierre will be an 
enduring reminder of your contribution. But even this memorial is just 
a token of the gratitude and reverence South Dakota feels for you. The 
true memorial to your heroism is cast not in bronze, but in the hearts 
of millions of Koreans whose freedom you won, and in the memories of 
the Americans inspired by your courage.
  We thank you for your service, and we salute your valor. And we will 
always remember.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cornyn). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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