[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7682-H7683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF PELELIU
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 102) recognizing the 60th anniversary
of the Battle of Peleliu and the end of Imperial Japanese control of
Palau during World War II and urging the Secretary of the Interior to
work to protect the historic sites of the Peleliu Battlefield National
Historic Landmark and to establish commemorative programs honoring the
Americans who fought there.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 102
Whereas on December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan bombed the
United States fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, forcing the
United States to declare war on Japan;
Whereas by 1944, United States victories in the Southwest
and Central Pacific were bringing the war ever closer to
Japan;
Whereas on September 15, 1944, after three days of naval
gunfire, United States forces landed on the beaches of
Peleliu, in the Palau islands chain, with the objective of
capturing a vital air field;
Whereas the battle for Peleliu lasted more than two months,
during which the United States suffered over 10,000
casualties, including an estimated 1,250 Marines and 540
soldiers killed in action;
Whereas George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United
States, served as a torpedo-bomber pilot in the Navy and sank
an armed Japanese trawler during Operation Snapshot, an
operation to weaken Japenese defenses on Peleliu before
United States Marines invaded the island in September 1944;
Whereas former Secretary of State George P. Shultz served
as an officer in the Marine Corps detached to the 81st
Infantry Division of the Army during the Battle of Peleliu
and participated in the seizure, occupation, and defense of
Angaur Island in the Palau islands chain;
Whereas on February 4, 1985, the Secretary of the Interior
officially designated the Peleliu battlefield as the
``Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark'';
Whereas the landmark plaque has been mounted and is now
displayed in a prominent place in the village of Kloulkubed;
Whereas that designation as a national historic landmark
attests not only to the significance of the battlefield site,
but also to the integrity of the site;
Whereas the Peleliu battlefield today has considerable
physical evidence of the battle, including about 100
identified individual cave sites occupied by the defending
Japanese troops, as well as pill boxes, casemates, and large
military equipment, both American and Japanese, which played
a direct role in the battle for Peleliu; and
Whereas thanks to the sacrifices of members of the United
States Armed Forces who participated in the Battle of
Peleliu, the Republic of Palau today is an independent,
democratic nation and a strong ally of the United States:
Now, therefore, be it--
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
Congress recognizes the bravery and courage of the members of
the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Battle
of Peleliu and of all veterans who fought in the Pacific
Theater during World War II.
Sec. 2. The Congress urges the Secretary of the Interior--
(1) to recognize the year 2004 as the 60th anniversary of
the Battle of Peleliu and the end of Imperial Japanese
control of Palau during World War II;
[[Page H7683]]
(2) to work to protect the historic sites of the Peleliu
Battlefield National Historic Landmark; and
(3) to establish commemorative programs honoring the
Americans who fought at those sites.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr.
Grijalva) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
My colleague from Arizona (Mr. Flake) has introduced legislation that
seeks to honor an important anniversary marking a battle that took
place in the Pacific theater during World War II. His resolution, H.J.
Res. 102, commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu in
the Palau island chain.
In particular, H.J. Res. 102 will recognize the admirable bravery and
courage that thousands of United States Armed Forces members displayed
during this battle. The actual formal date of the 60th anniversary of
the Battle of Peleliu was on September 15, 2004, which makes the
movement of this legislation even more timely. The unique history our
country has with this freely associated state is one that should not be
forgotten and continues strongly to this day. I am thus hopeful that
the House can support the gentleman from Arizona's bill so that we may
show our support of the many U.S. Armed Forces veterans and families
who help us to remember this important time in history.
I urge the adoption of this joint resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I certainly would like to commend
the gentlemen from California and the gentleman from Arizona for their
management of this proposed legislation.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 102 as offered by
my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake) in recognition of the 60th
anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu and the end of Japanese control of
the Pacific islands of Palau.
The Battle of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific theater
in World War II, lasting more than 2 months, during which the United
States suffered over 10,000 casualties. As a result of this momentous
battle, Japanese control of Palau was ended. Today, Palau is an
independent, democratic country and a strong ally of our Nation.
As we are all well aware, Madam Speaker, freedom is not free. The
price of freedom was paid in blood, and we owe a great debt of
gratitude to the American forces who sacrificed their lives at the
Battle of Peleliu so that Palau can enjoy freedom today. By this
resolution, we in Congress will acknowledge the bravery and courage
shown by the members of the United States Armed Forces in the Battle of
Peleliu and work to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.
Over the years, it was my privilege, along with my colleagues in the
House, to personally visit and meet with the leaders of the Republic of
Palau. Although small in numbers as far as population goes, the
Republic of Palau along with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and
the Federated States of Micronesia are a strategically important region
for our national security and defense.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and,
again, commend my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake) for sponsoring
this proposed legislation.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time and I thank the gentleman from American Samoa for speaking so
eloquently on this bill. I appreciate the opportunity to offer this
bill today, and I want to thank Chairman Pombo for including it on our
floor action. The Battle of Peleliu, as mentioned by the gentleman from
American Samoa, was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific theater in
World War II. It lasted more than 2 months during which the United
States suffered over 10,000 casualties, including an estimated 1,250
Marines and 540 soldiers killed in action in an attempt to capture a
vital airfield from the Imperial Japanese.
In honor of that historic battle, myself, the gentlewoman from Guam
(Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega)
introduced this bill to recognize the service and sacrifice of the
brave men who fought to end Imperial Japanese control over the Palau
islands chain and all American servicemen who fought in the Pacific
theater. It is important to note that one of those present at the
battle was President George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of
the United States, who served as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Navy at
that time. During the battle, then Navy Lieutenant Bush sank an armed
Japanese trawler during operations to weaken Japanese defenses on
Peleliu before United States Marines invaded the island. In addition,
former Secretary of State George P. Shultz served as an officer in the
Marine Corps detached to the 81st Infantry Division during the battle
and participated in the seizure, occupation and defense of Angaur
Island in the Palau islands chain.
In recognition of the battle's importance during the war, the
Secretary of the Interior officially designated the Peleliu battlefield
as the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark on February 4,
1985. The battlefield today has considerable evidence of the battle,
including cave sites occupied by the defending Japanese troops as well
as pillboxes, casemates and large military equipment.
This resolution urges the Secretary of the Interior to recognize the
60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu and work to protect the
important sites of that battlefield. It is important to note that the
battlefield is located in what is today the Republic of Palau. The
Republic of Palau today is an independent, democratic nation with a
strong ally in the United States. This is due in part to the sacrifices
of the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in
the Battle of Peleliu 60 years ago. We honor them today.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I urge the favorable consideration of
this measure.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 102.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________