[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.

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