[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1929-E1930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE SERVICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS IN THE UNITED STATES 
                              ARMED FORCES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 306, of which I am a cosponsor, which passed the U.S. House 
of Representatives on October 5, 2004. This important legislation 
honors the service of Native American Indians in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  I have the privilege of representing the largest tribe of Native 
Americans east of the Mississippi River--the Lumbee Tribe. 
Approximately 52,000 strong, about 40,000 members of this tribe live in 
my home county--Robeson County, North Carolina.

[[Page E1930]]

  Many Lumbee Indians have served our Nation with distinction, such as 
Rear Admiral Michael Holmes, who hails from my hometown of Lumberton 
and who is the first Native American to become an admiral in the U.S. 
Navy. I visited with Admiral Holmes in Europe last year, as I did with 
Army Specialist Jonathan Brooks of Pembroke, who also is from Robeson 
County. These gentlemen are just two of the many Lumbees serving our 
country. Lumbee veterans also serve on my Seventh Congressional 
District Advisory Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
  In addition to the Lumbee Tribe, I also represent two other tribes--
the Coharie Tribe, which has a tribal membership of more than 2,400, 
and the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe, which consists of a membership of 
approximately 2,000. Members of each of these tribes have served 
honorably in the military. For example, the Coharie Tribal Chief, Mr. 
Gene Faircloth, is a Vietnam combat veteran and served in the U.S. 
Marine Corps for 6 years. And, approximately 100 members of the 
Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe have served honorably in conflicts since World 
War II. Unfortunately, on October 2, 2004, the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe 
lost one of its esteemed members, Mr. Ernest Sylvester ``E.S.'' Jacobs, 
who valiantly served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.
  I am proud of the contributions that all Native Americans, including 
those that make up the Lumbee, Coharie and Waccamaw-Siouan Tribes, have 
made to our great country, and I applaud them for their rich tradition 
of strength, wisdom, commitment and service. I commend them and all 
those in uniform who have volunteered to defend the rights and freedoms 
that we all hold dear. May God bless each of them and their families as 
they continue to serve valiantly our country.

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