[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF THE 2ND BATTALION, 113TH INFANTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2nd Battalion, 
113th infantry on their return from Guantanamo Bay. On Thursday, April 
21, 2005, family members, commanding officers, local officials, friends 
and neighbors came together to honor their return with a Welcome Home 
Ceremony at the Jersey City Armory in Jersey City, New Jersey.
  The 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry has a distinguished record dating 
back to the Revolutionary War. Their nine month long deployment, from 
June 2004 to April 2005, was part of Operation Enduring Freedom in 
support of the ongoing global war against terrorism. The battalion was 
an integral element of Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO). I had 
the honor of visiting with many of these soldiers in December during a 
trip to Guantanamo, and I can personally attest to their dedication and 
commitment to protecting the freedoms we all hold dear as Americans.
  I would also like to provide a special mention of the Expert Infantry 
Badge Recipients: Capt. Jurandir Araujo, Jr; 1st Lt. Curtis R. Boyd; 
2nd Lt. Peter B. Hegsethl Staff Sgt. Nicholas L. Forrestal; Staff Sgt. 
Michael J. Klock; Sgt. John Casiano; Sgt. Julio C. Garcia, Jr.; Sgt. 
Daniel M. Kim; Sgt. Benjamin G. Ouckama; Sgt. Winston G. Ouckama, Jr.; 
Sgt. Roque L. Rodriguez, Jr.; Sgt. Daniel E. Torres; Sgt. Carl M.l. 
Cabanas; Spc. Damian P. Caceres; Sgt. Damien N. Joseph; Spc. Jorge M. 
Oliveira; Spc. Ernesto D. Rances; and Spc. Anthony Scally.
  Brave members of the National Guard, I believe they can no longer be 
viewed as simply `weekend warriors,' but as full-time soldiers making 
sacrifices to defend our freedom. I believe they all deserve to be 
treated as such.
  Today I ask my colleagues to join me in appreciation of their 
service, and in fighting to provide health care for these brave men and 
women and their families, to reduce the retirement age for guardsmen, 
and to provide readjustment assistance such as counseling, job 
training, and family assistance.

                          ____________________