[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 62 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE 110TH A.A.A. GUN BATTALION

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the members of the 
110th A.A.A. Gun Battalion. This weekend, the 110th will be holding a 
reunion in Cromwell, CT, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 
Allied victory in the Second World War.
  The 110th played a critical role in the campaign in Europe. They were 
trained in England in preparation for the Allied invasion in 1944. On 
June 7 a day after D-Day they reached Omaha Beach in France with orders 
to ``protect all ground forces from enemy aircraft.'' Members of the 
110th also participated in the liberation of Paris, the crossing of the 
Rhine, and the Battle of the Bulge.
  The bravery and accomplishments of the 110th earned the unit 
considerable praise. Brigadier General E.W. Timberlake commended the 
men of the 110th for their ``outstanding drive, tenacity of purpose, 
and aggressiveness,'' while Colonel Thomas Munford lauded the battalion 
for its ``outstanding performance of every assigned mission, both in 
training and in battle.''
  A few of the achievements of the 110th deserve particular 
recognition. They successfully shot down what is believed to be the 
first German plane downed in France during the liberation of Europe. 
Members of their reconnaissance team were among the first Americans to 
enter Paris. In total, the 110th destroyed 65 enemy planes, 11 tanks, 
and 80 ground vehicles.
  It gives me a good deal of pride to note that many of the members of 
the 110th hailed from Massachusetts and Connecticut. As the birthplace 
of our Nation, New England boasts a long and honored tradition of deep 
patriotism and dedicated service to our country. New Englanders have 
served in every single one of our Nation's conflicts, from the 
Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  During the Second World War, the fate of not only our own Nation but 
the world was at stake. And New Englanders joined our entire Nation in 
stepping forward to defend freedom against the forces of tyranny and 
oppression.
  Sadly, with each passing year, fewer and fewer of our World War II 
veterans remain with us. We can all remember the deeply emotional 
moment last year when thousands of World War II vets gathered here in 
our Nation's capital for the opening of the National World War II 
Memorial. Just as notable, though, are the smaller gatherings that take 
place around our Nation that provide veterans with the opportunity to 
renew old ties, to meet each other's families, and to reminisce about 
the unforgettable experiences they shared many years ago.
  On that note, I would like to offer congratulations to Leo Kania of 
Middletown, CT, who served as a corporal in the 110th. This week's 
reunion is the 6th such event Mr. Kania has organized over the years. 
This weekend, members of the 110th will have the opportunity to tour 
the very boat that took them to Omaha Beach six decades ago. The 
dedication Mr. Kania has shown is a testament to his devotion to his 
battalion, his pride in his country, and his spirit of friendship.
  I offer my congratulations and my humble thanks to the members of the 
110th A.A.A. Gun Battalion, and I extend my best wishes to them and 
their families on this momentous anniversary.

                          ____________________