[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H4810-H4813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE IN REMEMBRANCE OF BRAVE SERVICEMEN
WHO PERISHED IN APRIL 24, 1980, RESCUE ATTEMPT OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN
IRAN
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 256) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives in remembrance of the brave servicemen who perished in
the disastrous April 24, 1980, rescue attempt of the American hostages
in Iran, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 256
Whereas on November 4, 1979, Islamic extremists occupied
the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran, and took 66
American hostages, of whom 13 were released in a matter of
days, on November 19 and 20, 1979;
Whereas after months of unsuccessful diplomatic
negotiations for the release of the remaining 53 hostages and
after extensive planning and intergovernmental debate, a
complex rescue mission designated as ``Operation Eagle Claw''
was approved by President Carter on April 16, 1980;
Whereas on April 24, 1980, a task force comprised of Army
Special Operations Forces, Army Rangers, Air Force Special
Operations Wing personnel, and United States Navy, Marine,
and Air Force pilots succeeded in moving thousands of miles
undetected until reaching a remote location in the Iranian
desert 200 miles from Tehran designated by the code name
``Desert One'';
Whereas at Desert One, a combination of helicopters and MC-
130/EC-130 gunships rendezvoused with the intention of
rescuing the hostages 200 miles away in Tehran the following
evening;
Whereas the bravery, dedication, and level of operational
expertise of the men who participated in the mission were
evident from the onset and tested by the mechanical and
weather problems suffered en route to the rendezvous point;
Whereas due to mechanical failures and weather problems
only six out of eight helicopters successfully arrived at the
Desert One rendezvous;
Whereas six helicopters was the minimum number of
helicopters that could successfully complete Operation Eagle
Claw;
Whereas once the six helicopters arrived, the rescue
attempt was dealt a final blow when it was learned that one
of the helicopters had lost its primary hydraulic system and
would be unsafe to use fully loaded for the final assault on
Tehran;
Whereas as the various aircraft began moving into position
to return to their respective launching points, one of the
helicopters collided with a C-130 aircraft on the ground;
Whereas flames engulfed the helicopter and the C-130 and
resulted in the death of 5 airmen and 3 Marines;
Whereas other members of the task force were burned but
survived, while their comrades acted bravely in restoring
order and managed to evacuate the wounded personnel and
salvageable equipment back to friendly territory;
Whereas Members of Congress were dismayed with the poor
equipment, lack of funding, and inattention that had been
given to special operations forces up to that time that came
to light because of the aborted rescue mission;
Whereas in response, legislation was enacted in 1986 to
establish a new unified command for special operations forces
that is designated as the United States Special Operations
Command (USSOCOM);
Whereas the United States Special Operations Command
continues to prove its immense value to the national defense
as witnessed by the performance of special operations forces
in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in many other countries of the
world; and
Whereas the Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to
special operations forces personnel and their families: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism of
the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who participated
in Operation Eagle Claw in April 1980 in the attempt to
rescue American hostages in Iran and particularly remembers
the sacrifice of those who died in that attempt; and
(2) commends all special operations forces personnel
currently in service.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Butterfield) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
General Leave
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on the resolution currently under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, to begin, let me extend my sincere gratitude and
appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for his
assistance in bringing this resolution to the floor.
{time} 1030
The men and women of our Armed Forces are fortunate to have such a
dedicated person serving as chairman of the Committee on Armed Services
and I am deeply honored to serve with him.
Madam Speaker, on November 4, 1979, Americans were shocked by the
news that terrorists had stormed our embassy in Tehran and took 66 of
our fellow citizens hostage. This deplorable act of barbarism caught
our Nation off guard and, frankly, ill-prepared to fully realize the
growing threat in the region.
As days became weeks and weeks became months, back-channel diplomacy
was failing. The American people were becoming impatient and a wide
array of individuals were demanding action. As a Nation, the United
States was being held hostage by a regime that had no intention of
negotiating.
Finally, President Carter made the decision that enough was enough;
it was time to bring our people home. On April 16, 1980 a plan called
``Operation Eagle Claw'' was approved, and our Nation's Special
Operations Forces were prepared to answer the call.
Madam Speaker, 8 days later on April 24, a task force of highly
trained personnel from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force was
formed. The task force was comprised of highly trained individuals and
intensely dedicated people, probably the most dedicated ever assembled
to set forth on a mission that would end abruptly in disaster.
The plan called for 8 helicopters, 12 airplanes and a lethal
combination of United States Army Special Operations Forces, Army
Rangers, Air Force Special Operations Wing personnel, and United States
Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots to work without a unified command
structure deep inside hostile territory, a daunting task.
The mission's first objective called for the task force to rendezvous
at a location named Desert One. Once there, U.S. Special Forces combat
controllers and translators were to be offloaded from Air Force
airplanes, C-130s, and reloaded onto Navy helicopters which would take
them to the outskirts of Tehran, in preparation for the final rescue.
Before the rendezvous could even take place, weather problems and
mechanical failures plagued the mission. Eight helicopters took off
from the USS Nimitz, but only 6, the bare minimum required to complete
the mission successfully, successfully arrived at Desert One.
Once the birds were on the ground, Operation Eagle Claw received its
final blow when one of the remaining helicopters' hydraulic system
malfunctioned and therefore rendered the bird useless for the final
assault on Tehran. At that point, despite the desired and sheer ability
of the Special Operations Forces on the ground, the order to abort the
mission was given.
As the helicopters and airplanes maneuvered to return to their
respective launching points, another disaster struck. One of the
helicopters collided
[[Page H4811]]
with a parked C-130 and both aircraft erupted in flames. In the chaos
that followed, the soldiers on the ground acted courageously, with
absolutely no regard for their personal safety, and managed to save
many of their colleagues.
But despite this uncanny display of bravery, 8 of America's finest
young men lost their lives: Captain Harold L. Lewis, Jr., Captain Lyn
D. McIntosh, Captain Richard L. Baake, Captain Charles McMillan, Master
Sergeant Joel C. Mayo, Staff Sergeant Dewey Johnson, Sergeant John D.
Harvey, and Corporal George N. Holmes. They deserve our admiration and
appreciation for the supreme sacrifice made on behalf of our country.
This morning, Madam Speaker, when I looked at my e-mail, I had
received an e-mail from someone who read an op-ed which was published,
which I wrote for the Washington Times, which was published yesterday.
I would like to read it in part.
He says: I will never forget the day, as a young second lieutenant
serving in the 82nd Air Force Division, across Fort Bragg from Special
Forces Headquarters, we knew very little about the Special Forces
people at that time, but I did know the leader's daughter. So in
addition to recognizing that these were America's finest warriors with
all the physical strength, hooah, and military skills one can imagine,
I also appreciated that they had families who loved them dearly and who
suffered anguish, fear, and loss in Eagle Claw. So that is what I
recall from my 25 years ago and what I recall every day when I open the
newspaper and read of the tremendous sacrifice our forces make, each of
them with families who love them.
Madam Speaker, although the results of the mission were tragic,
Operation Eagle Claw's contribution to the American military was
invaluable. One of the central recommendations made by the
investigative commission called upon the military commanders and policy
makers to look at ways to bring together various Special Operations
Forces of each branch of the military. This crucial observation led to
the creation of the United States Special Operations Command, SOCOM, a
model of jointness that serves as an example of the transformed 21st
century military which we are seeking to help create.
Today, SOCOM officers and soldiers and others who are serving our
Nation serve under one command structure, and they are leading the war
on terror. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional
Threats and Capabilities, I have the distinct honor of working with the
members of SOCOM. It is clear that our Nation's Special Operations
Forces are the most unified, well equipped and fiercest fighting force
in the world. In the post-911 world that we live in, their contribution
to our national security is more important than ever.
Madam Speaker, we stand here today in remembrance of the lives that
were lost in Operation Eagle Claw. We are also thankful for the men who
have followed in their footsteps. As the warriors of SOCOM continue to
lead the fight in the war on terror, I join my colleagues in applauding
their efforts and successes and thanking them for their dedication to
our country.
The meaning of Operation Eagle Claw will be remembered in different
ways by different people, but it will always be remembered.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the chairman's
resolution which commemorates the bravery of soldiers, sailors, airmen
and Marines who took part in Operation Eagle Claw 25 years ago. I want
to thank my friend, the chairman from New Jersey, for his extraordinary
leadership on this issue.
Madam Speaker, the resolution also commends our Special Operations
Forces who are risking their lives for our country today. On April 24,
1980, 8 patriots lost their lives in an effort to rescue hostages from
the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The classified mission was noble in its
purpose, yet difficult and risky.
On November 4, 1979, terrorists stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran
and took 66 American hostages. President Carter sought the hostages'
release through diplomatic means but his efforts were to no avail.
Ultimately, he approved a hostage rescue mission known as Operation
Eagle Claw.
On April 24, 1980 a task force of Army Special Operations Forces,
Army Rangers, Air Force Special Operations Wing personnel, and U.S.
Navy, Marine and Air Force pilots launched Operation Eagle Claw. They
landed in a remote desert in Iran, 200 miles away from Tehran, and
planned to execute the hostage rescue mission the following day.
However, Madam Speaker, a series of mishaps forced Operation Eagle Claw
to be aborted and led to the deaths of 5 brave airmen and 3 Marines.
On January 20, 1981, after 444 days, the U.S. hostages were freed.
Nevertheless, it was clear from the tragic deaths of those brave
servicemembers during Operation Eagle Claw that our Special Operations
Forces needed and deserved more and better resources to do their job.
Congress created the U.S. Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, so
that their needs would be met. Today SOCOM consists of more than 50,000
uniformed personnel, jointly integrated from the Army, the Navy, and
the Air Force and the Marine Corps, all striving to support our
Nation's national security interests.
Operation Eagle Claw represented the best equipment and personnel
available at the time. However, SOCOM has elevated crew-on-crew
familiarity, team proficiency, and equipment interconnectivity to a new
level of excellence.
Madam Speaker, our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to the members of
the Special Operations community, particularly those who have given
their lives, such as those 8 service members who died during our
Operation Eagle Claw. Our Special Operations Forces are truly, truly
the quiet professionals committed to the concept of selfless service.
So as we face the challenges of terrorists and weapons of mass
destruction, Special Operations Forces provide a vital tool to defend
our great Nation abroad. The resolution brought before us today
recognizes this contribution. And I again want to thank the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) for offering this resolution. I urge all
of my colleagues to support its adoption.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
western Florida (Mr. Miller) whose district is the home of the Air
Force component of the Special Operations Command, AFSOC.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding me time.
Madam Speaker, ``They tried and that was important,'' said Colonel
Thomas Schaefer, the U.S. Embassy defense attache and one of hostages.
``It is tragic 8 men died, but it is important America had the courage
to attempt the rescue.''
It was 90 young men who volunteered to go to the desert, and 9 of
them never made it home. The oldest, 35; the youngest, 21. Between
them, they left 13 children. Captain Harold Lewis has 2 children, Dr.
Jim Lewis, now on the medical staff at the Moffitt Cancer Center in
Tampa, and Kimberly Lewis, who joined the Coast Guard. Captain Lynn
McIntosh has 3 children, Scott, Stewart and Mark, who is currently
enrolled in Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee. Sergeant John
Harvey has 2 children, Lauren and John. Tech Sergeant Joel Mayo has 4
children, Douglas, Joel, Jr., Brett, and Kurt, who also served in the
Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1998. Finally, Staff Sergeant
Dewey Johnson has 2 children, Wesley and Lee Ann.
One of those who died was Air Force Tech Sergeant Joel C Mayo. He was
34. He was from Bonifay, Florida in my district near Hurlburt Field.
Sergeant Mayo, the flight engineer on EC-130, performed his fire
control duties so others might escape, until it was too late for him to
save his own life. He died while trying to rescue his pilot, Captain
Lewis.
One of his comrades and good friends, retired Master Sergeant Taco
Sanchez, had this to say about his friend Sergeant Mayo: ``I talked to
him that night. It is important people understand. Joel had no idea he
was going to give his life that night. But if you told him that he was
going to die, he still would've gone.''
[[Page H4812]]
Not only did he die a true hero. But his death gave life to what we
now know today as Special Operations Command and the Air Force Special
Operations Command.
The Air Force personnel who died were members of the 8th Special
Operations Squadron based at Hurlburt Field. At Desert One the 8th SOS
was given its motto: ``The Guts to Try.'' The patch of the 15th SOS has
5 burning fires, representing the 5 Air Force personnel who lost their
lives. The men who died have not and never will be forgotten.
To all the families we say this: If your loved ones had not died that
fateful day, the enormity of the task of integrating the military at
the time might not have been realized. The urgency of the situation
might not have been fully understood and the creation of the truly
Joint Special Operations Command could have been delayed for a number
of years, resulting in who knows how many further U.S. causalities.
{time} 1045
Of course, this does not bring them back to us, and nothing can
replace the emptiness where they once were. Hopefully, time has done
all that it can in that regard, but you should know that every citizen
of this country owes a special debt of gratitude to your husbands,
brothers, sons, fathers, cousins, and comrades who died on that day.
Can you imagine if we had not had the capabilities of Special
Operations Command after September 11? We would have still pursued and
destroyed the enemy, but who knows how many more American lives would
have been lost if we had only had conventional forces to rely on.
Cailin Mayo is one of Joel's grandchildren. She is old enough now to
understand our grandfather's sacrifice. It is to her and all the other
grandchildren of those eight men that I say this: do not ever forget
the sacrifices of your grandfathers. Know that they are all with God
and that they will forever look down upon and continue to protect each
of you.
Retired Master Sergeant Sanchez's words about his friend Joel Mayo
capture the essence of every man on this mission. They were a brave,
courageous group of men attempting the impossible for a noble and a
worthy cause. They were Marines and airmen, but they came together for
one purpose, and that was to rescue Americans, and as Americans, they
died together in the desert. They had the guts to try.
God bless them, their families and these United States.
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Kline), a great veteran of the United States Marine
Corps.
Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of the
servicemen who participated, and even more so, those who perished in
the unsuccessful rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran, now over
25 years ago.
Madam Speaker, during my 25 years in the Marine Corps, I had the good
fortune to know personally many of the heroes of that fateful day, and
counted some among my close friends. These brave men were asked, and
cheerfully volunteered, to undertake the challenge of rescuing their
fellow Americans in a mission of the utmost secrecy and gravest danger.
Members from all branches of our armed services came together,
bringing with them the best of skills and experience, but it was not
enough to do the job.
In the end, woefully inadequate equipment, tremendous sand storms,
and extraordinary logistical challenges contributed to the death of
five U.S. Air Force men and three Marines, serious injuries to five
additional servicemen and the loss of eight aircraft. But these
circumstances in no way diminished the skill and the bravery of the men
who took on this hazardous mission against all odds.
The challenge of Operation Eagle Claw began with the isolated
location of Tehran. I remember looking at a map after this unfolded and
being astonished at the distances involved. Surrounded by more than 700
miles of desert and mountains, the city was essentially cut off, cut
off from ready attack by U.S. air or naval forces. We simply did not
have anything in the inventory. In addition, the embassy staff and the
embassy itself were located in the heart of the city, congested by more
than 4 million people.
Even more taxing was the primitive state of the technology and
helicopters and equipment with which these men were asked to complete
their mission and the secrecy demanded for the planning, training, and
execution of the mission.
Madam Speaker, I knew many of the Marines that became the pilots of
the Navy CH-53s that were used. In fact, one of my very close friends
in the squadron that I was serving with at the time was pulled off for
an assignment. He went out with the others and trained in the desert
for weeks. We had no idea of the mission. I did not find out about the
mission until the rest of America saw it on the news that April.
It was unbelievable secrecy under which these men worked. The
equipment by today's standard is incredible. My son is a pilot in the
101st Airborne, and he has got the latest technology and night vision
goggles, lightweight devices that clip to his helmet and flip down,
allowing him a full view of the cockpit of the Blackhawk helicopter
which he flies.
These men did not have that. They had equipment night vision goggles
taken from ground crews. They had no visibility outside the narrow
tunnel that they were viewing; and yet they took this equipment that,
by today's standards, would not be allowed near an aircraft, and
trained in harsh conditions for a mission that they knew was going to
be extremely, extremely difficult.
Madam Speaker, a fitting tribute to the men of Operation Eagle Claw
is to learn from their experience and apply these lessons to the
challenges facing our men and women in uniform today. Some of those
have been discussed by my colleagues here on the floor: the creation of
the United States Special Operations Command, the joint effort, new
technology that is being developed and employed and tested sometimes in
battle today.
We must bear in mind the importance of continuing to provide our
troops with the resources they need to succeed in a mission and not
launch them out with equipment simply unsuited for the job.
To those who perished in Operation Eagle Claw, I offer my gratitude,
my deep appreciation, my great respect. To their families and friends,
I offer my prayers and my condolences. It is hard to imagine greater
heroes taking on a tougher challenge and making such a sacrifice.
Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.
Res. 256, an important measure that recognizes the brave servicemen who
perished during Operation Eagle Claw, the unfortunate April 24, 1980
attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran. The resolution also
recognizes the sacrifice of those who survived and commends all of the
Special Operations Forces currently in service. Operation Eagle Claw is
truly a moment in our military's history that must be remembered, and I
urge my colleagues to come together out of compassion, cooperation and
commitment to recognize the valiant soldiers, sailors, airmen and
Marines who participated in this difficult mission.
First, we must demonstrate compassion for the servicemen who
participated in Operation Eagle Claw and those that made the ultimate
sacrifice by giving their lives. These dedicated individuals left their
families and friends behind to protect American citizens from those who
were being held against their will. Although unsuccessful, their
mission will be remembered. We must never forget their bravery, and we
must do all we can to honor their lives, their sacrifice and their
patriotism.
We must also demonstrate a sense of cooperation to ensure that the
efforts of the servicemen of Operation Eagle Claw will not go
unrecognized. On that tragic day, members of the U.S. Army Special
Operations Forces, Army Rangers, Air Force Special Operations, the U.S.
Navy, Marines and Air Force all joined together to conduct their
mission. Because of their valiant efforts to conduct the mission while
dealing with poor equipment and a lack of funding, the U.S. Congress
subsequently formed the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Today, USSOCOM continues to prove its immense value to our national
defense, and it is important that we come together today and properly
honor their courage by cooperating here in Congress to support these
fine men and women in every way possible!
And, finally, we must uphold our commitment to ensure that our
Special Operations
[[Page H4813]]
Forces and our military have all the resources they need to continue to
protect our country in the days to come. During my tenure in Congress,
I have had the honor to represent or share representation of Fort
Bragg, which is home to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and
the Joint Special Operations Command--vital components of USSOCOM. I
will continue to work with my colleagues on the House Armed Services
Committee to ensure that we do our part to meet the needs of our
special operators and the officers who are charged with leading them
into the battlefield. In fact, I have spearheaded the Special
Operations Forces Caucus, along with four of my colleagues,
Representatives Robin Hayes (NC), Jeff Miller (FL) and Jim Davis (FL)
to ensure that the needs of our special operators are met.
Each and every day, our Special Operations Forces, along with our
other servicemen and women in all the branches of our military, put
themselves in harm's way to fight for our nation's freedoms here at
home and abroad. Now is the time that we come together with compassion,
cooperation and commitment to remember those that served during
Operation Eagle Claw and ensure that they are properly recognized and
honored. They are our heroes, and I am pleased to support H. Res. 256,
which takes the necessary step to honor not only those who perished on
that tragic day, but also those courageous individuals who make up our
Special Operations Forces. May God bless all of them and their
families.
Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, we have no more speakers on our side, and
we yield back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 256, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Resolution
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in remembrance of
the members of the Armed Forces who perished in the April 24, 1980,
rescue attempt of the American hostages being held in Iran and
commending all special operations forces personnel currently in
service.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________