[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.

                          ____________________