[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1350-E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING TASK FORCE PHOENIX IV, THE 53RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2005

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this morning I had the great honor 
to join in ceremonies at Camp Shelby, Mississippi as we sent Task Force 
IV, The 53rd Brigade Combat Team headquartered in Pinellas Park, 
Florida to join Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
  The backbone of this task force operation is a contingent of 1,200 
citizen soldiers from Florida National Guard units. They will be led in 
this operation by Brigadier General John M. ``Mitch'' Perryman, the 
first Florida General Officer to deploy and lead a Florida formation in 
combat overseas since World War II.
  These 1,200 patriots from Florida, along with 250 soldiers from units 
in Tennessee, Kentucky, Iowa, Nebraska, and Vermont, were mobilized in 
April to begin their training and preparation for this mission to train 
the Afghan National Army. An advance party from the 53rd Brigade is 
already in Afghanistan preparing for the arrival of this unit.
  The 53rd Infantry Brigade has earned a national reputation for 
excellence and achievement in service to our Nation and our great State 
of Florida. It was among the first units in the Nation to be activated 
following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Their mission was to 
guard airports, seaports and nuclear facilities.
  Members of the 53rd also proudly served side by side with Special 
Operations forces,

[[Page E1351]]

the 3rd Infantry Division, and the Marine Expeditionary Force during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. They fought for nearly a year in the streets 
of Baghdad and Ramadhi.
  Many of those soldiers returned in April 2004 and were quickly 
deployed last summer to assist Floridians throughout our state who were 
devastated by four hurricane strikes. They served for up to 70 days 
helping with our state-wide recovery effort.
  A large number of the troops my wife Beverly and I met with today at 
Camp Shelby are eagerly volunteering for a return to Southwest Asia to 
serve with Task Force Phoenix after having served earlier tours in 
Afghanistan and Iraq.
  The troops that deploy for this mission join 1,976 Florida Army Guard 
and 200 Florida Air Guard troops who are currently deployed overseas. 
Since 9/11, 6,980 of the Florida Guard's 12,000 soldiers and airmen 
have been activated overseas to join in the international war on 
terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, it was an honor and a privilege to be with these 
soldiers today to see the spirit of pride and devotion with which they 
serve. They are America's Team that seeks to root out terrorists to 
protect our nation and our allies. Their motto is ``From the Front!'' 
which is where Florida's Guardsmen have found themselves over the 
almost 4 years that we have fought this international campaign against 
terrorists. Under the outstanding leadership of Florida's Adjutant 
General Douglas Burnett, the 53rd Brigade Combat Team is ready to carry 
out this latest mission to serve as ambassadors for freedom and peace 
overseas. They are a credit to our state, our Nation, and the United 
States Army.

                          ____________________