[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5764-H5766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


.


COMMEMORATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONCLUSION OF WAR IN THE PACIFIC AND 
HONORING VETERANS OF BOTH PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC THEATERS OF SECOND WORLD 
                                  WAR

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 191) commemorating the 60th 
anniversary of the conclusion of the War in the Pacific and honoring 
veterans of both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters of the Second World 
War, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 191

       Whereas on December 7, 1941, a date which will live in 
     infamy, the United States was suddenly and deliberately 
     attacked at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, resulting in the loss 
     of over 2,400 American lives, the greatest such loss of life 
     in a single attack before September 11, 2001;
       Whereas the United States joined with allies from 32 
     countries to fight the common foe of fascist militarism in a 
     war in which over 16,000,000 Americans served in the 
     military;
       Whereas the United States suffered over 670,000 casualties, 
     with more than 400,000 deaths, while over 105,000 Americans 
     were held as prisoners of war, many of whom were forced to 
     participate in the infamous Bataan Death March or were forced 
     to work on the construction of the Siam-Burma Railway;
       Whereas two former Presidents, John F. Kennedy and George 
     H. W. Bush, served with particular distinction and valor in 
     the Pacific theater during the Second World War;
       Whereas the sea battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Leyte 
     Gulf-the greatest naval battle in history-and Lingayen Gulf 
     turned the tide of the war in the Pacific and led to ultimate 
     victory;
       Whereas the Sullivan family of Waterloo, Iowa, who lost 
     five sons in a single morning when the USS Juneau was sunk in 
     the Battle of Guadacanal, came to symbolize for the United 
     States the grief felt by American families over the loss of 
     loved ones during the Second World War;
       Whereas on May 14, 1943, the Australian hospital ship 
     Centaur, in transit to New Guinea to pick up the wounded, was 
     sunk fifty miles East-Northeast of Brisbane, Australia, 
     resulting in 268 dead, representing the highest number of 
     casualties of any merchant vessel sunk by a submarine in the 
     Pacific theater;
       Whereas General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise of 
     ``I shall return'' to the Philippine people by leading the 
     successful campaign for the liberation of the Philippines, 
     part of a wider campaign which freed much of Asia from 
     militarist occupation;
       Whereas more than 20,000 Japanese and 7,000 Americans died 
     in the battle of Iwo Jima, which raged on the small island of 
     Iwo Jima for over one month between February and March 1945, 
     the fierceness of which was captured in the historic photo of 
     five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the American flag 
     on Mount Suribachi;
       Whereas the Battle of Okinawa, waged between April and June 
     1945, was the largest sea-land-air battle in history, with 
     more than 38,000 Americans wounded and 12,000 killed or 
     missing, more than 107,000 Japanese and Okinawan conscripts 
     killed, and perhaps 100,000 Okinawan civilians who perished 
     in the Battle;
       Whereas millions of people died in Hawaii, Guam, the Coral 
     Sea, Midway, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Wake 
     Island, Guadacanal, Nanjing, Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, 
     Chongqing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaya, Indonesia, Burma, 
     Bataan, Corregidor, Manila, Luzon, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, 
     New Guinea, Korea, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Tokyo, 
     Hiroshima, and Nagasaki;
       Whereas the Second World War led to dramatic social changes 
     in the United States as more than 19,500,000 women joined the 
     American workforce at defense plants and 350,000 women joined 
     the Armed Forces;
       Whereas the roles of minorities in both the Armed Forces 
     and industry were changed forever as greater opportunities 
     for employment and service in the defense of the United 
     States presented themselves;
       Whereas Japanese-Americans, including Senator Daniel 
     Inouye, served with courage and valor in the 442nd Regimental 
     Combat Team, the most decorated regiment in United States 
     military history;
       Whereas the people of the United States and Japan worked 
     together after the Second World War to reconstruct Japan and 
     to ensure the post-War emergence of Japan as a beacon of 
     democracy and economic liberalization in the Asia-Pacific 
     region, and the United States and Japan further solidified 
     the post-War security relationship by signing the Security 
     Treaty of 1951 and the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and 
     Security in 1960;
       Whereas the sacrifices in the Pacific of United States 
     veterans and veterans of United States allies during the 
     Second World War led to the emergence of an Asian region 
     where democratic institutions and free market economies have 
     taken hold, contributing greatly to the peace and prosperity 
     of the region; and
       Whereas on May 29, 2004, the United States gratefully 
     dedicated the World War II Memorial, honoring both the 
     Pacific and Atlantic theaters, on the National Mall in 
     Washington, D.C., with decorated World War II hero Senator 
     Robert Dole giving the dedication speech: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) honors all veterans, living and deceased, of the Second 
     World War in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters on the 
     60th anniversary year of the War's conclusion and expresses 
     the deep appreciation and gratitude of the United States for 
     their valor and selfless service to their country;
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States to 
     commemorate the 60th anniversary of the final surrender of 
     the Second World War aboard the USS Missouri as a day of 
     remembrance and appreciation for the members of the greatest 
     generation who, through their sacrifices both in the Armed 
     Forces and on the homefront, preserved liberty for future 
     generations and rescued the world from the scourge of fascist 
     militarism;
       (3) reaffirms the judgment in Tokyo rendered by the 
     International Military Tribunal for the Far East of 1946-1948 
     and the conviction of certain individuals as war criminals 
     for their crimes against humanity; and
       (4) recognizes that the alliances formed in the Asia-
     Pacific region following the Second World War, including 
     those with Australia, Japan, the Philippines, the Republic of 
     Korea, and Thailand, have contributed immeasurably to the 
     continued peace and prosperity enjoyed throughout the region.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 191.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the 60th anniversary of the final victory in one 
of the

[[Page H5765]]

greatest campaigns for the preservation of freedom in the history of 
the world. The heroic struggle of America's Greatest Generation and the 
peoples of the allied countries to defeat the scourge of Fascist 
militarism and liberate millions from its iron fist was the most 
monumental endeavor of the entire 20th century.

                              {time}  1215

  World leaders quite properly gathered in Moscow on May 9 to 
commemorate V-E Day, the 60th anniversary of the victory in Europe. We 
certainly join in honoring our heroic veterans of the D-Day landing and 
those of the entire Atlantic theater for their valiant efforts to 
liberate the people of Continental Europe, especially those trapped in 
death camps from Nazi tyranny.
  We should well remember, however, that for the American people, the 
Second World War neither began nor ended in Europe. For our Nation, the 
war began on a quiet Sunday morning in Hawaii, when the U.S. was 
suddenly and deliberately attacked at Pearl Harbor. Over 2,400 lives 
were lost, including those buried in the sunken hull of the battleship 
USS Arizona. These dead represent the greatest number of American 
casualties in any such attack prior to September 11, 2001, another date 
which will live in infamy.
  The war for America did not end on May 19 with the defeat of the axis 
powers in Europe. The battle for Okinawa, the largest sea-land air 
battle in history was largely fought after the surrender in Europe. It 
was not until General Douglas McArthur crossed the deck of the 
battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay to accept the final surrender of Japan 
on September 2, 1945, that America and the world were finally at peace.
  V-E Day had been the beginning of the end, but V-J Day was the final 
victory. I stand in strong support, therefore, for this concurrent 
resolution, which gives equal recognition to veterans of both the 
Pacific and Atlantic theatres as inscribed in the World War II Memorial 
which was dedicated last year on our National Mall.
  This resolution calls upon generations of Americans who followed 
those who fought and died in this historic conflict to pause and give 
remembrance to the sacrifices of the greatest generation as the 60th 
anniversary of V-J Day approaches. The events of that war are slowly 
fading, and a distant memory, rekindled only in our national 
consciousness by readings in history textbooks or by clips from old war 
films, therefore we must assure, through commemorations like the one 
contained in this resolution that the sacrifices of the World War II 
generation are never diminished or never forgotten.
  We here today should dedicate ourselves to preserving these memories, 
even as we stand once again to thank our World War II veterans for 
their sacrifice and their valor. As Americans reflect on the decades of 
unparalleled stability and prosperity following the aftermath of the 
Second World War, they may recall the words of the great British 
Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton who said, ``If I have been able to see 
further, it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants.''
  The blessings we enjoy today come from standing on the shoulders of 
those giants who fought, bled and died 6 decades ago so we might be 
free. And so to all those who fought, we owe an enormous debt of 
gratitude. Their legacy today is a peaceful and increasingly prosperous 
Asian Pacific region, where democratic institutions have taken root and 
market economies have flourished.
  Their gift to us is an America which still stands as a beacon of 
liberty to the people of Asia who remember well the horrors inflicted 
by the coming of the Second World War.
  With pride and boundless gratitude do we acknowledge the unpayable 
debt we all owe to veterans, who together with our allies and those on 
the home front, won the final victory which we commemorate today.
  Mr. Speaker I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and rise in strong support of this concurrent resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, in the context of this commemoration of what happened on 
the watery battlefields of the Pacific 60 years ago, I want to draw 
special attention to the actions of one of our most esteemed colleagues 
in this body, an esteem that is bound to grow once people know and 
understand the extent of his contributions to the allies' success in 
this crucial part of World War II.
  Our distinguished colleague and my dear friend, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde), now the respected chairman of the House 
International Relations Committee, back then was a young Naval officer 
facing the most important battle of his life.
  On January 9, 1945, he piloted a landing craft into the Lingayen Gulf 
as part of a massive landing force hoping to establish a beachhead on 
the Philippine island of Luzon. His mission was to help liberate the 
people of the Philippines from Japanese control.
  The liberation of the Philippines and the eventual victory of allied 
forces in the War in the Pacific now seems to have been predetermined. 
Yet it was anything but decided during this important moment in global 
history.
  Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) 
survived the battle of Lingayan Gulf. For his exemplary service to his 
Nation, he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World 
War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Philippines 
Liberation Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, it is evident to those of us who have had the privilege 
of working alongside him in the intervening years, that the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Hyde's) tenacity in battle extends to other forms of 
conflict.
  But it is also clear that he is committed to bipartisan cooperation 
in the national interest whenever possible. He has remained loyal to 
the values that propelled him into public service.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the greatest respect and admiration for the 
sacrifices of American soldiers, many of whom gave their lives in this 
epic battle against the forces of fascism and Japanese militarism. I 
owe my very life to the American military and to the troops of other 
allied countries which liberated Europe at enormous costs.
  There are millions of citizens in the Asia-Pacific region, from the 
Philippines to Korea, who also owe their freedom to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the thousands of other brave Americans.
  In many ways, Mr. Speaker, the victory over Japan was more of a 
beginning than an end. In the aftermath of World War II, the United 
States developed strong alliances across the Asia-Pacific region, which 
have only strengthened for the past 5 decades. The United States and 
Japan have developed a robust multifaceted relationship based on shared 
democratic values and mutual interests in Asian and global stability 
and development.
  The strength of our relationship with Japan today and the relative 
peace of the Asia-Pacific region for over 50 years demonstrate the 
value of the sacrifices made by the brave American soldiers in the 
Pacific theater.
  With the passage of our resolution, we commemorate these enormous 
contributions to peace, and we commit ourselves to remembering for all 
time those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California has been incredibly 
generous in his remarks, and I would like to comment on his history for 
the edification of our colleagues.
  Hitler's forces occupied Hungary on March 19, 1944. Along with the 
Nazi invaders came the notorious Adolf Eichmann, with orders to 
exterminate the Jewish population of Hungary. A 16-year-old boy viewing 
these somber events decided he had to take a stand. He joined the 
Hungarian underground, a loose-knit group which was made up of small 
clusters of individuals.
  Sent to a work camp to perform forced labor to maintain a railway 
bridge, this boy was the sole survivor of an allied bombing raid. ``I 
was convinced I would not survive,'' the boy recalled. But fate had 
greater things in store for this young hero. Escaping from the camp, 
the young man made his way to Budapest where he joined Swedish diplomat 
Raoul Wallenberg in his rescue operation to save much of the Jewish 
community of Hungary.

[[Page H5766]]

  The young man ran operations for the underground carrying food and 
medicine through Nazi lines to Jews hiding throughout the city. After 
the war, the young man was reunited with his childhood friend, who was 
to become his wife, Annette. Together they immigrated to America to 
start a new life.
  Fortunately for all of us on the International Relations Committee 
and in Congress and in America, that brave lad from Budapest is here 
with us today. After a distinguished academic career in California, the 
same determination which kept him alive at the bombed out railway 
bridge has now brought him to Congress, where he serves as the ranking 
Democratic member of the International Relations Committee.
  For his courage in war, for his service in peace, especially here in 
Congress, I would like to express sincere and profound appreciation to 
my friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos.)
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, before yielding to my friend, the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), I just want to express my most 
profound gratitude to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hyde), the distinguished chairman of our committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my good friend, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for yielding me the time and 
giving me the opportunity to speak on the floor today on this issue.
  December 7, 1941 would come to mark a historical pivot point for both 
America and the world. Two days later, the Chamorros people of Guam 
would also begin a dark and somber time. Over the next 31 months, 
residents were turned into refugees. Men, women, and children were 
massacred, an entire island enslaved.
  An estimated 700 Chamorro people perished over these years of 
occupation. On July 21, 1944, American troops once again touched the 
shores of Guam, ending the oppressive occupation.

                              {time}  1230

  Liberation meant a restoration of faith and future to the Chamorros 
as they sought to reconstruct their island and their lives. The scars 
of battle still resonate, yet the lingering message of history will 
never fade 61 years later.
  I stand to honor those who fought to liberate our people and to honor 
the resiliency displayed by the Chamorro people in such formidable 
times. Just yesterday we went to Arlington to lay a wreath to honor 
those who perished. And tonight in the Cannon Caucus Room we invite the 
entire membership of the U.S. Congress and their staff and friends to 
come and join us in a liberation celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simmons). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
191.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________