[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9429-S9431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO NAVY SEALS

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute 
to the 10 courageous sailors who lost their lives in Afghanistan during 
Operation Enduring Freedom on 28 June 2005 by printing the eloquent 
words of U.S. Navy RADM Joseph Maguire, Commander, Naval Special 
Warfare Command, during a memorial speech at Naval Amphibious Base 
Little Creek on July 8, 2005.
  I ask unanimous consent to print this tribute in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    (By Rear Admiral Joseph Maguire)

       Good Morning. On behalf of the Commander, United States 
     Special Operations Command, General Doug Brown, the United 
     States Navy, the proud men and women of Naval Special 
     Warfare, I'd like to welcome everybody to this morning's 
     memorial service for our ten fallen Sailors.
       We're honored to have with us today the leaders of our 
     nation and our Navy. We are joined this morning in grief. The 
     chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John 
     Warner, Congresswoman Thelma Drake, our local Congresswoman, 
     Ambassador Joseph Prurer and Mrs. Prurer, Undersecretary of 
     the Navy Aviles, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral 
     Willard and Mrs. Willard. The Commander Fleet Forces Command, 
     Admiral Nathman and Mrs. Nathman, and the General Council of 
     the United States Navy, Mr. Mora. In addition to that we have 
     many general officers [From the joint services, retired 
     community, retired Flag Officers. I'd also like to extend a 
     welcome to our many veterans here today, our combat veterans.
       I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our families 
     in Naval Special Warfare, especially to the families of 
     Squadron Ten, whose husbands are still deployed and engaged 
     in combat operations far away. But most importantly I'd like 
     to welcome the families of the ten SEALs that we honor here 
     today. Earlier in this week I along with General Brown and 
     many others have been attending memorial services for our 
     United States Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the 
     160th, located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Hunter Army 
     Air Field, where as you all know we lost eight brave Special 
     Operations Aviators.
       This morning we pause to honor the memory of ten Navy 
     SEALS, in particular the six SEALS who were home ported here 
     at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek. I'd also like 
     to extend a welcome to those who can't be with us physically 
     in this theater right now. The theater holds 1800 people and 
     we filled that up earlier this morning. And for those of you 
     in the overflow where we have nearly 2000 people seated, I 
     welcome you this morning and I apologize that we did not have 
     space for everybody to be in here physically. But I know, 
     spiritually, that you're with us and we sincerely appreciate 
     you being part of the ceremony this morning.
       My remarks will be short. I think it's important that you 
     hear from the friends and loved ones, and also Commodore Pete 
     Van Hooser has got some very important things to say.
       But what I would like to say as the Commander for Naval 
     Special Warfare and the head of this community, how proud I 
     am to be the Commander for Naval Special Warfare and have the 
     opportunity to lead and serve with these ten fine men. Naval 
     Special Warfare is the smallest war fighting community in the 
     Navy. There's 1750 enlisted men and six 600 officers. We're a 
     small town, we literally know each other, and honestly, for 
     those of you it may be hard to believe if you see the way we 
     act with each other, we love one another.
       Everything that you see here and everything this morning 
     was put together by their Teammates. I'd like to call your 
     attention to the operational equipment that we have forward 
     here on stage. It traces its proud heritage back to World War 
     II. The Underwater Demolition Teams and the Navy Combat 
     Demolition Units and you'd have to go all the way back to 
     World War II to get the number of Naval Special Warriors who 
     died in one day in one military operation. The loss of one 
     SEAL, the loss of one military man is more than we could 
     possibly bear, but to have ten or our brave men perish in one 
     day along with eight of our Nightstalkers is truly a 
     remarkable day and one that will always be etched in our 
     memory.
       But before you though you have UDT swim fins, a UDT 
     lifejacket, a web belt and a mask. And it may seem strange to 
     you knowing that these Naval commandos died on a mountain top 
     7,500 feet in elevation in a country 300 miles from the sea. 
     But our nation called. These are the same people that flew 
     the planes into the Twin Towers that flew the plane into the 
     Pentagon that also flew the plane into the ground in 
     Pennsylvania. The Al Qaeda and the Taliban are barely 
     distinguishable and these are the people that these brave 
     men, these ten men, went out to meet and engage in combat. So 
     although the operational equipment that they had on them that 
     day on the 28th of June was not swim fins, not a UDT life 
     jacket, not a mask, perhaps a K-Bar. We thought it's 
     appropriate because we are first and foremost warriors from 
     the sea, Navy men, that we honor them today as SEALs and Navy 
     men.
       The last thing I'd like to just mention is the knife that's 
     on the web belt. The K-Bar also dates back to the knife used 
     by the UDT in World War II. And a tradition in Naval Special 
     Warfare when a young man finishes his training and is awarded 
     his trident, when he is awarded his trident he is also 
     presented a K-Bar, and on that K-Bar is inscribed the name of 
     a SEAL who went before him, where he died, and the date he 
     died on. So that knife would always link him to the past and 
     serve as an inspiration to him as a SEAL in combat in the 
     future. These ten knives that we have up here are now etched 
     with your husbands, your son, your brother, your father, your 
     uncle, your nephew, your neighbor, your friend, and to us our 
     Teammates names. You can take these home with you today, and 
     I hope that you treasure them, but what I want you to know is 
     that in the future when fellow SEALs become SEALS and they 
     are presented with their K-Bars, the name of these men will 
     be engraved to serve as an inspiration to future SEALs in 
     combat, our teammates.
       And I want to leave you with this. We have a creed, we have 
     many things in Naval Special Warfare, but to sum it up, it is 
     loyalty to our teammates dead or alive. These ten men are no 
     longer with us, that doesn't mean that our allegiance and our 
     covenant ends with them today. We will remain their teammates 
     forever and to the family members sitting here, always know 
     that we will always be there from them, always there for you 
     and, we will always stay connected. God bless and thank you.
       I'd like to go into the awards presentation now and I ask 
     all of the guests and military to remain seated as we make 
     the presentations so that all can see.
       The Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple 
     Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign 
     Medal will be presented posthumously for the actions in the 
     following citation below.
       On Tuesday 28 June 2005, thirty members of Naval Special 
     Warfare Task Unit-Afghanistan were preparing to conduct a 
     direct action mission when they were tasked to respond as a 
     Quick Reaction Force to reinforce a four-man Navy SEAL 
     reconnaissance element engaged in a fierce firefight near 
     Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan.
       The reconnaissance element was bravely fighting Anti-
     Coalition Militia, who held both a numerical and positional 
     advantage. The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy 
     personnel killed, with several of the SEALs suffering 
     casualties.
       After receiving the task to reinforce, the Quick Reaction 
     Force loaded aboard two MH-47 U.S. Special Operations Army 
     helicopters planning to air assault onto a hostile 
     battlefield, ready to engage and destroy the enemy in order 
     to protect the lives of their fellow SEALs. Demonstrating 
     exceptional resolve and fully comprehending the ramifications 
     of the mission, the Quick Reaction Force, while airborne, 
     continued to refine the plan of attack to support both the 
     reinforcement task and hasty execution of their intended 
     deliberate assault.
       As the helicopter approached the nearly inaccessible 
     mountainside and hovered in preparation for a daring fast-
     rope insertion of the SEALs, the aircraft was struck by an 
     enemy rocket-propelled grenade fired by Anti-Coalition 
     Militiaman. The resulting explosion and impact caused the 
     tragic and untimely death of all SEALs and Army Night 
     Stalkers onboard.
       These men answered the call to duty with conspicuous 
     gallantry. Their bravery and heroism in the face of severe 
     danger while fighting a determined enemy in the Global War on 
     Terror was extraordinary. Their courageous actions, zealous 
     initiative and loyal dedication to duty reflected great 
     credit upon themselves, Naval Special Warfare, and the United 
     States Navy. For the President, Vern Clark, U.S. Navy, Chief 
     of Naval Operations.
       The presentations this morning will be made by Commodore 
     Pete Van Hooser, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group Two

[[Page S9430]]

     and Master Chief Chuck Williams, Command Master Chief of SEAL 
     Team Ten.
       The President of the United States takes pride in 
     presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart 
     Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
     posthumously to LCDR Erik Kristensen, United States Navy.
       The President of the United States takes pride in 
     presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart 
     Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
     posthumously to LT Mike McGreevy, United States Navy.
       The President of the United States takes pride in 
     presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart 
     Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
     posthumously to Chief Fire Controlman Jacques Fontan, United 
     States Navy.
       The President of the United States takes pride in 
     presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart 
     Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
     posthumously to Electronics Technician 1st Class Jeffrey 
     Lucas, United States Navy. Accepting his father's awards is 
     his son, Seth Lucas.
       The President of the United States takes pride in 
     presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart 
     Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
     posthumously to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jeffrey Taylor, 
     United States Navy.
       The President of the United States takes pride in 
     presenting the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat 
     Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal posthumously to 
     Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz, United States Navy.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would like to associate myself with 
these exceptional remarks by Admiral Maguire. Our great country will 
forever owe these courageous SEALs a debt of gratitude for their 
selfless actions in battle on June 28, 2005. While I am sorry that the 
families of these men have suffered such an irreplaceable loss, I am 
proud that America produced such fine gentlemen who valiantly answered 
the call to defend these United States. Recalling our national anthem, 
I say, we would not be ``the land of the free'' were we not also the 
``home of the brave.''
  Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the 10 
courageous sailors who lost their lives in Afghanistan during Operation 
Enduring Freedom on June 28, 2005, by reading the eloquent words of 
U.S. Navy CAPT Pete Van Hooser, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group 
Two, during a memorial speech at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek on 
July 8, 2005.
  I ask unanimous consent to print this tribute in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                       (By CAPT Pete Van Hooser)

       I am always humbled in the presence of warriors. We have 
     been in sustained combat for over 3 years--things have 
     changed.
       I find myself speaking in public a lot more than I would 
     like, but I always start by thanking four groups of people. 
     The first are our warriors who haven fallen; the second, 
     those who have guaranteed that those who have fallen will not 
     be left behind. Some with their bravery, others with lives.
       I thank those who have selflessly pulled themselves off the 
     line to train the next warriors to go forward--so that they 
     may surpass the prowess of those currently engaged.
       And I am thankful for the families that nurture such men.
       My remarks will be focused on these families and the men 
     who wear the trident. We would not be able to do our jobs 
     without the brave men and women of the Army, Air Force, and 
     Marine Corps. Task Unit--Afghanistan of Naval Special Warfare 
     Squadron Ten, was comprised of SEAL Team Ten and SEAL 
     Delivery Vehicle Team Two and One, had many U.S. Navy rates 
     other than SEALs that trained and deployed by our side, and 
     we recognize and are grateful for the professional efforts of 
     all. But this time and this place is about the SEALs.
       Leonidas, the Spartan King, hand-picked and led a force to 
     go on what all knew to be a one-way mission. He selected 300 
     men to stand against an invading Persian force of over 2 
     million. They were ordered to delay the advance the Persian 
     Army. Selecting the battlefield was easy--the narrow mountain 
     pass at Thermopylae restricted the combat power that the 
     enemy could apply--allowing the superior fighting skills of 
     the 300 Spartans to destroy the will of this Persian Army to 
     fight. These Spartan warriors died fighting to the last man.
       The Persian invaders were defeated by the Greek Army in 
     later battles. Democracy and freedom were saved.
       Most know this story. But most of us don't know how 
     Leonidas selected the 300 men. Should he take the older 
     seasoned Warriors who had lived a full life, should he take 
     the young lions that felt they were invincible, should we 
     take the battle-hardened, backbone-proven warrior elites in 
     their prime, or should he sacrifice his Olympic champions?
       The force he chose reflected every demographic of the 
     Spartan Warrior class. He selected those who would go based 
     solely on the strength of the women in their lives. After 
     such great loss, if the women faltered in their commitment, 
     Sparta would falter and the rest of Greece would think it 
     useless to stand against the Persian invaders. The democratic 
     flame that started in Greece would be extinguished.
       The Spartan women were strong. They did not falter. I would 
     even argue that we live in a democracy and have freedom 
     because of the strength, skill, and courage of these 300 men 
     and the extraordinary will and dedication of the women in 
     their lives.
       The women in our lives are the same. I see the pride in 
     their wearing of the Trident symbol--I hear it in their 
     voices when they are asked what is that symbol, and they say 
     my husband, my son, my brother, or my dad is a Navy SEAL--
     usually they say nothing more.
       If I were to say to the families, I feel your pain, that 
     could not be so. I can never know the depth of your 
     relationship or the anguish of your personal loss. What I can 
     say is the truth I know. Those who wear the trident provide 
     only brief glimpses into our world to those on the outside. 
     Even our families see only a limited view of the path we have 
     chosen. We are all different, but on the inside we share many 
     common beliefs and actions. We spend most of our adult lives 
     with other SEALs preparing for battle.
       On this occasion I feel compelled to share our innermost 
     thoughts. I want to show you a little more of our world so 
     you can understand the way we see, the way we feel about what 
     happened.
       There is a bond between those who wear a trident--that is 
     our greatest strength.
       It is unique to this very small community. It is unique in 
     its intensity. It is nurtured by the way we train--the way we 
     bring warriors into the brotherhood. This bond is born in 
     BUD/S. It starts to grow the first time you look into the 
     eyes of your classmate when things have gone beyond what you 
     or he thinks is possible. It grows in the platoon as you work 
     up for deployment, and it grows around the PT circle. It's 
     the moving force behind every action in a firefight. This 
     bond is sacred. This bond is unspoken, unconditional, and 
     unending.
       When it comes to fighting we are all the same inside. 
     During the first stages of planning, at the point where you 
     know you are going into the battle, we think about our 
     families. The master chief passing the word to the boys sums 
     it up, ``I am going home to my kids and you are going home to 
     yours. Here is our next mission.''
       We never stop planning--we never stop thinking through 
     every contingency--we want to cover every anticipated enemy 
     action. This is the way we face the risk.
       There is a significant difference between inserting on a 
     mission where there may or may not be enemy contact or 
     serious resistance and inserting into a fight where forces 
     are already engaged. On 11 April, the men of this task unit--
     during their initial week in Afghanistan, immediately shifted 
     from a helicopter training scenario directly into the fight 
     as a quick response force to help soldiers and marines in a 
     desperate battle. They made the difference--saving the lives 
     of our fellow servicemen and destroying the enemy.
       Last week when these fallen warriors launched on this 
     mission, their SEAL teammates were fighting the enemy--fellow 
     SEALs were in peril--as always in the teams--in this--
     situation there is no hesitation. It is not about tactics--
     its about what makes men fight.
       As you are going in hot--you can't help it--you must allow 
     one more small block of personal time. You think of those at 
     home--the people you--the people you left behind. For this 
     brief moment, there is no war.

     Our souls have touched a thousand times before this moment
     Boundless undefined shadows quietly surging through and 
           waking each other
     On a moonless star rich night we patiently wait for the dawn
     There is no distance
     You smile a cool wind that takes away thirst
     I will never know hunger
     I have never known fear
     Unspoken--Unconditional--Unending

       It's the same bond--now your focus returns to your SEAL 
     teammates. Total focus on the approaching fight is all that 
     exists.
       In April, when I heard of the Task unit's first contact 
     that very first week in country--when I saw the reports of 
     the enemy casualties they had inflicted--I was happy but not 
     too happy. Its was more of a quiet internal sharing of a 
     sense of satisfaction they had executed flawlessly.
       Last week when I was told of their deaths and saw what they 
     were trying to accomplish, I was sad--but not too sad. It was 
     more of a quiet and internal recognition that they had gone 
     to the wall, and there was no hesitation. They were 
     warriors--they are SEALs
       We are not callous. We don't have the luxury of expressing 
     our emotions at will. In these times our duty is to press on 
     and finish the fight, for all depends on each man's 
     individual actions.
       We answer to a higher moral calling on the path that 
     requires us to take and give life. It is this dedication to 
     ideals greater than self that gives us strength. It is the 
     nurturing of our families that gives us courage. Love is the 
     opposite of fear--it is the bond that is reinforced when we 
     look in the eyes of another SEAL that drives super human 
     endurance. My teammate is more important than I.

[[Page S9431]]

       The enemy we face in Afghanistan is as hard and tough as 
     the land they inhabit. They come from a long line of warriors 
     who have prevailed in the face of many armies for centuries. 
     It is their intimate knowledge of every inch of the most 
     rugged terrain on earth that is matched against our skill, 
     cunning, and technology.
       They are worthy adversaries and our intelligence confirms 
     that they fear and respect us. They have learned to carefully 
     choose their fights because as SEALs we answer the bell every 
     time.
       When you see the endless mountains--the severe cliff--the 
     rivers that generate power that can be felt while standing on 
     the bank--the night sky filled with more stars then you have 
     ever seen--when you feel the silence of the night were no 
     city exists--when the altitude takes your breath away and the 
     cold and heat hit the extreme ends of the spectrum--you 
     cannot help being captured by the raw strength of this place.
       This is a great loss. These men were some of the future 
     high-impact leaders of naval special warfare, but I take 
     refuge in the thought that there is no better place a 
     warrior's spirit can be released then the Hindu Kush of the 
     Himalayas.
       In their last moments, their only thoughts were coming to 
     the aid of SEAL brothers in deep peril. I can say that any 
     one wearing a trident would gladly have taken the place of 
     these men even with full knowledge of what was to come.
       Some of those on the outside may understand that the one 
     man who was recovered would possibly make this loss 
     acceptable. Only those who wear the trident know, if no one 
     had come back, it would all have been worth the cost.
       These men are my men. They are good men. The SEAL teams--
     this path is my religion. This loss will not go unanswered.
       I am always humbled in the presence of Warriors.

  Mr. President, I would like associate myself with these exceptional 
remarks by Captain Van Hooser. Our great country will forever owe these 
courageous SEALs a debt of gratitude for their selfless actions in 
battle on June 28, 2005. While I am sorry that the families of these 
men have suffered such an irreplaceable loss, I am proud that America 
produced such fine gentlemen who valiantly answered the call to defend 
these United States. Recalling our national anthem, I say, we would not 
be ``the land of the free'' were we not also the ``home of the brave.''

                          ____________________