[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7650-H7655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF V-J DAY AND THE END OF WORLD WAR
II IN THE PACIFIC
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 360) commemorating the 60th
anniversary of V-J Day and the end of World War II in the Pacific.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 360
Whereas the United States entered the Second World War in
December 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
and over the next four years Americans participated in what
was arguably the greatest national endeavor in the Nation's
history;
Whereas the casualty toll of Americans in the Pacific
Theater during World War II was approximately 92,904 killed,
208,333 wounded, and tens of thousands missing in action and
prisoners of war, with civilians and military forces of the
Allied Powers suffering equally devastating tolls;
Whereas Japanese military forces and the Japanese civilian
population also suffered staggering losses;
Whereas on August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan
announced the unconditional surrender of Japan's military
forces, made formal on September 2, 1945, aboard the U.S.S.
Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan; thus ending the most
devastating war in human history;
Whereas Japan is now a free and prosperous democracy, a
valued, durable friend based on shared values and mutual
interests, and a guarantor against despotism and oppression
in that area of the world; and
Whereas the courage and sacrifice of the members of the
United States Armed Forces and of the military forces of the
Allied Powers who served valiantly to rescue the Pacific
nations from tyranny and aggression should always be
remembered: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of V-J Day and the end
of World War II in the Pacific theater;
(2) joins with a grateful Nation in expressing respect and
appreciation to the members of the United States Armed Forces
who served in the Pacific theater during World War II; and
(3) remembers and honors those Americans who made the
ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for their country
during the campaigns in the Pacific theater during World War
II.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Chandler) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. 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 the resolution
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I would like to begin by thanking the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Stearns), my good friend and colleague, for authoring this resolution.
The gentleman is a Member who is considerably schooled in the Far East
and knows well the effects which the war in the Pacific had, not only
on Japan, but on other nations in the region.
The gentleman from Florida is also a senior member of the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I know that he has been a leader in
ensuring that no veteran is ever left behind. He is also the author of
the Millennium Health Care Act, which puts a special emphasis on
providing long-term health care, especially to our World War II
veterans. So it is very fitting, I think, that the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Stearns) is the author of this resolution, and I thank the
gentleman for introducing it.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 360 is a resolution that recognizes the 60th
anniversary of victory in the Pacific during World War II, V-J Day.
Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago the guns fell silent and the world was able
to begin the process of, paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg
when he said, we will bind up our Nation's wounds when we begin the
very difficult and arduous process of binding up the world's wounds.
The loss of life was indeed staggering; the process of rebuilding
seemingly insurmountable. But just as Americans had rallied in war,
Americans rallied in peace as well.
This resolution reiterates the simple, but very powerful, message
that our Nation honors and deeply appreciates
[[Page H7651]]
the men and women who served in the Pacific Theatre during World War
II, and we especially remember and pay tribute to those Americans who
made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Mr. Speaker, we take this opportunity to honor those individuals who
gave their lives in the Pacific Theatre and thank all veterans of World
War II. During the war, several million members of the United States
Armed Forces fought in the Pacific, including the chairman of the
International Relations Committee, our distinguished friend and
colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). This was one of the
largest military forces ever committed by the U.S. in any theatre of
operation.
I would also briefly pay tribute to my own late father, who saw
horrific combat starting in New Guinea and ending in the Philippines.
My dad was tough as nails but had a very gentle heart, and he was like
so many of those combat veterans that I have met over the many years
who absolutely hated war, but felt it was his duty to defend freedom
and to defend America.
This resolution recognizes the staggering deaths and casualties and
the struggle by military forces and civilians of the allied powers
during the epic struggle for the control of the Pacific. It also
recognizes that since the war Japan has become a free and prosperous
democracy and has become a valued partner in the process of standing
tall against despotism and oppression.
This is an occasion, Mr. Speaker, to remember and to commemorate. We
must remember why the war was fought, remember the victims and the
heroes, and thank those who fought so hard and sacrificed so much. I
join millions of Americans participating in thousands of events all
across the United States, many of which have already been held, and
around the world, in observing and honoring the courage of American
servicemembers, allied soldiers, and home front workers. This truly was
the greatest generation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker,
it is a privilege for me to address this resolution where the House
will once again congratulate the Armed Forces of our great Nation for
their service in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. And it is also a
privilege to serve on a committee whose chairman participated in the
struggle against fascism by helping liberate the Philippines and helped
liberate the people of those islands from Japanese control.
It is with a point of personal privilege to support this particular
resolution that I stand to mention that my family, like so many other
families, were affected. Just about every family in the United States
of America was affected by World War II, and most by the Pacific
Theatre in World War II.
My grandfather had the honor to serve on the Military Affairs
Committee of the United States Senate during World War II; and during
that service on the Military Affairs Committee, he spent time in the
Pacific Theatre meeting with such American heroes as General Douglas
MacArthur and General Joseph Stillwell to discuss allied war strategy.
He said that he was never more proud than he was of our soldiers in the
Pacific Theatre because they gave everything that they had.
The liberation of much of Eastern Asia and the eventual victory of
allied forces in the war on the Pacific now seems to have been
predetermined. Yet it was anything but decided during that important
moment in global history.
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. There are millions of
citizens in the Asia-Pacific region, from the Philippines to South
Korea, who also owe their freedom to the brave Americans who fought our
enemies at Midway, at Guadalcanal and many other places.
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 Asian-Pacific region that
have only strengthened over the last 60 years.
The United States and Japan have developed a robust multifaceted
relationship based on shared democratic values and mutual interests in
Asia and global stability and development.
The strength of our relationship with Japan today demonstrates that
the sacrifices made by brave American soldiers in the Pacific Theatre
were indeed not in vain. With passage of this resolution, we once again
commemorate these enormous contributions and commit ourselves to
remembering for all time those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our
Nation.
Mr. Speaker, it is only right that we continue to help these
veterans. I was amazed to hear reports that members of our Armed Forces
who survived Pearl Harbor have now survived Hurricane Katrina.
415 veterans from World War II and Korea whose Armed Forces
retirement home in Gulfport, Mississippi, was swamped by Hurricane
Katrina have been relocated around the country; 250 of those veterans
have come to this very city.
Mr. Speaker, just as we are caring for our veterans who have been
afflicted by this horrendous crisis, I hope this House quickly turns to
the relief of all of our people on our Nation's gulf coast.
And I would also like to thank the U.S. servicemen and -women and all
those citizens who are helping the citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Alabama survive and recover from the devastation that they are
enduring.
I fully support the emergency appropriations that this House passed
last week. And I and the people of Kentucky stand ready to not only
help the veterans but also every U.S. citizen affected by this
devastating natural disaster.
Mr. Speaker, we are supremely proud of our heroes of the Pacific
Theatre in World War II. And I proudly support this resolution. I urge
all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the author of the resolution, my distinguished friend and
colleague from Florida (Mr. Stearns).
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Smith), my distinguished colleague, the former chairman of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. And like his father, the gentleman is
as tough as nails, also with a gentle heart. And I think most of our
people on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs where he served with
distinction as chairman will agree with that.
I am very pleased this afternoon to bring my resolution to the floor
commemorating the 60th anniversary of
V-J Day and the end of World War II in the Pacific. I thank sincerely
the two Chairs of the committees of jurisdiction for their
consideration. First of all, the House Committee on International
Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), who himself fought
for victory in Japan as mentioned by my colleague from Kentucky, and
the chair of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Hunter). Like my father, Chairman Hunter's father,
Robert Hunter, served in World War II.
On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, in a radio address to
his countrymen, announced the unconditional surrender of Japan's
military forces. So, frankly, World War II officially came to a close
with the signing of the surrender documents on September 2, 1945,
aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Throughout the Pacific Theatre, the men and women of the United
States Armed Forces fought bravely and suffered brutally. My own
father, United States Navy Captain Clifford Robert Stearns,
participated in the landing on the island of Iwo Jima. During the
battle, a bullet passed close by his temple, striking the bulwark of
the ship behind him. He recovered the bullet, brought it home to my
mother and I. And while I could never name each of my constituents who
fought, I have been honored by many such stories, just like my dad's.
I wanted, in this World War II anniversary year, to focus attention
once more on what we call V-J Day.
For years, following World War II, both V-E Day, victory in Europe,
May
[[Page H7652]]
8, and V-J Day were commonly printed on calendars. But that is not so
anymore. And sometimes when I talk to veterans of the Pacific Theatre,
they will say, you know, Cliff, we have seen movies like ``Saving
Private Ryan'' and ``Band of Brothers,'' and while we take nothing away
from the triumph of our brothers in the European theaters, we would
like to see our story told also. And I do think this summer we see a
renewed interest in just this. From the movie ``The Great Raid,'' to
dances, a parade, a V-J 60th speech by the President, to fireworks last
Friday night, September 2, on the National Mall, the veterans of the
Pacific are getting their due.
When exactly is V-J Day, some will ask me. Some refer to it as the
day that the Emperor announced the surrender, which is August 15. This
is when many of our World War II allies formally recognized August 15
as V-J Day, namely, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia. In
Australia, as a matter of fact, they are particularly adamant about
naming August 15 V-J and not V-P, for victory in the Pacific, as some
do, because the Australians in the West fought just as strongly in the
Indian Ocean. Some Asian islands, such as China and Korea, recognize
August 15 as Liberation Day.
Also since the surrender announcement fell on August 14 in American
time zones, you may see this date commemorated as V-J Day here.
And finally, it may refer to the date of the formal surrender which
was September 2, as I mentioned earlier, in 1945.
I would like to take us back to August 14, 1945. When this news was
made public over radios, America experienced a moment mixed with both
relief and jubilation. This is the very essence of V-J Day, a
collective sense of ease and an express ebullience of excitement. We
had endured many years of worry, of rationing, planting victory
gardens, buying war bonds, air raid drills and civil defense patrol,
blackouts even on our own soil. But on V-J Day this ended. America was
thrown open for the Nation's single largest tailgate party, and we were
all there rooting for the same team.
In this jubilation, there was no difference between enlisted,
officers or civilians. Americans danced in the streets, honked horns,
blared radios. Americans poured into village parks, busy city squares
in the streets. Libations flowed. Everywhere the noise was deafening.
Even before the surrender, when it appeared imminent, there was some
interesting preparation.
{time} 1445
In my State of Florida, on August 10, 1945, Governor Millard F.
Caldwell issued a proclamation calling for Floridians to maintain the
``solemnity and dignity of the occasion'' by avoiding ``boisterous
conduct,'' and to facilitate this, that ``all liquor package stores,
bars and tap rooms and places dispensing alcoholic beverages remain
closed during that period.''
Now, I do not imagine that he achieved his objective here. I do not
think the decorum was what he thought it would be, but everybody was
excited with jubilation.
Of course, the image most recognizable to Americans and the world is
of the Life Magazine cover of a joyous kissing sailor and nurse which
photographer Alfred Eisenstadt froze for all time. In an interview last
month, the nurse, now a grandmother, Edith Cullen Shain, recalled the
pandemonium on August 14, 1945, when people grabbed anyone and hugged
and kissed each other.
Mr. Speaker, I close with the testament that understanding and
alliances can arise out of former cataclysms. Today, Japan stands with
us as a true and enduring friend, fellow economic world leader and a
force for a stable and prosperous Asia.
I believe it is important to bring this resolution to the floor to
commemorate that. As the events of World War II pass further and
further into history, the deeds of so many must not fade in our
memories. The veterans in the Pacific theater brought peace and
liberation to millions and millions of people. And as Americans
rejoiced on V-J Day 1945, we will continue to salute those veterans for
many, many more years to come.
I am pleased that the House is bringing up my resolution
Commemorating the 60th anniversary of V-J Day and the end of World War
II in the Pacific. I want to thank the two Chairs of the Committees of
jurisdiction for their consideration. First, of the House Committee on
International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois, the Honorable
Henry Hyde, who himself fought for Victor in Japan by piloting a
landing craft in the Lingayen Gulf. And next, the Chair of the
Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California, the
Honorable Duncan Hunter. Like mine, Chairman Hunter's father, Robert
Hunter, served in WWII.
On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, in a radio address to
his countrymen, conceded defeat and announced the unconditional
surrender of Japan's military forces. World War II officially came to a
close with the signing of the surrender documents on September 2, 1945,
aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Thus ended this devastating
war.
Throughout the Pacific Theater, the men and women of the United
States Armed Services fought bravely, and suffered brutally. My own
father, USN Captain Clifford Robert Stearns participated in the
landings on the island of Iwo Jima. During the battle, a bullet passed
close by his temple striking the bulwark of the ship behind him. He
recovered the bullet and brought it to my mother and me. And, while I
could never in a million years name every one of my constituents and
neighbors who fought in this theater, I have had the honor of hearing
so many stories:
1. Writing last Friday for the Gainesville Sun on V-J Day, Bob Gasche
of Gainesville was a Marine who saw combat in the Pacific.
And from my hometown of Ocala,
2. James C. Phillips, while we were interviewing him for the Library
of Congress' Veterans History Project, quietly described his harrowing
experience as a Kamikaze survivor of the USS Luce;
3. Dewey Roberson joined the Army Air Corps and went from New Guinea
to the Philippines to Okinawa, dodging bombs every step of the way;
4. Nolie Deas was in the 517th Army Battalion in the South Pacific
who invaded the Philippines in June 1945;
5. Leonard Orr served in the 509th Composite Group in the Air Force;
and
6. Tommy Needham served in the Naval Reserve in post-war Japan. All
of these gentlemen, and many women, brought us to Victory in Japan.
But I did not author this legislation to rehash the horrific, but
brave, tales of Pacific battles; this has been done so much before.
Instead, I wanted, in this World War II anniversary year, to focus
attention once more, as we did 60 years ago, on what we called V-J Day.
For years following World War II, both V-E Day (Victory in Europe,
May 8) and V-J Day (Victory over Japan, Aug. 14), were commonly printed
on calendars. But that's not so anymore, and I think this is a little
sad. And sometimes, when I talk to veterans of the Pacific Theater
they'll say, ``You know Cliff, we see movies like `Saving Private
Ryan', and `Band of Brothers'. And while we take nothing away from the
tremendous triumph of our brothers in the European theater, we sure
would like our story told, too.'' And, I do think this summer we are
seeing a renewed interest. For example, the movie ``The Great Raid'',
about the successful rescue of over 500 Americans from a Japanese POW
camp by the 6th Army Rangers Battalion and Filipino guerrillas was
released. In my hometown, Ocala, Florida, the Yankee Air Force Inc. had
a V-J Day dance on August 6 at the American Legion Post 58. More, the
History Channel hosted and aired a commemoration on the USS Intrepid in
New York City on V-J Day, on August 14th. Also Sunday the 14th, Moosup,
Connecticut held a parade, believed to be the only V-J Day parade still
held in the eastern United States. Meanwhile, the President
commemorated the 60th Anniversary of V-J Day Naval Air Station North
Island San Diego, California. And still, last Friday night September 2
on the National Mall, the National Park Service put on a fireworks
display.
So, I think you, Pacific Theater veterans, are getting your due this
summer and it is essential and proper that we as a grateful nation
honor you.
When I talked about my V-J Day resolution, I encountered questions
about when, exactly is it? Some refer to it as the day that the Emperor
announced the surrender: August 15th. This is when Many of our World
War II allies formally recognize August 15th as ``V-J Day'', namely the
United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. In Australia, as a matter
of fact, they are particularly adamant about naming August 15th V-J,
and not V-P for Victory in the Pacific, as some do, because the
Australians in the West fought just as strongly in the Indian Ocean.
Relatedly, some Asian lands, such as China and Korea, recognize August
15 as Liberation Day.
Also in the U.S., since the surrender announcement fell on August
14th in American time zones, you may see this date commemorated to as
V-J Day. Finally, it may refer to the date of the formal surrender,
September 2, 1945.
[[Page H7653]]
I would like to take us back to August 14, 1945, to the battlefront,
and to the homefront. When this news was made public over radios,
Americans experienced a moment mixed of both relief and jubilation.
This is the very essence of V-J Day--a collective exhalation of ease,
and expressive ebullience.
We had endured years of worry, of rationing, planting Victory Gardens
and canning, buying war bonds. Even school children bought many war
stamps and pasted them in special books. When the books were filled,
the students traded them in for a war bond. We had air raid drills and
civil defense patrolled blackouts on our own soil. Civil defense
wardens saw to it that people obeyed the rules. According to a North
Carolina history museum, one Wilmington, North Carolina department
store clerk was even arrested, convicted, and fined ``for smoking a
lighted cigarette upon the streets after having been warned by a person
in authority to extinguish it.'' We studied printed plane silhouettes
to learn the shape of enemy aircraft. Ration coupons for sugar, meat,
fabric, and gasoline were a way of life, as was carpooling to preserve
rubber and gasoline for troops. Housewives poured off cooking fat to be
salvaged for munitions.
But on V-J Day, this was over in an instant. America was thrown open
for the Nation's single largest tailgate party, and we were all rooting
for the same team. In the joyous celebration, there was no difference
between enlisted or officer or civilian, Americans danced in the
streets, honked horns, blared radios. Americans poured into village
parks, busy city squares and the streets. Libations flowed and
everywhere, the noise was deafening.
Even days before the surrender, when it appeared eminent, there was
some interesting preparation. In my State of Florida, on August 10,
1945, Governor Millard F. Caldwell issued a proclamation calling for
Floridians to maintain the ``solemnity and dignity of the occasion'' by
avoiding ``boisterous conduct,'' and to facilitate this, that ``all
liquor package stores, bars and tap rooms and places dispensing
alcoholic beverages, remain closed during that period''. I do not
imagine that he achieved the abstemious decorum he sought, but it all
went well. (I would like to enter this into the Record.)
Of course, the image most recognizable to Americans, and the world,
is of the Life magazine cover of a joyous, kissing sailor and nurse,
which photographer Alfred Eisenstadt froze for all time. In an
interview last month, Edith Cullen Shain recalled the pandemonium on
August 14, 1945, the day of victory for the Allied Forces over Japan,
when people grabbed anyone and hugged and kissed each other. ``I let
him kiss me because he had been in war and he fought for me,'' Shain
said of the sailor. ``I only wish now I had had a conversation with him
or asked his name. I just got lost in the moment,'' said Shain, now an
87-year-old great-grandmother from Santa Monica, California. And never
missing the opportunity to point out a Floridian, I share that
Elizabeth Harris of Tampa is the lady in the photo peeking over the
sailor's shoulder. Also, two Floridians had their own V-J Day kiss.
Betty and Dominick Bruno, 79 and 86 today living in Lakeland, never met
but conducted a wartime correspondence. They finally met in person in
Charlotte, North Carolina four years later, and kissed in the V-J Day
bedlam in the streets, and have become local celebrities in Charlotte
where they are featured in newspaper stories every decade on the
anniversary of V-J Day.
I would like to close with a testament that understandings and
alliances can arise out of former cataclysm, today Japan stands with us
as a true and enduring friend, fellow economic world leader, and force
for a stable and prosperous Asia.
Thank you, again, for bringing this Resolution to the Floor. As the
events of World War II pass further into history, the deeds of so many
must not fade in our memories. The veterans in the Pacific Theater
brought peace and liberation to millions, and as Americans rejoiced on
V-J Day 1945, we will continue to salute you for many years to come.
[From: Division of Elections, Proclamations and Executive Orders, 1845-
1995, Series S 13]
V-J Day Proclamation, 1945
The United States entered the Second World War in December
1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
For the next fours years Americans participated in what was
arguably the greatest national endeavor in our nation's
history.
World War II had an enormous impact on the state of
Florida. More than 250,000 Floridians served in the Army,
Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard and almost 4,700 gave their
lives. About 170 military training bases of various sizes
were established in the state; while shipyards at Tampa,
Jacksonville, Panama City, and Pensacola turned out Liberty
Ships and landing craft; and Florida farmers helped feed both
Allied soldiers and civilians.
Spessard L. Holland served as Florida's governor for most
of World War II, but Millard F. Caldwell had been elected the
state's twenty-ninth governor in late 1944. He presided over
the victory celebrations that erupted across the state in May
1945 upon the defeat of Nazi Germany, and again in August
1945, when victory over Japan was proclaimed.
On August 10, when it became obvious that Japan was on the
verge of surrender, Governor Caldwell issued a proclamation
calling for Floridians to maintain the ``solemnity and
dignity of the occasion'' by avoiding ``boisterous conduct.''
He urged all establishments that dispensed alcohol to close
for twenty-four hours following the announcement of the
surrender. Nevertheless, when news reached the state a few
days later of Japan's acceptance of surrender terms, joyous
pandemonium ensued. ``News of the Japanese capitulation last
night hit Tallahassee,'' reported a newspaper, ``with the
force of Uncle Sam's new atomic bomb and was the signal for
everybody to unloose that pent-up feeling and start what old-
timers view as the most wild, I spontaneous and enthusiastic
celebration ever witnessed in the Capital City.''
A text version of the V-J Day proclamation is included
below the graphic image.
Proclamation
State of Florida
Executive Department
Tallahassee
WHEREAS, the announcement of victory against Japan and the
final end of the destructive world-wide conflict, in which we
have been engaged since 1941, will be received by the people
of Florida, of the United States of America, and of the
entire civilized world, with gratitude and thanksgiving that
we have been spared further damage and sorrow, and
WHEREAS, the solemnity and dignity of this occasion should
not be marred by any boisterous conduct on the part of the
thoughtless or by any tragic incident that can be avoided,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Millard F. Caldwell, by virtue of the
authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Florida,
proclaim V-J DAY in Florida as the twenty-four hours next
succeeding announcement of the surrender of Japan upon the
proclamation by the President of the United States that
hostilities are at an end, and urge that all liquor package
stores, bars and tap rooms and other places dispensing
alcoholic beverages, remain closed during that period;
I also call upon the Sheriffs, their deputies and other law
enforcement officers throughout the State to cooperate in
making V-J Day orderly, dignified and law-abiding in
accordance with the spirit and intent of this proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Florida at
Tallahassee, the Capital, this the 10th day of August, A.D.
1945.
Millard F. Caldwell,
Governor.
Attest: R. A. Gray, Secretary of State.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 360, a resolution
commemorating the 60th anniversary of V-J Day and the end of World War
II in the Pacific.
Sixty years ago today, Japanese offIcials formally surrendered and by
doing so concluded the bloodiest war in modern history,
The United States entered the Second World War in December 1941,
following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and over the next four
years Americans participated in the greatest national endeavor in our
Nation's history.
The casualty toll of Americans in the Pacific Theater during World
War II was approximately 92,904 killed, 208,333 wounded, and tens of
thousands missing in action and prisoners of war, with civilians and
military forces of the Allied Powers suffering equally devastating
tolls.
Mr. Speaker, the people of the lnland Empire are grateful to this
greatest generation for their sacrifice and we honor them for their
courage.
Courage of people like Frank Sandoval of Ontario, California who
bravely stood his ground as a landing crew machinist during battles
with Japanese forces off the Island of Leyte, Philippines.
Courage like that of former Congressman Jerry Pettis, who fought in
the Pacific and then returned home to dedicate his life to his
community. Indeed, our local VA Medical Center in Loma Linda is named
after him.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution so we may
appropriately acknowledge the countless number of Americans who
sacrificed their lives in World War II.
The contributions of these brave Americans have allowed us to live in
the prosperous and free America we know today. It is our duty not only
to recognize and remember their example, but also to courageously
follow it.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the
victory over Japan and the end of World War II in the Pacific Theater,
let us not forget the suffering and injustices experienced by prisoners
of war (POWs) and innocent civilians who found themselves in the path
of the Japanese military.
Thousands of American servicemen in the Pacific Theater were taken
prisoner during World War II. Many were subjected to the Bataan Death
March, in which the Japanese military forced them to march more than 60
miles
[[Page H7654]]
with little food or water. During this torturous trek, hundreds of U.S.
soldiers died of dehydration, starvation, and violence. After being
transported to Japan, many of these American POWs were handed over to
private Japanese companies to toil as slave laborers.
Sadly, American POWs were not the only victims of Japanese military
abuse. The list of atrocities committed by the Japanese military is
extensive. Some of the more widely known acts of brutality include:
death, beheadings, rape and other violent acts, forced labor and
marches, and imprisonment during the occupation of Guam and many Asian
countries; creation of a biochemical warfare detachment, known
infamously as Unit 731 in Mukden, Manchuria, where horrendous
experiments on living POWs were conducted; killing of more than 300,000
Chinese men, women, and children and the rape of 20,000 women during
the event known as the `Rape of Nanking'; and forced sexual slavery of
hundreds of thousands of women from Korea, the Philippines and other
countries for Japanese troops.
I acknowledge that H. Res. 360 properly recognizes that, ``Japan is
now a free and prosperous democracy, a valued and durable friend based
on shared values and mutual interests, and a guarantor against
despotism and oppression in that area of the world.'' However, we must
not forget the past.
While the Government of Germany has formally apologized to the
victims of the Holocaust and has taken great steps to provide financial
compensation to the victims, the Government of Japan has refused to
fully acknowledge the crimes it committed during World War II, and to
provide reparations to its victims. The Government of Japan must
reconcile its past in order to become a trusted world leader today.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I join in supporting House
Resolution 360 recognizing V-J Day.
Last week, I was honored to serve on a delegation with Congresswoman
Madeleine Bordallo, accompanied by Col. Antonio Baines (U.S. Army--
Ret.) for the V-J Day activities in Beijing, China. The U.S. Embassy
staff professionally coordinated the visit.
A highlight was to meet with U.S. veterans who served in China during
World War II. It was inspiring to personally meet heroes who still
exhibit the courage of their service 60 years ago.
I am grateful for my host, the Hon. Jiang Enzhu, Chairman of the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, who
extended the invitation and provided a warm exchange of ideas to
promote Chinese American Friendship. I addressed concern that the talks
on textile imports had broken down the previous day.
At the Great Hall of the People, we were welcomed by the Hon. Sheng
Hauren, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing
Committee. In a frank exchange of viewpoints, we determined China and
America have more in common rather than differences.
It was inspiring to join veterans of a dozen nations at the Beijing
Peace Wall for the signing for the Beijing Peace Declaration. Our stay
concluded with a dinner hosted by President Hu Jintao.
As the son of a Flying Tiger who served in China, I especially was
appreciative to attend these events. My late father, 1LT Hugh D.
Wilson, was proud to have protected the Chinese people in the
Fourteenth Air Force as a member of the 91st Fighter Squadron, 81st
Fighter Group known as the Thunderdragons of Fungwaushan, China.
The following report by my father was presented to fellow 14th Air
Force Veterans as he reflected on his service.
A Night on a Sandbar on the Yangtze River--March 8, 1945
(By Hugh D. Wilson)
I had spent twelve months in China as a fighter pilot,
flying P-40's and P-47's. In another three months I would
finish my quota of missions and be on my way home.
On March 7, Lt. Col. Getchel, 1st Lt. Phil Van Sickle and I
were called into our CO's office to inform us that we had
been picked to ferry three L-5's (Stinson) from Kunming to
Chengtu a distance of 600 miles. We were to fly by transport
to Kunming early on the 8th. The planes would be ready and we
were to fly half way back by night fall to Ipin, spend the
night and then on to Chengtu.
We took off from Kunming about 2 p.m. with an ETA at Ipin
at 5 p.m. The L-5's had a 165 HP Engine and we were cruising
about 100 MPH.
Van Sickle and I being 1st Lts. closely followed our Col.
which was a mistake, for after about two hours he called on
the radio that he thought he had missed a check point.
I had been doing some map reading and assured the Col. that
we couldn't be far off course and should reach the Yangtze
river in about 45 minutes. So--on we flew and arrived at the
river in one hour. The Col. said he thought we were west of
Ipin and that we should fly east along the river until we
could recognize some check points.
Ipin is at the foot of the Himalaya mountains on the
headwaters of the Yangtze river. We were warned not to fly
much west of Ipin because there was a tribe of Chinese head
hunters at the foot of Mt. Minya Konka. (Second highest
mountain in the world 24,900 ft.)
It was getting dark about this time as I spotted a white
sand bar that I thought we could land on. We all agreed and
flew down close to get a good look. The river runs thru a
narrow valley with mountains on each side rising to 800 ft.
On landing the Col. who went in first landed too far from
the water where the sand was soft and nosed but he was not
hurt. Van Sickle and I were both from Florida and knew that
on our beaches the sand is firmer at the water's edge. We
both got in fine. In a few minutes it was dark.
In about thirty minutes we could see a circle of lanterns
all around us and closing in slowly. We didn't know whether
they were head hunters or who. As they closed in on us we
stood close together and agreed to be as friendly as possible
(all the Chinese we knew was ``Ding How''--``good''). Inside
my jacket I had the Chinese and American flag and I took it
off to show them.
There were at least fifty men all with a lantern with
candles in them and each had a gun of some kind. I have never
seen as many old guns, some were blunderbusses even.
In a few minutes they acknowledged that we were Americans
and friendly. They took a good look at our planes and saw the
U.S. Air Force identification.
In another twenty minutes, a Chinese Buddha monk arrived
from a monastery that was atop the mountain just above us. He
could speak some English and asked us to follow him up the
mountain for shelter for the night (800 ft).
The monk offered us some food and we decided to eat some of
their duck eggs.
After a fairly comfortable night and assured by the monks
that we were east of Ipin the Col. flew with me west to Ipin
and to gas up (50 miles). We then flew back to assure Van
Sickle that he could follow us home. We transferred the gas
from the wrecked plane to Van Sickle's and flew on home with
no further trouble. This time we all three navigated!
The above summary is indicative of the courage of our veterans in
China and it is with deep appreciation that I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 360.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution
360, a resolution commemorating the 60th Anniversary of V-J Day and the
end of World War II in the Pacific.
On Friday, September 2, 2005, a ceremony was held on the USS Missouri
in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, commemorating the September 2, 1945 signing of
the final surrender of Japan on her deck. Although I was in Iraq on
that day, I made the following statement:
On this very ship, six decades ago, the greatest
conflagration our world has ever known and, pray God, will
ever know, came to a merciful end. As we stand here today, we
feel acutely, and with the living, breathing spirit of
history around us, that range of emotions coming to us
through these lengthening years: the depth of treachery by
some to the human spirit; the magnitude of suffering; the
breadth of bravery and sacrifice; the exhilaration of triumph
and victory; the sorrow of loss; and the faith and abiding
promise of democracy and freedom.
I so regret that I cannot be with you personally for this
moment, but I am with our troops in still another war on the
other side of our world. But please know that I am here in
spirit as we pause to remember all of this and to recommit
ourselves that we shall forever heed the lessons of World War
II.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, World War II marked a great pivot point
for our Nation and the world. The Allies' great victory against the
forces of oppression endures today as a testament to the determination
and will of freedom's progress over oppression. The end of the war in
the Pacific was a triumph for liberty in the world, and though many
lives were lost, the memories of their valiant sacrifice will never be
forgotten.
As we mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific,
we must also remember the sacrifices and hardships faced by the only
Americans to be occupied during the war, the Chamorro people of Guam.
For the island of Guam, the war in the Pacific was a dark time
indeed. Thirty-two months of oppressive occupation caused hardship and
suffering, necessitating sacrifice and perseverance by the Chamorro
people. Today we honor those whose lives were lost during this period.
Though the scars of the occupation remain today, the liberation of the
island is remembered as a seminal moment in the history of the Chamorro
people.
The brave men of the 3rd Marine Division, the 77th Army Infantry
Division, and the 6th Marine Provisional Brigade on July 21, 1944,
fought tirelessly to liberate the Chamorro people and end the
occupation. The people of Guam would like to acknowledge the enduring
memory of these men who risked their lives on our behalf. Those who
perished in this noble effort are today memorialized in solemn
remembrance and will be for generations to come.
Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H7655]]
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 360.
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. STEARNS. 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.
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