[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING LIMA COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 25TH REGIMENT UPON THEIR RETURN 
                             HOME FROM IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEBORAH PRYCE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom 
and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Ohio has shouldered an 
enormous share of the sacrifice, but no one has shouldered a greater 
share than the Marines and families of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 
25th Regiment, based in my hometown of Columbus. On August 3, 2005, 
this brave group of soldiers lost nine of their brethren in western 
Iraq. Since its deployment in March, Lima Company has lost fifteen of 
its 160 men.
  The 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines' reputation is legendary. First 
activated on May 1, 1943, ``3/25'' captured a key airfield at the Batte 
of Iwo Jima in the Pacific. The battalion fought heroically in the 
battles of Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, Tinian, and Colonel Justice Marino 
Chambers received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery as 
Commander of the 3/25 at Iwo Jima. After being deactivated at the end 
of WWII, the battalion was reactivated in January of this year, and 
headed to Iraq in March.
  It truly is impossible for us to fully comprehend the dangerous 
mission these valiant Marines have undertaken in Iraq. They've been 
tasked with the most strategic yet risky assignments, often moving from 
town to town, door to door, in search of armed insurgents along the 
Euphrates River. And as desperate insurgents have been staging more 
frequent and deadly attacks on our armed forces, Lima Company endured 
the brunt of these attacks on that fateful day in August and laid to 
rest nine brave soldiers.
  When confronted with a loss as great as this, we all search for some 
perspective, trying to balance the sacrifices made by these brave 
Marines with the vital mission our soldiers are carrying out in both 
Iraq and Afghanistan. We take some solace in knowing that because of 
the commitment and dedication to freedom by America's soldiers and 
those of our allies, more people in the Middle East region are living 
in freedom under democratically elected governments than at any point 
in the history of this region. We have witnessed free elections in 
Palestine and the election of a leader committed to achieving lasting 
peace. Saudi Arabia has held elections, and Syria has ended its 
occupation of Lebanon. Libya's nuclear program has been dismantled, and 
Egypt is allowing for challengers to compete in a public election 
against the sitting president. This democratic domino effect portends a 
safer, freer future for the people of the Middle East and the rest of 
the world.
  As Lima Company returns home to Ohio, the Iraqi people are about to 
embark on a monumental endeavor--casting a vote on their very own 
Constitution--drafted by officials they selected just ten months ago in 
a free and fair election. I have to think that the crossing of these 
two meaningful events is not coincidental. There is far too much 
symbolism. This Constitution is a tangible and lasting symbol of 
freedom and liberty in a part of the world that for centuries has known 
neither, yet without the brave sacrifices of Lima Company, and all of 
America's armed forces, they would probably never know. Thank you, Lima 
Company, for your bravery, heroism, and sacrifice. We welcome you home.

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