[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, DURWARD LEE ``SWEDE'' REYMAN

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                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American 
hero, Durward Lee ``Swede'' Reyman. Swede quit high school a week after 
the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, at the age of 18. He volunteered to 
join the Army Air Corps to protect and defend the country he dearly 
loves.
  After serving in various locations in the United States he was 
trained for Arctic Search and Rescue and was sent to serve 1 year in 
northern Quebec, Canada, where he was responsible for driving sled 
dogs. Upon returning to the States he volunteered for the paratroops 
and was assigned to the Army Parachute Infantry. He completed jump 
training in February of 1945 in Fort Benning, GA. Swede was then sent 
to the Pacific as part of the 11th Airborne, 188th Parachute Infantry 
Regiment, 3rd Battalion where he made a combat jump on Luzon Island in 
the Philippines. Swede made a total of seven jumps during his time in 
the military.
  Following the drop of atomic bombs in Japan in 1945, Swede's unit was 
the first to set foot in the country of Japan. They served as the Honor 
Guard for GEN Douglas MacArthur during his arrival in Japan.
  Following the war, Swede returned home and married his sweetheart 
Hope, and together they raised four sons, D.L. Junior, William Craig, 
James Mark, and Jeffrey Charles. Jeffery served 4 years in the United 
States Air Force.
  Swede has been actively involved in ceremonies marking the 
anniversaries of World War II events. He went to France for the 50th 
anniversary of D-Day in June 1994 and made a jump with several other 
WWII survivors. Additionally he made jumps in Russia and Australia in 
1995 in ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of V-EDay.
  Swede's favorite phrase that he says to himself daily is ``They gave 
their tomorrows for our todays.'' He doesn't know who to attribute this 
quote to, but he states that it always makes him think of the 
cemeteries full of veterans who died and were buried far from home. 
They had bravely fought and died for our freedoms.
  Today I am proud to honor Swede for his courage, patriotism, and 
service to our Nation. He helped protect our democracy and kept our 
homeland safe by placing his life on the line. Swede truly is the 
embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great 
Nation it is today.
  Mr. Speaker, we maintain the blessings of our freedoms only because 
we have citizens like Swede Reyman who are willing to fight to defend 
them for us. It is for these reasons Swede deserves the very highest 
praise and deep appreciation from the residents of Colorado and from 
this esteemed body.

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