[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 42 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E519-E521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MAKES A DIFFERENCE
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HON. SAM JOHNSON
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when you think of the leaders
of the future--what qualities come to mind? Civic activism? Community
awareness? Personal leadership? Academic excellence? It is a privilege
to recognize the members of the 2005-2006 Congressional Youth Advisory
Council because they embody these qualities and more.
For the last 2 years, the members of the Congressional Youth Advisory
Council have represented the young people of the Third District well by
working as ambassadors of the future. Several times a year the members
of the Youth Council would share a valuable youth perspective on the
current issues before Congress. This year 42 students from public,
private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices
heard and made a difference to Congress.
For the first time, this year there was a philanthropy element to the
Youth Council. For the community service project, the members of the
Youth Council reached out to veterans and encouraged them to share
their stories. Called the ``Preserving History Project,'' each member
had to interview a veteran. Then the student had to submit a lengthy
paper detailing the veteran's service and sharing what the student
learned from that experience. The students submitted a summary of their
work. Today I'm proud to submit the briefs provided so the hard and
valuable work of the Youth Council may be preserved for antiquity in
the Congressional Record.
Someday, each member will be able to share with children and
grandchildren--``In high school I served my community and my work will
always be recognized in the official Congressional Record.''
A copy of each submitted student summary follows.
To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council,
thank you for your time, effort and sacrifice to help make
the Congressional Youth Advisory Council a success. You're
the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and
God bless America.
I was thankful for my list of questions as my Grandpa
(William Frank Morgan) began relating his military
experiences to me. I learned about his life, sacrifices, and
service. He was a Seaman First Class in the Navy, and later a
Senior Master Sergeant when he retired from the Air Force.
This opportunity to talk with him and hear his story has
strengthened our relationship, and I'm so thankful for this
chance to glean more knowledge about my family. Grandpa and
Grandma Morgan visit once a year at Thanksgiving and I always
look forward to their arrival. Reconnection through our talks
and the time we spend together has become more precious each
year. We also try to visit them, and keep in touch through
phone calls and letters. Surprisingly, although Grandpa is
not talkative, he will sporadically crack the funniest jokes.
He is a good example in studying the Bible and desiring a
life of a Godly character. He has a talented green thumb, and
I enjoy stepping into his untidy greenhouse to watch him care
for his healthy plants. When he isn't gardening, Grandpa
spends time among his books, or checking the weather for the
coming week. Grandpa's traveling, distance from loved ones,
disrupted education, interesting experiences with food, and
dangerous challenges have molded his character and
sacrificially ensured the freedoms and safety Americans enjoy
today.--Meredith Morgan
A native of Elmira, New York, William Stone, Jr. served in
the U.S. Army for two years as an officer stationed in
Germany. There he was assigned as a motor officer responsible
for CMMI's beginning in 1967. Stone entered the Army as a 2nd
lieutenant and reached the rank of 1st lieutenant prior to
returning to civilian life. After working for several years
as an insurance adjuster in New York, Stone moved to Texas,
where he and his wife have been teaching in the Plano
Independent School District.
As a result of this interview, I was able to gain insight
into the role of our nation's military. Mr. Stone, like many
others, is among those who have helped safeguard the freedoms
we enjoy in the United States. Listening to his experiences
has allowed me to better understand the sacrifices the men
and women of the military have made on our behalf.--Albert
Chang
Joe McAnally is a great man. He is my neighbor, who I have
known for about four years, and is very active, knowledgeable
and helpful. His tour doesn't even seem to have affected him
in any adverse way. He was born, raised and still lives in
the Dallas area. He chose to be in the Army R.O.T.C. because
he knew, since his birthday was 12th on the draft list, he
would have to serve anyway. Since he was already an officer
his enlistment and boot camp were an easier transition, and
since his family knew he was going to be drafted, they
supported him fully. He served in the Vietnam War and had to
find his own way, because he landed at midnight when everyone
was asleep. He earned two Bronze Stars, the third highest
medal in the service. His food was good, especially the food
mailed from home, except for the mutton. His platoon was well
supplied and was entertained by Bob Hope once. On leave he
went to Thailand and Australia. When he returned home he
was offered his old job back, got married and eventually
bought a business making plastic molds, which he still
owns and runs to this day.--Elliot Post
I interviewed Mr. Spencer Guimarin, a retired first class
petty officer in the United States Navy. Mr. Guimarin
surmounted obstacles in his life that most men would consider
their worst fear. He survived the first
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wave of D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, the invasion of
Okinawa, and every other confrontation that war threw his
way. I have read books and seen movies and documentaries
about Okinawa and D-Day, but to actually have the chance to
sit down and talk with someone that was there was an
experience I will never forget. The movies just don't do it
justice. I was excited when I heard that we were going to
have the chance to do a project like this, and I couldn't
wait to get started. It was a humbling experience hearing his
stories, yet not being able to appreciate it for what it is
worth because I was not there. I learned about the lasting
effects a war can have on a veteran. As I will be entering
Merchant Marine Academy in July of 2006 and hope to pursue a
career in the military, I realize that I may be faced with
some of the same repercussions.--Doug Hermann
For my Preserving History project, I interviewed Lieutenant
Colonel Charles Beck. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War,
serving as a jet fighter pilot in the Air Force. He flew
reconnaissance and bombing missions over North Vietnam,
tracking enemy base movement, taking surveillance pictures,
and calling and participating in air strikes. He was deployed
for three years. Survival rate for his fighter group was less
than 50%, but Lt. Beck made it through the war without ever
being captured by enemy forces. For his service to our
country, Lt. Beck was awarded 27 medals, including a Silver
Star.
I found it interesting how a man from such humble
beginnings pursed a passion for flying. He served heroically
during major combat operations. His pride and his service to
our country and his love for the United States have helped me
understand the important role that our veterans have played
in preserving the freedoms we enjoy in America. I think that
it is very important that we capture our veteran's stories so
that we have documented history of not only their military
service, but of the values that led them to serve their
country so honorably.--Jocelyn Sedlet
For my veteran project, I interviewed Robert L. Staib,
former Captain in the United States Air Force. By the end of
his service, he had fought in the Vietnam War and the Cold
War as a fighter pilot and a forward air controller. He
received a Distinguished Flying Cross, seventeen Air Medals,
and Air Force Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal,
a Vietnam Service Medal, and an Air Force Outstanding
Unit Award Ribbon. He flew in over at least sixteen
countries. He was brave and courageous in all his
endeavors. From this project, I learned what a hero really
is. I learned that my grandfather is a hero because he was
willing to sacrifice his life for the freedom of people he
didn't even know. I also learned about the deep love he
felt for my grandmother and mother. Most importantly, I
learned that heroes don't just do great things, they do
them with great motives. If my grandfather had gone into
the service for glory, he would not have been a hero. He
went into the Air Force knowing he might die, because he
wanted to preserve and spread freedom, a freedom that I
sometimes take for granted. This is a freedom that must be
fought for. This project taught me about Robert L. Staib
and about my freedom.--Britney Thomas
What I gained from this interesting interview was not just
another few hours spent, but an insightful and rather
intriguing conversation with the most well versed person I
know, Mr. John Neese. Beginning as a private, Mr. Neese
escalated to the height of full colonel. He became a very
outspoken individual during the interview, however his
personal anecdotes and stories kept me asking for more. His
impact on the conflict in Vietnam may have been easily
overlooked, however, his objectives and goals at dropping
leaflets and speaking in an ultimately ``fire arm free''
duty, was an amazing opportunity, as well as daily routine as
a member of the U.S. Air Force. He gained a new insight as to
how he could survive in a ``dog eat dog society.'' By simply
joining the Air Force, he received tools he could use the
rest of his life--tools that are hardly apparent in everyday
Americans. What I gained from the interview was a new friend.
A new friend that thinks the same way I do. A man that stands
for God and represents his country to the fullest.--Bryan
Blair
Around the first of the year, my mom introduced me to Lt.
Colonel Kirk Chandler, a den leader in my younger brother's
Cub Scout pack. His military service in the Navy spanned
fourteen years from May 1991, to his retirement in October
2005. With many veterans you find battle-hardiness seeping in
them, and an unwillingness to recount their combat tales.
With Mr. Chandler, I found a laid back former soldier who was
quite positive in his descriptions of his time in the
service. Although he didn't do anything extraordinary in the
field of battle, I feel his accomplishments lie in the
soldiers he inspired, and in the connections he still
maintains to this day with the people that he served with.
In interviewing Mr. Chandler, I was given a whole new
dimension with regards to the military. In talking to him, I
found someone who experienced much in the realm of the
world--someone who's traveled around the world, meeting new
people and new cultures. I learned how one enjoys life even
in the toughest of times. In meeting Mr. Chandler, I met the
embodiment of an American hero and a true stand up guy who
serves the community with pride.--Adam Rosenfield
I interviewed Marvin Alan Sternberg who was a part of the
Army during the Vietnam War. He started as a private and
ended as a 1st Lieutenant when his service ended. Mr.
Sternberg gained a lot from his experience in the Army, but
the biggest lesson that he was taught and forced into was
growing up and becoming a man.
After interviewing Mr. Sternberg, I realize how much a
person can go through just for the protection of others. It
amazes me how someone like Mr. Sternberg can dedicate part of
their life so selflessly in order to protect their country
and fellow citizens that are totally unknown to them. I have
always had a respect for veterans, but now, after this
interview, I have a different kind of respect for all of
those men and women who have served in our country. There is
something special about people that go into the service, and
I have come to find that it is people like that that I look
up to and admire. It all has become a reality to me, because
I actually heard what happens behind the scenes and what they
really go through instead of a sugarcoated testimony that we
hear in school or out of a textbook. I'm so thankful that Mr.
Sternberg took time out of his day to sit down, talk, and
explain to me his experiences he faced during his journey.
This is an experience that I will treasure forever, because I
learned firsthand how veterans are affected by war. Thank you
for giving me the opportunity to participate in this
preserving history project.--Kristy MacDonnell
In my interview with my grandfather, Thomas Dale Alexander,
Colonel, United States Air Force (Retired), I learned quite a
few things about why he does things the way he does and all
sorts of things that I never knew about my mother's family.
He is a much wiser man than the young high school graduate
that joined the Air Force in 1943. He served in the
occupation of Japan, fought in Korea, worked with the FAA for
a while, fought in Vietnam, and retired after commanding a
supply squadron. His plane was shot up badly three times in
Korea, but he did always manage to fly home--feats for which
he was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses. In
Vietnam, he commanded a squadron of Forward Air Controllers,
who interfaced with the troops on the ground and marked
targets for the fighter-bombers with smoke rockets. After he
retired, he moved to Junction, Texas, to build a house by the
Llano River and was hired as Director of Operations at the
Texas Tech Center in Junction, now called Texas Tech at
Junction. After he retired for the second time, he continued
to keep up with the hobbies he had started in the Air Force,
like playing golf and building.--Evan Dale Wise
While his time in the Army was limited to the Postal
Services, my grandfather, Charles Wallander Junior, was an
excellent soldier who defined the traits of discipline,
diligence, and obedience. At the completion of his military
work my grandfather obtained the rank of Corporal in the
Army, and was awarded with the mark of excellence in the
Post Office. Through his work with the Army Post Office,
my grandfather was a key factor in organizing the Korean
mail infrastructure, and allowing for the Postal Service
to function, in his post as Postmaster General. From this
experience I can undoubtedly say that I have gained a
sense of unmatched pride in my grandfather and all he has
done for this country and the world. My appreciation for
him is only matched by my respect for the Armed Forces at
large, and my gained trust in the American way that helps
to guide this country.--Andrew Schreiber
Stanley S. Malewicki was drafted into the United States
Army at the age of 19 at the outset of the Second World War.
After leaving his home in New York, he received five months
of training before deploying to Oxford where he remained for
two more months until the invasion of France. Private
Malewicki entered Normandy at D-Day plus three along with the
204th Combat Engineering Battalion and General Patton's third
Army. For the greater part of his service, Malewicki and his
unit where tasked with transporting infantry and vehicles
across the rivers of France and Germany. Whether by boat or
portable bridge, they always got the job done despite fierce
opposition. During his time in the service, Pvt. Malewicki
earned a Purple Heart and several campaign medals. After the
war was over, he got married and had two children. He also
went on to become a supervisor for the Long Island Lighting
Company (LILCO). Mr. Malewicki says that he did not mind
being drafted one bit, and the United States of America is
one great country. After completing this interview, I have
gained knowledge of my grandfather I had never expected to
experience. To fully understand the nature of war, you have
to see it through the eyes of someone that was actually in
the arena.--Erik De Sousa
The veteran I interviewed is my uncle, Matthew Hancock. The
branch that he served in was the U.S. Army. His initial rank
was Private, and his finishing rank was CW3. Most of the work
he did during his service to this country revolved around
weapons specialty. He was living in Davenport, Iowa, which
was his hometown, at the time that he signed up for the
military. Mr. Hancock served in the military for over 20
years, and fought in both Iraqi Wars: Operation Desert Storm
and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He chose to serve in the
military because he felt the military offered the best
opportunity for him, and he had always wanted to be in the
Army since he was young. He accomplished a great deal during
his impressive span of service, winning several medals,
including three
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bronze stars. I am very glad for having done this interview,
for it has given me a much more indepth understanding of what
our soldiers go through in order to protect the rest of us.
Before this, I mostly knew general things, but now what I
know is much more specific.--Jordan Schmittou
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