[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2677-H2680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING HEROIC SERVICE OF GLIDER PILOTS OF UNITED STATES ARMY AIR 
                       FORCES DURING WORLD WAR II

  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 42) honoring the 
heroic service and sacrifice of the 6,500 glider pilots of the United 
States Army Air Forces during World War II, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 42

       Whereas the use of gliders during World War II provided an 
     innovative method of transporting troops and equipment behind 
     enemy lines;
       Whereas the United States Army Air Forces began training 
     glider pilots in 1942, eventually training thousands of men;
       Whereas glider pilots exhibited exceptional valor by 
     landing behind enemy lines in unarmed gliders;
       Whereas glider pilots participated in 8 successful 
     missions;
       Whereas in Operation Husky, which took place in Sicily on 
     July 9, 1943, glider pilots carried British airborne troops, 
     completing their mission despite heavy casualties resulting 
     from landings at sea;
       Whereas in Operation Broadway, which took place in Burma on 
     March 5, 1944, glider pilots took the Japanese completely by 
     surprise; carried troops, airborne engineers, and equipment 
     by night; seized and prepared landing strips for forthcoming 
     transport planes; and evacuated the wounded, accomplishing in 
     2 hours what would have taken 2 months by ambulance;
       Whereas in Operation Overlord, on June 6, 1944, glider 
     pilots took part in the Battle of Normandy, the largest 
     combined airborne and seaborne invasion in history, carrying 
     troopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and their 
     equipment to landing areas behind enemy lines;
       Whereas in Operation Dragoon, which took place in the 
     coastal area of southern France on August 15, 1944, glider 
     pilots delivered troops and cargo despite wooden poles 
     erected in open fields to impede their landing;
       Whereas in Operation Market-Garden, the largest glider 
     operation of World War II, which took place in Holland on 
     September 17, 1944, glider pilots carried their usual cargo 
     of troops and heavy equipment, thereby providing cover for an 
     attempt to clear a road to Berlin;
       Whereas in Operation Repulse, which took place in Bastogne 
     on December 27, 1944, as part of the Battle of the Bulge, 
     glider pilots, although flying directly through enemy fire, 
     were able to land every glider, delivering the badly needed 
     ammunition, gasoline, and medical supplies that enabled 
     defenders against the German offensive to persevere and 
     secure the ultimate victory;
       Whereas in Operation Varsity, which took place at the Rhine 
     crossing in Wesel, Germany, on March 24, 1945, more than 
     1,300 glider pilots took part in their final European 
     mission, delivering a fatal blow to Axis forces;
       Whereas in Operation Gypsy Task Force-Appari Mission, which 
     took place in the Philippine island of Luzon on June 23, 
     1945, glider pilots took part in their final, and only 
     Pacific, mission, carrying members of the 11th Airborne 
     Division; and
       Whereas many glider pilots sacrificed their lives during 
     the course of these missions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) honors the heroic service and sacrifice of the glider 
     pilots of the United States Army Air Forces during World War 
     II; and
       (2) urges the people of the United States to remember and 
     teach future generations about the contributions and 
     sacrifices that glider pilots, and all veterans, have made to 
     and for the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Kansas (Mrs. Boyda) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Kansas.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 42, which 
honors the heroic service of glider pilots of the United States Army 
Air Forces during World War II. I would like to commend the gentlewoman 
from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) for bringing this measure forward.
  The resolution recognizes the more than 20,000 individuals who 
volunteered and were trained to serve as glider pilots during World War 
II. These brave men served alongside airborne forces and participated 
in many of the major invasions: Sicily, Burma, the Battle of Normandy, 
France, Holland, Germany, the Philippines, and the Battle of the Bulge. 
These unarmed gliders landed behind enemy lines transporting vital 
troops and equipment to support the Allied Forces.
  Major General Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, commanding general of the Army 
Air Corps, directed the development of a transport glider program, and 
the United States military glider program officially began on February 
25, 1941. These gliders provided the Army Air Corps with a unique 
ability to transport soldiers and equipment that could not be reached 
by conventional ground units.
  By the end of 1942, the Army Air Force had graduated a total of 9,802 
glider pilots. Within just 3 years, the United States had 21,240 
military glider pilots available, according to the Army Air Forces 
Statistical Digest of World War II. Less than 3 years after the first 
graduating class of glider pilots had finished their training, these 
fearless pilots flew numerous combat teams into France on D-Day. 
Gliders transported 12 to 15 fully equipped soldiers and four portable 
machine guns with 500 rounds of ammunition for each gun.
  Unfortunately, the American military glider pilots are a vanishing 
breed. The Department of Defense ended the military glider program in 
1952. Today, we are here to honor these daring and fearless World War 
II glider pilots for their services and sacrifices and to urge all 
Americans to remember the significant contribution that they made on 
behalf of our Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 42, a bill to honor a

[[Page H2678]]

group of servicemembers who are oftentimes forgotten, the glider pilots 
of the United States Army Air Forces.
  The United States Army Air Force began training glider pilots in 
1942. These exceptional men provided an innovative and silent method of 
transporting troops and equipment in unarmed gliders during World War 
II, built of fragile balsa wood.
  As the son of a member of the Fourteenth Air Force during World War 
II who served with the Flying Tigers in China, I especially appreciate 
the courageous airmen.
  The glider pilots, along with airborne forces, participated in eight 
successful missions, landing behind enemy lines in their unarmed 
gliders in Sicily, Normandy, southern France, Holland, Bastogne, Rhine 
Crossing, Luzon in the Philippines, and Burma.

                              {time}  1230

  During Operation Husky, which took place in Sicily on July 9, 1943, 
glider pilots carried British airborne troops, completing their mission 
despite heavy casualties resulting from landings at sea.
  In Operation Broadway, which took place in Burma on March 5, 1944, 
glider pilots took the Japanese completely by surprise; carried troops, 
airborne engineers and equipment by night; seized and prepared landing 
strips for forthcoming transport planes; and evacuated the wounded, 
accomplishing in 2 hours what would have taken 2 months by ambulance.
  Operation Overlord, D-Day, on June 6, 1944, glider pilots took part 
in the Battle of Normandy, the largest combined airborne and seaborne 
invasion in history, carrying troops of the 82nd and 101st Airborne 
Divisions and their equipment to landing areas behind enemy lines 
during the D-Day liberation.
  Tragically, many heroic glider pilots were killed as the hedgerows of 
Normandy of D-Day were actually rock walls that instantly destroyed the 
gliders. A survivor of the glider invasion was the legendary major, J. 
Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who was elected to the U.S. Senate, 
achieving the age of 100 while still in office.
  During Operation Dragoon, which took place in the coastal area of 
southern France on August 15, 1944, glider pilots delivered troops and 
cargo despite wooden poles erected in open fields to impede their 
landings.
  Operation Market-Garden, the largest glider operation of World War 
II, took place in Holland on September 17, 1944. Glider pilots carried 
their usual cargo of troops and heavy equipment, thereby providing 
cover for an attempt to clear a road to Berlin.
  In Operation Repulse, which took place in Bastogne on December 27, 
1944, as part of the Battle of the Bulge, glider pilots, although 
flying directly through enemy fire, were able to land every glider, 
delivering badly needed ammunition, gasoline and medical supplies that 
enabled defenders against the German offensive to persevere and secure 
the ultimate victory.
  America did not redeploy in the Ardennes offensive, but it stood with 
resolve for victory.
  Operation Varsity, which took place at the Rhine crossing in Wesel, 
Germany, on March 24, 1945, more than 1,300 glider pilots took part in 
their final European mission, delivering a fatal blow to the Axis 
forces.
  The gliders' final, and only, Pacific mission took place in the 
Philippine island of Luzon, Philippines, on June 23, 1945. In Operation 
Gypsy Task Force-Appari mission, glider pilots carried members of the 
11th Airborne Division.
  In the words of one pilot, ``Imagine flying a motorless, fabric-
covered CG-4A glider, violently bouncing and jerking on a 11/16-inch 
nylon rope 350 feet back of the C-47 tow plane. You see the nervous 
glider infantrymen behind you, some vomiting, many in prayer, as you 
hedge-hop along at tree-top level instinctively jumping up in your seat 
every time you hear bullets and flak tearing through the glider. You 
try not to think about the explosives aboard. It's like flying a stick 
of dynamite through the gates of Hell.''
  Madam Speaker, we must not forget the sacrifices these pilots made 
for the betterment of our country and the world. Let us remember and 
honor the heroic service and the sacrifices made by the glider pilots. 
I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 42 and commend 
Congresswoman McCarthy for her leadership on this issue
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may 
consume to my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
McCarthy).
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  I would like to thank some of my colleagues who have been 
instrumental in getting this legislation to the floor today. Chairman 
Skelton of the Armed Services has done a tremendous job. We were under 
a lot of pressure to try and have the bill on the floor today, and I 
appreciate everything that he has done. Also, my good friend 
Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and Congressman Joe Wilson have been great 
friends to the glider pilots, and I thank you both for the issues that 
you have been fighting for.
  We are here today to honor the glider pilots of the World War II. 
Glider planes were lightweight aircraft without engines that were used 
to drop supplies and reinforcement personnel for troops and 
surveillance. They were effective because they made no noise, and they 
could fly into enemy areas undetected.
  The gliders would be towed by larger planes in order to take off, but 
then would fly and land on their own. The glider pilots flew dangerous 
missions and were constantly at risk of being shot down.
  We have heard in the past that some of these pilots that volunteered 
to be glider pilots were suicidal. They were not. They wanted to fly, 
and they wanted to be part of protecting this Nation. So they became 
glider pilots because that was the only way they were going to get into 
the air at that particular time.
  Glider pilots were instrumental in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, 
despite the fact that pilots had to improvise where to land, since no 
appropriate landing strips were known to be behind enemy lines. Later 
in the war, Germans would plant wooden poles in open fields to prevent 
glider pilots from landing.
  The U.S. Army Air Forces began training glider pilots in 1941. The 
program quickly grew during the war. Eventually, thousands of men were 
trained to be glider pilots.
  Throughout World War II, the glider pilots flew many successful 
missions. The glider pilots' first mission occurred on July 19, 1943. 
Operation Husky, which it was called, called for glider pilots to carry 
British airborne troops into Sicily. Despite the heavy casualties from 
landing at sea, the glider pilots did complete their mission.
  In March of 1944, the glider pilots completed Operation Broadway in 
Burma. The glider pilots took the Japanese completely by surprise, 
carrying troops, airborne engineers and equipment by night. They seized 
and prepared landing strips for forthcoming transport planes to 
evacuate the wounded.
  When you think about World War II and you think about the equipment 
that these glider planes were carrying and how they were able to 
accomplish this feat as far as making roadways for wounded, they did it 
in 2 hours, in 2 hours. Completing a mission like that would have taken 
much, much longer. Usually a trip like that to the front lines to get 
the wounded back would have taken so much longer by ambulance.
  Perhaps the most famous mission of the glider pilots was the Battle 
of Normandy. On D-Day, the glider pilots participated in the largest 
combined airborne and seaborne invasion in history. They carried troops 
of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and their equipment to landing 
areas behind enemy lines. Their work helped to secure victory in World 
War II.
  Madam Speaker, each year we lose more and more of these courageous 
veterans. We are lucky enough to have a glider pilot in the gallery 
with us today. His name is Michael Samek, and he is the gentleman that 
asked me to do whatever I could to recognize the glider pilots. I 
believe Congress must recognize their accomplishments for future 
generations.
  When you think about even the war today that we have, so many of our

[[Page H2679]]

young men and women and many people are coming home, and they are 
veterans. From the beginning of time, we have honored our veterans, and 
I am sure that we are going to find many other veterans that we have 
not honored, and I hope the committees will honor each and every one of 
them as time goes on.
  But that is why I have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 42. 
This bill recognizes the glider pilots and the many troops who put 
their lives on the line to defend the ideas and the freedoms of this 
country.
  All of the glider missions were successful. Unfortunately, casualties 
were still suffered.
  Earlier today, ``Silent Wings,'' a DVD on these brave men, was 
released. Robert Childs, who was the director who became interested in 
glider pilots, started working on this project almost 11 years ago. I 
will be sponsoring the screening of the film tonight for all Members 
and staff. These events help to truly honor the sacrifices and bravery 
of the glider pilots.
  I hope you will all join me in celebrating with these veterans. We 
must remember and teach future generations about the sacrifices that 
glider pilots and all our veterans made for our country.
  I urge my colleagues to support the glider pilots and to vote for H. 
Con. Res. 42.
  Again, I will say there is not enough that we can do for the men and 
women certainly of past generations and for this generation that 
support our country, fight for our country to give us our freedom, and 
for that, I truly am honored to be able to sponsor this resolution.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, again I want to 
congratulate Congresswoman McCarthy for her obvious appreciation of the 
veterans of World War II, her obvious sincerity for the veterans of 
World War II. We are so grateful that we have present today veterans 
who are the greatest generation. With my six visits to Iraq and twice 
to Afghanistan, I have seen the new greatest generation, and again, I 
want to congratulate Congresswoman McCarthy for her leadership and urge 
my colleagues to vote in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 42.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back my time.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, we are very, very fortunate 
today to have one of these courageous glider pilots with us in the 
gallery, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask him to stand 
and to have us give him our recognition, please. Michael Samek is in 
the gallery, and we thank you so much for your courageous contributions 
to our country.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded that it is not in order 
under the rules to draw attention to persons in the gallery.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from 
Kansas and, of course, my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York, for 
introducing this resolution.
  I was here on the floor doing 1-minutes, and then I started to listen 
to the debate, and I think it is very important that this resolution be 
introduced for a number of reasons, but I also wanted to relate it, if 
I could, to my family.
  I think that many of the exploits of veterans during World War II, 
including Air Force veterans, and I know the Army Air Force, that is 
what they were called then, are kind of unsung. People are not aware of 
it. People are not necessarily aware of the different units and how 
they served, and including the Air Force.
  I notice that in the resolution she particularly mentions that not 
only are we honoring the service and sacrifice of the glider pilots, 
but we are also urging the people of the United States to remember and 
teach future generations about the contributions and sacrifices that 
glider pilots and all veterans have made to and for the United States, 
and I have to relate a story with my own dad.
  My father was in the Army Air Force during World War II. He served in 
the Pacific, and he was a tail gunner with the reconnaissance forces, 
the planes that came in and took the pictures before I guess the other 
missions with bombs and other things took place. And for a long time, 
he is 83 now, for a long time when I was growing up, he would never 
talk about it, and I could never really understand why. In fact, he 
would never even want to take an airplane. He apparently served in the 
Pacific, came back, and went across the country by train instead of 
using an airplane to get back.
  One day, we were down in Washington, and we went to the Air and Space 
Museum with my son, who is now 11 years old, but then maybe he was 6 or 
7 years old. My father all of the sudden started to tell the story 
about his time during World War II because he saw some of the planes in 
the Air and Space Museum that were involved in some of those combat 
operations. It was such a tremendous experience for my son to hear my 
father talk about his experience during the war with reconnaissance 
planes and also as a tail gunner. He never told about it in a heroic 
way; although everyone knows that was a very difficult position. Most 
of the tail gunners never came back. The majority actually were killed 
in action, even those that were involved in reconnaissance.
  It was such a valuable experience for my son to hear his grandfather 
talk about that experience in the Army Air Force during World War II.

                              {time}  1245

  But I think a lot of the veterans simply don't tell the story. I 
don't really know why. I really think that when you draw attention to 
this, in this case the glider pilots, but there are others, when you 
draw attention to it and you make it a point that we need to follow up 
with our veterans and have them tell the story, it really is a very 
important thing, a lot more than I think a lot of people realize.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. PALLONE. Yes, I will certainly yield to the gentlewoman.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. It is so important for those that are 
watching this when you have veterans out there. We have the oral 
history of our veterans that is going to the Library of Congress. I 
know projects that I have been doing back home, we have been working 
with an awful lot of veterans who were prisoners of war, because what 
you said earlier is so true.
  Veterans need to be remembered for everything that they have done for 
this Nation, but certainly there are so many veterans out there that 
are not honored. I just wanted to say that with your words and talking 
about your father, and I know that our colleague here probably wants to 
talk about her dad, who was also in the war.
  With that, I really appreciate your words, and I really think that 
all of us should be encouraging our veterans to talk about their 
experiences so the younger generation does know about it.
  Mr. PALLONE. I appreciate your comments, and, I, again, appreciate 
the fact that you have introduced this resolution and that we are 
moving it today.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, my father, again, and it's so 
good to hear us talk about the generation that has come before us, my 
father was actually in a submarine in the South Pacific during World 
War II. Like many of our fathers, mine only recently has begun to 
really tell us what went on and those experiences as he was fighting 
for our country back during World War II.
  I am so appreciative of my colleague and friend, Mrs. McCarthy, for 
bringing this to our attention. I hope that at some point we can take 
the same opportunity to honor those who have served in those 
submarines, not only during World War II, but today. It is a dangerous 
service and clearly these men love their country and are willing to do 
what it takes to defend the rights and to keep our country free.
  Again, I appreciate the gentlewoman from New York in bringing this 
bill forward and any support that we can bring to it.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Kansas (Mrs. Boyda) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 42, as amended.
  The question was taken.

[[Page H2680]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam 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 question will 
be postponed.

                          ____________________