[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING MAJ WILLIAM C. WATSON FOR HIS TIRELESS PATRIOTISM AND 
                          UNRELENTING HEROISM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2007

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
valiant services of all peacetime and wartime veterans now residing in 
the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri which I proudly represent. 
We find in these bravest of men and women the best of what we all wish 
to be--generous, compassionate, and dedicated. Yet, too often we forget 
that in many of our veterans burn the experiences of the worst our 
world has to offer, the memory of enduring the atrocities of war for 
our country. These are America's patriots--our true heroes. While each 
of their stories is uniquely American, it is my privilege to share the 
story of one Missouri veteran who has the distinction of serving in 
three of our country's most brutal conflicts.
  Twenty-five-year Army veteran MAJ William C. Watson grew up in 
Marceline, MO. He was recruited by the University of Missouri Football 
Coach Don Faurot and played in the 1942 Sugar Bowl. While at the 
University of Missouri, he joined the Army Reserve. Through his ROTC 
training at the University of Missouri, Major Watson earned the rank of 
second lieutenant in his infantry unit. Two weeks after the Sugar Bowl, 
Major Watson found himself in the Army, near the end of World War II. 
He was stationed in Korea, and upon returning from his tour of duty, 
Major Watson chose to stay in the Army Reserves. He married Fran, a 
widow whose first husband was killed in the Philippines during World 
War II, and settled down as a family man, making a living as a 
carpenter.
  In October 1950, Major Watson received a letter from the United 
States Army ordering him to report for a physical. He was assigned to 
Fort Riley, KS, on October 20, 1950, the day Fran and his third child 
were born. Within 7 short months, on May 15, 1951, he was taken 
prisoner. He had been engaged in an intense battle against the Chinese. 
It is reported that the Chinese sent 64,000 troops to attack 3,000 
Allied soldiers. For the Chinese, it was a costly battle and has been 
dubbed the ``May Massacre,'' as the Chinese lost over 48,000 troops. 
The Chinese turned over their prisoners to the North Koreans, including 
Major Watson, and for the next 120 days, the once 300 pound soldier was 
reduced to a mere 180 pounds. The prisoners were forced into starvation 
and a devastating 900-mile march through the bitter, piercing cold of 
winter. Major Watson was stronger than most and, when necessary, 
carried his fellow prisoners on his back to keep them from being 
summarily executed. While at ``Camp 2,'' our man from Missouri fixed a 
sawmill for his North Korean captors with the ultimate plan to make 
bunk beds for his fellow POWs in order that they no longer had to sleep 
on the cold, dirt floor. He succeeded in making 300-bunk beds and saved 
many lives in the process. Ultimately, the prisoners were returned to 
the Chinese, under whose control Major Watson spent the remainder of 
his 837 days in captivity.
  Forever dedicated to our Nation, Major Watson chose to remain in the 
military after the end of the Korean conflict and was once again 
deployed, this time to Vietnam. After a year in Vietnam, he returned 
home and retired from the U.S. Army, only to continue his public 
service as Mayor of Peculiar, MO, for 8 years. Of the 7,190 U.S. 
prisoners-of-war, 2,730, or 38 percent died, mostly at the hands of the 
North Koreans.
  So traumatic an experience won Major Watson neither a hero's welcome, 
nor the respect he deserved upon returning to his station at Ft. Riley, 
KS. Instead, he was greeted with charges against him of providing 
comfort to the enemy while a prisoner-of-war, his fate left to a board 
of inquiry. This insult stemmed from Wisconsin Senator Joseph 
McCarthy's accusations that the Army was soft on communists. The board 
of inquiry gave only vague charges of misconduct, claiming that his 
actions were treasonous because he did not actively resist the enemy, 
when it was irrational and futile to do so. Major Watson contacted 
fellow prisoners, who came to his defense. The board of inquiry never 
gave Major Watson a verdict, leaving him waiting for 6 months to 
finally let him know that, while there was no ruling as to his case, he 
was no longer under the restraints of an inquiry.
  Of war, World War II GEN Omar Bradley once said, ``the world has 
achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a 
world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war 
than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about 
living.'' Madam Speaker, to grow as a Nation, we must learn the stories 
of our veterans, such as that of Major Watson. I honor him and all 
veterans today for their patriotism and heroism. Their sacrifices are 
the heritages that add to the rich tapestry that is our Nation's 
history. Please join me in encouraging our Nation to never forget and 
learn from our veterans' stories. While we continue to fight, our 
prayers and deepest gratitude are with those who endeavor for the 
strength and longevity of our American way of life. Our land of freedom 
and opportunity, democracy and justice, remains just that because of 
the service men and women like those in Missouri's Fifth District who 
tirelessly engage in the struggles to end that which threatens our 
stability. Let us honor the selfless sacrifices of our veterans by 
striving for peace and diplomacy in all that we do. May God continue to 
bless MAJ William C. Watson and all of our veterans as they remind us 
of the price we pay for our liberty and the debt owed to those who gave 
so much of themselves to protect and ensure the prosperity of our great 
Nation.

                          ____________________