[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA WWII VETERANS

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I am proud to honor a group of 98 
World War II veterans from all over Louisiana who will travel to 
Washington, DC, on April 25 to visit the various memorials and 
monuments that recognize the sacrifices of our Nation's invaluable 
service members.
  Louisiana HonorAir, a group based in Lafayette, LA, sponsored this 
trip to the Nation's Capital. The organization is honoring each 
surviving World War II Louisiana veteran by giving them an opportunity 
to see the memorials dedicated to their service. The veterans visited 
the World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima memorials. They also 
traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath on the Tomb of 
the Unknowns.
  This is the second of four flights Louisiana HonorAir is making to 
Washington, DC, this spring. It is the 15th flight to depart from 
Louisiana, which has sent more HonorAir flights than any other State to 
the Nation's Capital.
  World War II was one of America's greatest triumphs but was also a 
conflict rife with individual sacrifice and tragedy. More than 60 
million people worldwide were killed, including 40 million civilians, 
and more than 400,000 American service members were slain during the 
long war. The ultimate victory over enemies in the Pacific and in 
Europe is a testament to the valor of American soldiers, sailors, 
airmen, and marines. The years 1941 to 1945 also witnessed an 
unprecedented mobilization of domestic industry, which supplied our 
military on two distant fronts.
  In Louisiana, there remain today more than 33,000 living WWII 
veterans, and each one has a heroic tale of achieving the noble victory 
of freedom over tyranny. This group had 31 veterans who served in the 
U.S. Army, 23 in the U.S. Air Force, 35 in the Navy, 1 in the WAVES--
Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service--7 in the Marines, and 1 
in the Merchant Marines.
  Our heroes trekked the world for their country. Their journeys 
spanned Europe, the Utah and Omaha Beaches, France, the Rhineland, 
Central Europe, Holland, Italy and North Africa. They fought in the 
Pacific as well--at Russell Island, Gilbert Island, the Philippines, 
Tarawa, Luzon, New Guinea, Tinian, Guam, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, 
Guadalcanal, New Hebrides, Saipan and Bougainville. Their fight for 
freedom extended to Alaska, Azores, Iceland, and the Aleutian Islands.
  One of our Army Air Corps veterans received the Croix de Guerre Avec 
Palm and the Bronze Service Star for campaigns in Northern France, 
Central Europe, and the Rhineland. He also fought at Utah Beach on D-
day. Another of our Army Air Corps veterans fought in the Mediterranean 
Theater and completed 50 missions as a ball turret gunner.
  One of our marines received the South Pacific Purple Heart, and an 
Army veteran fought at Omaha Beach with GEN George Patton. Yet another 
Army veteran was on GEN Douglas McArthur's staff.
  I ask the Senate to join me in honoring these 98 veterans, all 
Louisiana heroes, who will visit Washington, and Louisiana HonorAir for 
making these trips a reality.

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