[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 62 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO U.S. ARMED FORCES FOR D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944

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                        HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 27, 2009

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the brave 
acts of heroism and military achievement by the members of the United 
States Armed Forces who participated in the June 6, 1944, amphibious 
landing at Normandy, France.
  I want to commend them for their leadership and valor in an operation 
that helped to bring an end to Word War II.
  I would like to draw special attention to the 201 Missouri men who 
died aboard LST 496 during the Battle of Exercise Tiger, a 1944 naval 
battle that had been originally planned as a practice mission for the 
D-Day Invasion of Normandy.
  Nearly 750 United States soldiers and sailors, a large number of whom 
were from Missouri's 3206th Quarter Master Service Company, died in the 
exercise on April 28, 1944, after a number of their ships were sunk by 
German forces.
  These soldiers and sailors sacrificed everything they had in service 
to America and will serve as a permanent reminder of bravery, loyal 
patriotism, and love of country.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in a 
wishing all the members of the Armed Forces our sincerest thanks and 
appreciation for their heroic mission.

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