[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 103 (Friday, July 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S7359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA WWII VETERANS

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I am proud to honor a group of 92 
World War II veterans from all over Louisiana who will travel to 
Washington, DC on May 16 to visit the various memorials and monuments 
that recognize the sacrifices of our Nation's invaluable 
servicemembers.
  Louisiana HonorAir, a group based in Lafayette, LA, sponsored this 
trip to the Nation's Capital. The organization is honoring surviving 
World War II Louisiana veterans by giving them an opportunity to see 
the memorials dedicated to their service. The veterans will visit the 
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima memorials. They will also 
travel to Arlington National Cemetery.
  This was the final of four flights Louisiana HonorAir made to 
Washington, DC, this spring. It is the 17th 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 servicemembers 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 30,000 living WWII 
veterans, and each one has a heroic tale of achieving the noble victory 
of freedom over tyranny. This group had 32 veterans who served in the 
U.S. Army, 16 in the U.S. Air Force, 37 in the Navy, 4 in the Coast 
Guard, 2 in the Marine Corps, and 1 in WAVES.
  Our heroes, many of them from the Shreveport area, trekked the world 
for their country. They fought in Germany, France, Italy, Africa, 
Japan, Guam, Bougainville, Guadalcanal, China, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the 
Philippines, Tarawa, New Guinea, Korea, Thailand, and Saipan. Their 
journeys included the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy, 
New Georgia, and the Battle of Midway. Their fight for freedom even 
extended to Iceland and the Marshall and Solomon Islands.
  One of our Navy veterans received the Asiatic Pacific Purple Heart, 
and an Army veteran fought at Normandy and received EAME Campaign and 
Bronze Service Star medals. Yet another Army veteran fought five major 
battles of European theatre.
  A USMC veteran was one of four brothers serving in the Marines and 
fought in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa. He lost 
his twin brother in Guam.
  A Navy veteran observed the atomic bomb test at Bikini and was in 
Tokyo Bay the morning of the Japanese surrender. Another veteran was 
awarded five naval battle stars for his service in the invasions of 
Bougainville, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
  I ask the Senate to join me in honoring these 92 veterans, all 
Louisiana heroes, who visited Washington, and Louisiana HonorAir for 
making these trips a reality.

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