Congressional Record, Volume 155 Issue 114 (Monday, July 27, 2009)

[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 114 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8836-H8839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

RECOGNIZING NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE U.S. ARMY

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 44) recognizing the service, sacrifice,
honor, and professionalism of the Noncommissioned Officers of the
United States Army.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H.J. Res. 44

Whereas the Noncommissioned Officer ranks, namely corporals
and sergeants, date back more than 230 years in United States
Army history, beginning with the birth of the Continental
Army in 1775 and highlighted in the westward expansion of the
United States, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the
Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the liberation of
Kuwait, and the current Global War on Terror;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are accomplished military
professionals who have combined civilian and military
education opportunities to become the Army's preeminent body
of leadership;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are the ``backbone of the
American Army'' and are the standard keepers for the Army in
the training, leading, coaching, and mentoring of soldiers;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers have provided invaluable
service and have made great sacrifices in the line of duty, a
virtue held most high, and they have continually proven their
dedication and a willingness to make great sacrifices on
behalf of the United States;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers recognize their role in
training young soldiers to become future leaders, and they
also recognize that an important part of their job is caring
and looking out for the welfare of junior enlisted members
and their families;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are the ``eyes and ears''
of the commander, and have a well-earned reputation for
having operational and strategic awareness to interpret and
issue orders as necessary within their duties and in the
absence of commissioned officers; and

[[Page H8837]]

Whereas the United States Army is an institution rich in
cultural, ethnic, and gender diversity, and Noncommissioned
Officers are outstanding role models for all Americans and
are exemplary representatives of the moral character and
strength of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That
Congress--
(1) recognizes the service, sacrifice, honor, and
professionalism of the Noncommissioned Officers of the United
States Army;
(2) expresses its deepest appreciation to the
Noncommissioned Officers of the Army who serve or have served
in defense of the United States; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to
recognize, commemorate, and honor the role and contribution
of Noncommissioned Officers, past and present, in defense of
the United States.

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

General Leave

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, let me first ask that all Members have 5
legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the
resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the Chief and the
Secretary of the Army declared this year to be the ``Year of the NCO''
within the United States Army. Chairman Skelton would be here today to
handle this motion but for the fact that he is at Walter Reed Hospital
visiting a constituent who has been injured in service to the country
in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Mr. Speaker, the NCO, the noncommissioned officer, is often described
as the backbone of the Army. The NCO is also described as the eyes and
ears of the commander. I was an NCO in Vietnam myself, a little bit
young compared to the NCOs we have today, too wet behind the ears to
really be a good NCO because a really good NCO is not just backbone and
eyes and ears, a really good NCO is a teacher, a leader, almost a
father or a mother to the young soldiers that work in the unit that
that NCO is in charge of.
NCOs not only train those soldiers, guide those soldiers, try and
instill in those soldiers a real spirit of what it is like to be a
soldier, what it is like to be a good human being, instilling values,
courage, teaching, training, techniques, you name it, but in addition
to that, good NCOs do the same thing for young officers, instilling in
young officers the kind of experience and wisdom that young officers
need to gain as they mature.
NCOs are essentially foremen. They are superintendents. Without
NCOs--and we have had them for over 230 years--this Army would not be
what it is today. There is no question about that. They serve with
honor. In today's Army, they sacrifice a great deal, both themselves
and their families.
There are many examples of courage under fire by NCOs. Over 100 Medal
of Honor winners are NCOs in the United States from the United States
Army. And I can't think of a more fitting tribute, in light of the fact
that the Secretary and Chief have declared this to be the Year of the
NCO, than that all of us vote in favor of this motion which honors our
NCOs in the United States Army.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself so much
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 44,
honoring the noncommissioned officers in the United States Army. I
thank Congressman Ike Skelton, the chairman of the House Armed Services
Committee, for introducing this legislation.
No one has better expressed the reason for this resolution than the
current Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth Preston. In his view,
``Today's NCO Corps is a standard bearer of one of the Army's greatest
success stories, the All-Volunteer Force, and serves as a role model
for armies of the world to emulate.''
I fully agree with the Sergeant Major's statement. Along with my
colleague, Mr. Marshall of Georgia, I, too, am an Army veteran, and in
my own 31-year experience in the Army National Guard and Reserve,
noncommissioned officers were indispensable to the accomplishment of
the missions we undertook. This is true of NCOs across all branches of
the military.
One of my four sons serving today in the military, a Navy doctor, has
been so impressed by the leadership and professionalism exhibited by
the NCOs with whom he serves that he recommended that I invite one of
their children to work as an intern in our office, who is present with
us today. Todd O'Brien is the son of Master Chief Petty Officer Tadeo
O'Brien. Master Chief O'Brien supports the U.S. Navy SEALs as an
independent duty corpsman in the Naval Special Warfare Logistical
Support Medical Group 2 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek,
Virginia.
While he serves in a different military branch, he shares the values
of service, honor, integrity, and courage common to all professional
noncommissioned officers.
The Army is adaptable and successful on the battlefield because the
corporals and sergeants have the training, education, professionalism,
and operational and strategic awareness to interpret and issue orders
as necessary within their duties and in the absence of commissioned
officers.
The all-volunteer Army has been able to sustain itself through 8
years of war in two fronts because of corporals and sergeants who have
made great personal sacrifices in the global war against terrorism.
Moreover, the noncommissioned officers of the Army have not only
trained future leaders, both officer and enlisted, but they have also
gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the welfare of junior enlisted
personnel and their families.
In recognition of the current and historical contributions,
sacrifices, leadership, and professionalism of its noncommissioned
officers, the Army has designated 2009 as the ``Year of the NCO.'' This
resolution is part of that effort to honor the corporals and sergeants
who are the backbone of the Army.
I would urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this resolution as one
way of expressing their deepest appreciation for the NCOs who are
serving and have served.
I would also urge that each one of us, as we go home to our districts
and meet with our constituents, take the time to explain what a
magnificent Army this Nation has, especially because of the men and
women who call themselves NCOs.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the words of my friend from
South Carolina (Mr. Wilson). As he noted, he was an officer, a
commissioned officer, and who better than a commissioned officer to
testify to the importance of noncommissioned officers to the proper
functioning of the Army. Frankly, the Army could not function with
commissioned officers alone. Noncommissioned officers are more than
just the backbone of the Army.
Madam Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to a
fellow NCO from Vietnam, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr.
Faleomavaega).
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, as a fellow NCO, my colleague, the
gentleman from Georgia, and also my good friend, Mr. Wilson from South
Carolina, I rise today to draw my colleagues' attention to House Joint
Resolution 44, an act that would recognize the valiant efforts and
heroism of the noncommissioned officers of the United States Army.
I would like to commend Chairman Skelton for his introduction and
leadership and sponsorship of this bill, a token of appreciation for
those who serve to protect our Nation and our ideals of freedom.
The noncommissioned officer rank has a long and rich history in the
United States Army, originating with the Continental Army in 1775. The
most visible leaders of the service, the noncommissioned officers have
been the backbone of the Army for more than 230 years.
Often referred to as the ``eyes and ears'' of a commander,
noncommissioned officers are not only sought

[[Page H8838]]

after for their advice and guidance, but they are the standard keepers
of the service, dedicated to the upholding of the Army's and our
country's values. Responsible for the training of the Army's future
leaders, the noncommissioned officer is integral in executing any given
mission of the service.
Madam Speaker, from my own little district of American Samoa, and as
a fellow American Samoan, I am very proud to share this little bit of
news with my colleagues here in the House today.
Just a few weeks ago, a fellow Samoan, Command Sergeant Major
Iuniasolua Savusa, a ranger in the 101st Airborne, was recently
selected by Admiral Timothy Keating as the Senior Enlisted Leader of
the U.S. Army Pacific Command, or PACOM. In other words, the Command
Sergeant Major of all the U.S.; not just Army, but the entire unified
military command under the Pacific Command currently in Hawaii led by
Admiral Keating.
This command was established in 1947 by President Truman and is
considered the largest of the United States' unified commands and
consists of approximately 250,000 military personnel. Command Sergeant
Major Savusa has a long and substantial career in the U.S. Army. He has
served overseas all throughout Europe and was instrumental in the
initial incursion of Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom, former Command
Sergeant Major U.S. Army Europe, and also Former Command Sergeant Major
U.S. Army Central Command.
Command Sergeant Major Savusa is an example of the Toa o Samoa, or
many of the Samoan soldiers who are enlisted and have served in the
many branches of the Armed Forces.

{time} 1615

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Command Sergeant
Major Ace Vimoto; Command Sergeant Major Charles Tobin; Chief Warrant
Officer 5 Kokolua Yandall; Command Sergeant Major Falaniko, retired;
and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Save Liuato Tuitele for their contributions
to our military.
I must pay a special tribute to Command Sergeant Majors Vimoto and
Falaniko for they both had sons who enlisted in the Army and have given
the ultimate sacrifice to our country. The son of Command Sergeant
Major Falaniko, Private First Class Jonathan Falaniko, was killed in
Iraq; while the son of Command Sergeant Major Vimoto, Private First
Class Timothy Ray Vimoto, was killed in Afghanistan. We must honor
these fathers and sons for their selfless sacrifice and the sacrifice
they have made in the protection of our freedoms.
I cannot express the immense pride I have in those who persevere
daily to protect the freedom and integrity of the United States.
Noncommissioned officers of the United States Army are perhaps the most
visible embodiment of the moral character and strength of the U.S.
Army.
I would like to remind my colleagues that this recognition by
Congress is the least that can be done to express a deserved gratitude
of those who have served and those who continue to serve in our Army
today.
With that, Madam Speaker, I again commend my good friends for their
management of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support
this bill.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of
my time.
Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, as I think about the significance of
this resolution, I am reminded of Sergeant First Class Victor Anderson.
Sergeant First Class Victor Anderson from Andersonville, Georgia, was a
Sumter County Sheriff's deputy when called to duty as part of the 48th
Brigade of the Georgia Army National Guard in Iraq. He was disqualified
because of diabetes; nonetheless, he fought his disqualification
because he knew he needed to be with his soldiers. He knew that if he
was with his soldiers, they were more likely to be successful. They
were more likely to be safe.
About 1 week before he was killed by an IED, some of his men were
killed by an IED right in front of him, and he sent an email back to
his family; and in that email he essentially said this: I do not fight
for some ideology. I fight for that man to my left and that man to my
right. They are men of their word. When called, they did not run. They
came and did their duty. I had to also. Don't worry about me.
Victor Anderson represents the kind of quality that we have in our
Armed Forces in sergeants, and I just bless every one of them and thank
them for their service.
Madam Speaker, at this point I have no further requests for time, and
I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, it is an honor for me to
be on the floor today with Congressman Marshall, with Delegate
Faleomavaega, two veterans themselves who could tell firsthand
heartfelt indication of their appreciation of NCOs.
I come from the State of South Carolina. The State flag of South
Carolina is a recognition of the significance of the NCOs to our
independence and freedom. This flag of South Carolina has a palmetto
tree on the flag. It recognizes the Battle of Fort Moultrie on
Sullivan's Island. The British fleet attacked the fort. The soft
palmetto logs, the cannonballs hit the logs and bounced off or
absorbed. At the same time, they did knock down the American flag. And
at that time Sergeant William Jasper had the courage to raise the flag
back up, indicating to the British that they were not going to be
successful. The British fleet withdrew.
The flag of South Carolina has a palmetto tree. It also has a
crescent. The crescent indicated the rank of a sergeant during the
American Revolution on the helmet. So we, the State of South Carolina,
are forever grateful for what NCOs have meant, and forever in
perpetuity we appreciate what H.J. Res. 44 means.
Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to support of House Joint
Resolution 44, which I introduced on April 29, 2009. This resolution
honors the service and sacrifice of our Army's Noncommissioned
Officers.
As the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am
privileged to be joined here today by a number of my colleagues in the
House to recognize the service, sacrifice, professionalism and
commitment of all those who serve and have served our Nation as
Noncommissioned Officers in the United States Army.
Our Nation's Noncommissioned Officers are unlike any other in the
world. While many consider them the backbone of the force, I believe
they are really the soul of the force. Not only do they provide the
leadership, training and mentoring of junior enlisted personnel, but
they also are responsible for the development and guidance of our
junior officers as well. The responsibilities that an Army
Noncommissioned Officer carries are vast, but they often carry out
their responsibilities with little fanfare and official recognition.
This resolution seeks to acknowledge their contributions, particularly
over the last eight years of conflict.
The history of the Army Noncommissioned Officer began with the birth
of the Continental Army in 1775. The first Sergeant Major of the Army
was Sergeant Major Willion O. Wooldridge. Since then, there have been
13 Sergeant Majors of the Army, and the currently serving Sergeant
Major is Kenneth 0. Preston. He is the highest ranking Noncommissioned
Officer in the United States Army.
Army Noncommissioned Officers live by the NCO Creed, which was
written in 1974, and adopted officially by the Army in 1985. The Creed
reads:

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned
Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer,
I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which
is known as ``The Backbone of the Army.'' I am proud of the
Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times
conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the
Military Service and my country regardless of the situation
in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position
to attain pleasure, profit or personal safety.
Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities
will always be uppermost in my mind--accomplishment of my
mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to
remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of
my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my
responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are
entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that
leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their
needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my
soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and
impartial when recommending both rewards and punishments.
Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish
their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will
earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my
soldiers. I will be loyal to those with

[[Page H8839]]

whom I serve; seniors, peers and subordinates alike. I will
exercise initiatives by taking appropriate action in absence
of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral
courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to
forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers,
leaders!

The creed of the Noncommissioned Officer of the United States Army
captures the essence of how these individuals live their daily lives. I
am honored to have introduced this resolution and I urge my colleagues
to join me in support of House Joint Resolution 44 to commend the
service of the Army's Noncommissioned Officers.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time,
urging all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Markey of Colorado). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall) that
the House suspend the rules and agree to the joint resolution, H.J.
Res. 44.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on
the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order
that a quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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