[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11307-H11309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE 56TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 754) honoring the citizen-soldiers of
the National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania, including the 56th
Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
on its return to the United States from deployment in Iraq.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 754
Whereas the members of the Army National Guard and Air
National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania reside throughout
the State and come from various communities, backgrounds, and
professions;
Whereas units and members of the Pennsylvania National
Guard have been deployed, and are continuously being
deployed, in support of United States military operations at
home and overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, and dozens of other
countries;
Whereas one such unit, the 56th Brigade Combat Team
(Stryker) of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, is
composed of approximately 4,000 citizen-soldiers from
throughout the State of Pennsylvania;
Whereas the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), following a
mobilization and deployment to Kosovo in 2003, was placed on
Federal active duty for a second overseas mobilization on
September 19, 2008, and deployed to Iraq on January 15, 2009;
Whereas during the deployment of the 56th Brigade Combat
Team (Stryker) in Iraq, the brigade was primarily engaged in
convoy security, force protection, provincial reconstruction,
and base operations missions; and
Whereas the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) returned to
the United States and demobilized in September 2009, upon
completion of one year of service in support of military
operations in Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its gratitude to the members of the Army
National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of
Pennsylvania and their families for their service and
sacrifice on behalf of the United States;
(2) commends the members of the 56th Brigade Combat Team
(Stryker) of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard on the
completion of their most-recent deployment to Iraq; and
(3) recognizes the achievements of the members of the 56th
Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), and all other formerly and
presently deployed Pennsylvania Army National Guard and Air
National Guard units and members, for their exemplary
service.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Shuster) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members have legislative 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 Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden).
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington for
yielding me the time.
I rise in strong support of House Resolution 754, Mr. Speaker, to
honor and say ``thank you'' to the members of the Pennsylvania National
Guard from the 56th Stryker Brigade on their return home from Iraq and
``a job well done.'' And I want to commend and thank the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and all the members of the Pennsylvania
delegation for being cosponsors of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, during the deployment of the 56th Stryker Brigade, I had
the opportunity to travel to Mississippi and Louisiana with Congressman
Shuster, Congressman Gerlach and Congressman Dent, and then we had the
opportunity, along with Congresswoman Dahlkemper, to travel over to
Iraq to see our citizen-soldiers in action. And I can tell you that we,
as members of the Pennsylvania delegation and the entire Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, are very proud of our
[[Page H11308]]
citizen-soldiers' performance, as I believe the entire country is.
They have returned home with the job well done. As a matter of fact,
when we had the opportunity to be in Iraq and meet with General Odierno
and General Jacoby and talk about the performance of General Wright's
soldiers under the command of Colonel Ferraro, they expressed how proud
they were as commanders in theater for the job that was well done.
The Pennsylvania National Guard is the only National Guard who hosts
a Stryker Brigade. And, Mr. Speaker, that did not happen by a lottery
held at the Pentagon. It happened because of the strong
professionalism, the training and the work that this brigade has done
previously in their deployment. They are the second-most deployed
National Guard unit of any in the country. And the reason is because of
the job that they do when they are asked and they are called upon to
serve our country and to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
During their deployment, they served with distinction. The awards
that were granted to the 56th Stryker Brigade include four Bronze Star
Medal for Valor, 10 Army Commendation Medal for Valor, 33 Purple
Hearts, and unfortunately they had two tragic deaths during their
deployment, Staff Sergeant Mark Baum and Specialist Chad Edmundson. And
certainly our prayers and thoughts go out to the families of those two
who made the supreme sacrifice during their deployment.
Again, as a member of the Pennsylvania delegation speaking in concert
with the other members of the delegation and on behalf of this entire
body, I want to congratulate and commend the 56th Stryker Brigade on
their performance.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield such
time as he might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).
Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today as an original cosponsor
and strong supporter of House Resolution 754, and I would like to thank
Congressman Tim Holden of Schuykill County for introducing this
resolution.
The United States National Guard is the oldest component of our Armed
Forces, dating back to pre-Revolutionary War times. Over the past 8
years, we have witnessed thousands of Guard members answer the call as
they are asked to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Approximately 4,000 members of the Pennsylvania Guard were deployed
to Iraq last fall, the largest deployment of the Pennsylvania National
Guard since the Korean war. Prior to the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat
Team's deployment to Iraq, I, along with some of my colleagues, Tim
Holden, Bill Shuster and Jim Gerlach, visited the Pennsylvania Stryker
Brigade in Mississippi and Louisiana at Camp Shelby and Fort Polk as
they prepared for their mobilization overseas.
In June 2009, I traveled to Iraq to meet with the Pennsylvania
National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade and other Pennsylvania troops,
accompanied by many Members who are here in the Chamber today,
including Representative Dahlkemper.
During my visit to Iraq, I saw a significant improvement in the
security conditions on the ground. And the fact that we were able to
safely drive through the bustling streets of Baghdad was an encouraging
and welcome development. I know, without a doubt, it is the sacrifice,
perseverance and bravery of these young men and women that enabled such
progress.
I am pleased that just 1 year later, the 56th Stryker Brigade is
returning home. As of late September, most of the brigade has returned
home. I am honored to be standing here today to pay tribute to these
heroes. Our military families demonstrate tremendous bravery as they
watch their loved ones go overseas to fight in harm's way for the
freedoms we experience every day in this great Nation. We say ``thank
you'' to the entire Pennsylvania National Guard for protecting the
families and communities of our great Commonwealth and standing at the
ready to defend our homeland.
I urge Members to support House Resolution 754.
Mr. SHUSTER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).
Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for
recognizing me.
I want to rise today in proud and enthusiastic support to House
Resolution 754, honoring the citizen-soldiers of the Pennsylvania
National Guard, including the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, known
as the Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, on its
return to the United States from deployment in Iraq.
On January 15, 2009, the 56th Stryker Brigade was deployed to Taji,
Iraq. Just last month, this extraordinary combat team, 4,000 strong,
returned to their families in Pennsylvania after an incredibly
successful deployment. They were welcomed home with proud, open arms
throughout our State.
In June, I was grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to
visit Iraq and to meet personally with members of the 56th Stryker
Brigade from the Third District of Pennsylvania. These brave
Pennsylvanians embodied the fire of patriotism and the humility of
sacrifice. I was in awe of their accomplishments and the high standard
of excellence by which they executed their mission.
Just yesterday, I was on a plane ride back to Washington sitting next
to a general whose son's division from Fort Hood took the place of our
56th Stryker Brigade from Pennsylvania, and he mentioned to me how
honored his son was to take over from such an excellent group of
soldiers. It was certainly a joy and an honor to greet our troops as
they returned to Cambridge Springs just last month, the division out of
my district.
Never had I felt such intense pride in our country as I did when
meeting these extraordinary soldiers and witnessing the sacrifices they
have made so that we may live in freedom and prosperity.
Our Pennsylvania National Guard has answered the call to defend these
United States of America and ensure the security of our people and our
way of life. Today, we honor these Guardsmen and thank them for their
service. In doing so, we also renew our pledge to provide our men and
women in uniform with the highest quality of care and benefits they
have earned. In doing so, we show our intense gratitude and enormous
respect for our soldiers who so rightly deserve it.
Mr. Speaker, I offer my unwavering support of House Resolution 754. I
thank Congressman Holden for bringing this resolution forward. Our
Pennsylvania National Guard and our 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team
certainly deserve this recognition. May God bless our troops.
Mr. SHUSTER. At this time, I would like to yield such time as he
might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, my
colleague from Pennsylvania.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today in support of House Resolution 754, a
resolution commending the members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat
Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard on the completion of their
most recent deployment to Iraq. And I thank all of my Pennsylvania
colleagues for their support of this resolution.
The Stryker is a combat vehicle similar to a tank but operates on
wheels rather than on tracks. And the vehicle is essential to
protecting our soldiers' lives and is vital to the Army's Interim
Brigade Combat Teams. The 56th Stryker is a special unit not just to my
home State, but my home. My son, Logan, served with the 56th Stryker
Brigade before changing to Active Duty, and a number of my former Eagle
Scouts from my scout troop serve currently with the 56th Brigade and
serve proudly in Iraq.
The 56th Stryker Brigade was deployed in February of this year to
Iraq and returned home this past summer. And while in Iraq, they
captured some 80 hidden supply dumps, which caused severe shortages and
disrupted enemy operations. Their service in Iraq and Afghanistan has
not gone unnoticed and has saved many lives.
Upon arriving home last month, these heroes were finally embraced by
their families, their friends and their loved ones. From Venango County
to Lycoming County, many constituents from my district bravely and
honorably served on this brigade. We say
[[Page H11309]]
``thank you, welcome home,'' and ``God bless you'' for your selfless
service. Your actions will never be forgotten.
I urge my colleagues to support our troops and vote in the
affirmative for the underlying resolution.
{time} 1100
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today in
support of House Resolution 754, which honors the citizen-soldiers of
the Pennsylvania National Guard, including the 56th Stryker Brigade
Combat Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, on its return to
the United States from a deployment in Iraq. I am proud to have
authored this resolution with my colleague, Mr. Holden from
Pennsylvania. It is an honor, as I said, to speak in favor of this
resolution and to have the support and cosponsorship of the entire
Pennsylvania delegation.
The men and women being honored today are not only brave soldiers;
they are also our neighbors, friends, and relatives. Their mission in
Iraq was vital to our national security, and they served with honor and
distinction.
In November of last year, I was joined by my colleagues, Mr. Holden,
Mr. Gerlach and Mr. Dent, to visit the members of the 56th Stryker
Brigade when they were training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and at
Fort Polk in Louisiana in preparation for their deployment.
In June of this year, Mr. Holden and I, along with Mr. Dent and Mrs.
Dahlkemper, visited Iraq to meet with our deployed troops from
Pennsylvania to thank them for their service. We also met with troops
at Camp Liberty outside of Baghdad, and in Taji. While there, we also
were able to meet with General Odierno, the commander of the
Multinational Force in Iraq. And General Odierno spoke in glowing terms
of the Pennsylvania Guard and told us that our soldiers are doing an
outstanding job bringing security to Iraq.
I also had the opportunity to meet with many of my constituents, and
there were dozens and dozens. And they truly are citizen-soldiers. I
just want to highlight three of them. Lieutenant Colonel Sam Hayes, who
is a native of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. His father also happened to be the
former Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary. Sergeant Buchannan, a
resident of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and is employed by McAleers Plumbing
and Heating. He is my plumber and spent time in my basement trying to
fix leaky plumbing. So it is good to have Sergeant Buchannan home. And,
finally, Sergeant Gibbons, another neighbor, a friend. His son plays on
the Hollysburgh High School soccer team with my son. In fact, I will be
on the sidelines tonight talking to Sergeant Gibbons.
I also wanted to thank and to remember Chad Edmundson, one of my
constituents who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts and our
prayers continue to go out to his family and, again, to thank him for
his service and his sacrifice to this Nation.
The text of this resolution speaks for itself. It is my pleasure to
express our gratitude and commend our soldiers on their most recent
deployment and recognize their achievements. I hope to be participating
on November 8 in a major parade in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, welcoming home
our soldiers.
I would also like to thank my staff for their work on this
resolution, in particular my Army fellow, Lieutenant Colonel Eric
Estep, for his great work and late hours in putting this together.
I urge all Members of the House to support this important resolution.
Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 754, which
honors the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat
Team on its return to the United States from its deployment to Iraq.
The 56th Stryker Brigade is comprised of more than 4,000 citizen
soldiers from across the Commonwealth.
The 56th served North of Baghdad and conducted more than 800
operations with the Iraqi Security Forces.
These soldiers served their country with great distinction, and it is
my great honor to represent them in Congress.
I would also ask the House of Representatives to extend its deepest
condolences to the families of two members of the 56th who gave the
ultimate sacrifice while serving in Iraq.
Staff Sergeant Mark C. Baum, 32, of Quakertown, was killed when hit
by small arms fire on Feb. 21 and
Specialist Chad A. Edmondson, 20, of Williamsburg, was killed by an
improvised bomb explosion on May 27.
Passing this resolution today honors the memory of these brave
soldiers of the 56th Stryker Brigade and marks the significant
contribution that this unit has made to defend our Nation.
Mr. SHUSTER. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 754.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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