[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E498-E499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD ON THE
66TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORMANDY INVASION
______
HON. FRANK R. WOLF
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions
of the members of the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National
Guard on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion
and D-Day which will occur this June 6. I ask that my colleagues join
me in recognizing the service and sacrifice of the members of this
National Guard unit.
The Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard unit was
the only one from the United States to serve in the first wave of the
Normandy Invasion on D-Day. Over 3,100 soldiers from this unit
courageously served their country in Normandy, and there were 1,107
casualties in the invasion.
The 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard joined the
116th Infantry Regiment, also known as Virginia's ``Stonewall
Brigade,'' and the 111th Field Artillery Battalion in the assault on
the Nazis on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. The Headquarters Company, 3rd
Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment is still based in Winchester,
Virginia, and continues to send its troops to serve their country in
Afghanistan and Iraq. A new National Guard Armory opened last year in
Frederick County and was named in honor of Staff Sgt. Craig W. Cherry
and Sgt. Bobby E. Beasley, two local National Guardsmen who lost their
lives in Afghanistan in 2004.
I submit for the Record the text of a joint resolution passed in the
Virginia General Assembly in February, honoring this heroic unit of the
National Guard:
House Joint Resolution No. 292
Offered February 16, 2010
Commending the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia-
Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard and the Virginia
communities represented in the Normandy Invasion on the 66th
anniversary of D-Day.
Patrons--Sherwood, Abbitt, Abbott, Albo, Alexander,
Anderson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Richard P.,
Bell, Robert B., Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Carrico,
Cleaveland, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox,
M.K., Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Edmunds, Englin, Garrett,
Gear, Gilbert, Greason, Griffith: Herring, Hope, Howell,
A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, James, Janis,
Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Landes,
LeMunyon, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marshall,
D.W., Marshall, R.G,, Massie, May, McClellan, McQuinn,
Merricks, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Morefield, Morgan,
Morrissey, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace,
Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Pollard, Purkey, Putney,
Rust, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shuler, Sickles, Spruill,
Stolle, Surovell, Tata, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Villanueva,
Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts and Wright
Whereas, June 6, 2010, is the 66th anniversary of the
Normandy Invasion, commonly known as D-Day; this epic and
decisive moment in World War II helped defeat Nazi rule in
Europe and was the most massive military operation in world
history; and
Whereas, the only National Guard division of the United
States Army selected to participate in the initial assault on
the coast of France was the 29th Infantry Division of the
Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard; this
division was assigned as its objective that beach sector
designated Omaha, which because of the fierce resistance
encountered there soon became known as ``Bloody Omaha''; and
Whereas, Virginia's historic ``Stonewall Brigade,'' the
116th Infantry Regiment, was chosen to be in the first wave
at Omaha and, after a bloody battle on the beach, finally
succeeded in taking the high ground above it, and thus
secured a beachhead in France; when ``the Longest Day''
ended, the courageous regiment of over 3,100 soldiers had
suffered 1,107 casualties; and
Whereas, joining the 116th Infantry Regiment in the assault
was Virginia's 111th Field Artillery Battalion and other
smaller units from the Virginia National Guard, all elements
of the 29th Infantry Division. and
Whereas, the Virginia communities represented in the D-Day
Invasion were:
116th Infantry Regiment (Stonewall Brigade)
Headquarters and Headquarters Company--Roanoke
Anti-Tank Platoon--Roanoke
Medical Department Detachment-Staunton & Wytheville
Service Company--Roanoke
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion--Roanoke
Company A--Bedford
Company B--Lynchburg
Company C--Harrisonburg
Company D--Roanoke
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion-Altavista
Company E--Chase City
Company F--South Boston
Company G--Farmville
Company H--Martinsville
Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion-Winchester
Company I--Winchester
Company K--Charlottesville
Company L--Staunton
Company M--Emporia
29th Infantry Division Band (Virginia portion)--Roanoke
29th Signal Company--Norfolk
29th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop-Berryville
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 29th Infantry Division
Artillery-Richmond
111th Field Artillery Battalion (First Virginia Artillery)
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery-Norfolk
Service Battery--Newport News
Battery A--Richmond
Battery B--Norfolk
Battery C--Portsmouth
227th Field Artillery Battalion (formerly 2nd Battalion, 111th Field
Artillery)
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery--Richmond
Service Battery--post mobilization organization--no
Virginia community
Battery A--Hampton
Battery B--Richmond
Battery C--Fredericksburg
Whereas, many brave individuals participated in the
Normandy Invasion and all who worked so hard and fought so
valiantly are honored as heroes; and
Whereas, General George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of
Staff, helped plan the Allied invasion of France; he
graduated from the Virginia Military Institute as First
Captain of the Corps of Cadets in 1901; and
Whereas, a former commander of the 29th Infantry Division,
Lieutenant General Leonard Gerow was promoted to command the
V Corps (Fifth Corps), made up of the 1st and 29th Infantry
Divisions, which were the first troops to land on Omaha
Beach; he was a native of Petersburg and a graduate of the
Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1911; and
Whereas, on June 8, 1944, Technical Sergeant Frank D.
Peregory of Charlottesville's Company K, from the 116th
Infantry Regiment, single-handedly killed or captured over 25
enemy soldiers, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor,
only to be killed in action six days later; and
Whereas, a graduate of The Citadel's Class of 1929 and a
teacher and coach at Staunton Military Academy, Major Thomas
D. Howie of Staunton's Company L, best known as ``the Major
of St Lo,'' was killed in action on July 17, 1944, while in
command of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, during its
final drive to capture the strategic city of Saint-Lo; and
Whereas, commander of the 111th Field Artillery Battalion,
Lieutenant Colonel Thornton L. Mullins of Richmond, after his
unit lost all of its guns but one in the English Channel when
its landing craft were either swamped or destroyed by enemy
fire, was killed in action while leading a band of survivors
and destroying several enemy positions; he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, the U.S. Army's second highest
award for valor; and
Whereas, today, the 116th Infantry Regiment and other
Virginia National Guard units of soldiers and airmen maintain
a proud tradition with troops deployed in harm's way in the
War on Terrorism, such as the mobilization to Iraq of the 1st
Battalion, 116th Infantry on January 6, 2010, and two
deployments to Afghanistan of the 3rd Battalion, 116th
Infantry accompanied by several Embedded Transition Teams
drawn from across the Virginia Army Guard, including the
116th Infantry's Brigade Combat Team; and
Whereas, since the start of the current wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq, nearly 10,000 men and women of the Virginia
National Guard have served in one or both conflicts,
[[Page E499]]
many on multiple tours, and a total of 13 members have died
on active duty protecting our liberties, and it is fitting we
honor and remember their service and sacrifices; and
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia and its citizens are
indebted to and thankful for the D-Day soldiers, their
successors in the ranks of the Virginia National Guard today,
and their families for their valiant service and enormous
sacrifice; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring,
That the General Assembly commend the 29th Infantry Division
of the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard
and the Virginia communities represented in the Normandy
Invasion on the 66th anniversary of D-Day that occurred on
June 6, 1944, honoring the brave troops who served there,
especially the soldiers of the Stonewall Brigade, 116th
Infantry Regiment who fought in the first wave of attack and
the 111th Field Artillery Battalion, both of which are a part
of the 29th Infantry Division; and, be it
Resolved further, That the General Assembly acknowledge the
efforts of the Virginia National Guard to commemorate the
Normandy Invasion with a Day of Awareness to remind
Virginians of the sacrifices made to preserve their freedoms
by those who fought on D-Day and by the men and women of the
Virginia National Guard who continue to fight around the
world to protect liberty for their countrymen; and, be it
Resolved finally, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Major
General Robert B. Newman, Jr., the Adjutant General of
Virginia, on behalf of the General Assembly in recognition of
the soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia-
Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard and the Virginia
communities represented in the Normandy Invasion who fought
at Normandy and on into the heart of Germany to help bring
about the final victory over Nazi tyranny.
____________________