[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.

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