[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 148 (Monday, November 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE VETERANS OF OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES, DETACHMENT 101

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                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2010

  Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Veterans of 
Office of Strategic Services, Detachment 101, for their service to our 
country during World War II and their post-war humanitarian work in 
service to their former allies in Burma. The Veterans recently held 
their annual reunion here in Washington, D.C. and I am honored to 
recognize them.
  As the prototype for what would eventually become the Central 
Intelligence Agency, the Office of Strategic Services, OSS, was 
revolutionary in its operations during World War II. OSS Detachment 101 
was created in 1942 and would be one of five such detachments created 
for field operations in support of the war.
  Detachment 101 served in the China-Burma-India theater and in 
addition to gathering strategic and tactical intelligence, they were 
charged with the responsibility of planning, coordinating, and 
conducting guerrilla attacks against the occupying Japanese forces and 
recruited almost 11,000 indigenous Kachins for assistance. Their 
unorthodox methods laid the foundation not only for the modern-day 
intelligence community, but also for our Special Operations Forces. 
Because of their valor, courage, and heroic work, OSS Detachment 101 
was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation in 1946.
  But their work in Burma did not stop with the end of the war. 
Veterans and their families have given back to the Kachins in Burma 
they recruited and relied upon. They founded and helped to finance 
Project Old Soldier, through which they have trained Kachin villagers 
in substituting poppy crops with corn, buckwheat, potatoes, and other 
vegetables since 1996.
  Further, Detachment 101 Veterans were concerned over the quality of 
health of Kachin veterans, and so through private funds they set up a 
weekly visiting nurse service in Burma, which is normally a luxury. 
Additionally, Detachment 101 has started the 101 Schools program in 
2004 and has opened seven schools in Burma to teach Kachin children 
mathematics and English language skills at no charge to the families. 
Detachment 101 Veterans have continued to oversee the funding and 
supervision of these schools. Finally, Detachment 101 Veterans have 
arranged for the translation and printing of village health care books 
into Jingpaw, the Kachin language, as well as the disbursement of 
textbooks to Kachin school children.
  OSS Detachment 101 veterans have continued their service to our 
country off the battlefield and have upheld the American values for 
which they fought. It would have been easy to return to their normal 
lives; instead, they have kept their Kachin brothers in their hearts 
and have worked to share some of America's prosperity with those who 
have helped protect it.

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