[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         A TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT RICHARD ``DICK'' SULLIVAN, USMC

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                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2011

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow 
United States Marine, Mr. Richard ``Dick'' Sullivan, who died at the 
age of 79 on Thursday, February 3, 2011, from complications of lung 
cancer. Mr. Sullivan was part of a generation of Marines that, still to 
this day, all Marines continue to uphold as some of the greatest ever 
to wear a uniform and call themselves leathernecks.
  Mr. Sullivan grew up in Colorado Springs, CO, and enlisted in the 
Marine Corps at 17 years of age. Sergeant Sullivan bravely served his 
country as a machine gunner in the Korean War, alongside the other 
Marines of 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 
George Company. With George Company, Sergeant Sullivan fought in Seoul, 
Inchon, and the historic Battle of Chosin Reservoir--where Marines 
faced incredible odds and demonstrated amazing tenacity and grit 
against a formidable enemy.
  Just like many of the Marines that survived the Chosin Reservoir 
campaign, Mr. Sullivan considers those 17 days of fighting as the most 
important days of his service to the nation. In the period between 
November 27th and December 13, 1950, the United National troops, which 
were nicknamed the Chosin Few under the command of Major General Edward 
Almond, were surrounded by as many as 100,000 Chinese troops.
  Fighting in extremely cold temperatures that reached -35 degrees 
below Fahrenheit, Sergeant Sullivan engaged the enemy on frozen ground 
and persevered frostbite, limited supplies and weapon malfunctions. The 
military historian Patrick K. O'Donnell highlights the valor of George 
Company in his book ``Give Me Tomorrow,'' by detailing how a small 
group of Marines, against all odds, made five separate stands against 
enemy units despite being severely outnumbered.
  During a critical point in combat, George Company put together a task 
force to break through to Haguaru-ri. George Company went down an 11-
mile stretch of road, which became a shooting gallery. The Chinese had 
the high ground and started peppering vehicles with machine guns, 
bazookas and mortars. Many of their 150 vehicles were destroyed and 
over half the company was either captured or killed.
  Mr. Donnell states in his book that if the task force would not have 
taken the initiative to advance their position to Haguaru-ri, then the 
1st Marine Division would not have been able to consolidate at Chosin 
Reservoir. There is a good chance the United States would have lost the 
Korean War.
  Thanks to George Company, the 1st Marine Division did consolidate 
their forces and managed to decimate 10 Chinese infantry divisions in 
its fighting withdrawal eastward to the North Korean port of Hungnam. 
The fighting withdrawal of the 1st Marine Division from the Chosin 
Reservoir is considered one of the greatest moments in the history of 
the Navy, the Marine Corps and the British Royal Marines.
  Mr. Sullivan was honorably discharged from the United States Marine 
Corps on August 1, 1952.
  Over the next four decades, Mr. Sullivan worked for Ronson Hydraulic 
Units and Sargent Aerospace. After retirement, Mr. Sullivan was very 
active in Arizona's Leisure World. He renewed his love of golf playing 
at Heron Lakes with the men's club on Mondays, the Donut League on 
Wednesdays, with friends on Thursdays at the Nine Hole, and always 
played on Saturdays. In the final year of his life, chemotherapy 
treatments never kept him from indulging in his favorite sport of golf. 
Even while he served on Leisure World's Architectural Committee for a 
number of years, his heart was always with other Marines who lived in 
Leisure World. He was instrumental in keeping the celebration of the 
United States Marine Corps birthday on November 10th by being involved 
with an annual dinner, a welcome back party in September and a barbeque 
at the close of the season in April.
  Although he only spent four years in the Marine Corps, his mind and 
body were always with the United States Marines. He was proud of the 
fact that wherever he went, he would always meet up with another 
Marine, giving and receiving the recognizable hello of those who served 
in the Corps. He is survived by his wife, Sydele E. Milgrim and his 
sons Rick Sullivan of Mesa, AZ and Stuart Sullivan of Redmond, WA.
  Mr. Sullivan is truly an inspiration, embodying the honor and 
tradition of the Marine Corps and its motto of Semper Fidelis. And I 
ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to such a fine 
American, who we all owe a debt of gratitude.

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