[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 184 (Friday, December 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ANNOUNCING RECIPIENTS OF THE INAUGURAL CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN 
         COMMENDATION FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS--JIM REED

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 2, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to announce 
before my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives the 
names of eleven distinguished military veterans and community servants 
who call the Third District of Texas home. For their selfless service 
and dedication to their neighbors and nation, the following individuals 
have been selected as recipients of the inaugural Congressional Veteran 
Commendation:
  During World War II, Mr. Jim Reed of Plano, Texas was a rifleman with 
E Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Regiment, 4th Marine Division. Based out 
of Camp Lejeune, the division deployed to the Pacific Theater of War in 
1944 and engaged in the Battle of the Marshall Islands, the Battle of 
Saipan, and the Battle of Tinian. On August 9, 1944, while 
compassionately trying to convince Japanese citizens in Saipan not to 
jump off a suicide cliff, Reed was shot in the back of the head by a 
sniper. Evacuated to Guadalcanal and then Pearl Harbor with a Purple 
Heart pinned to his robe, Reed would not stay down for long.
  In February 1945, with Tinian as a launching point, Reed and his 
fellow Marines stormed Iwo Jima. The mission of the 23rd Marines was to 
capture Motoyama Airfield No. 1 within 24 hours of landing. However, 
after three days they had not reached their objective and lost a third 
of their men. Fortunately, the 3rd Division came ashore as support and 
together they pushed through to the airfield.
  The next objective was even tougher. In their trek toward Motoyama 
Airfield No. 2, the Marines fought uphill through ravines and over 
cliffs while the Japanese fired at them from tunnels and fortresses 
built into the land. After 10 days of fighting, only 15 remained of 
Reed's company of about 250 men. Reed had again been wounded, earning 
him his second Purple Heart. This ended Jim Reed's war.
  A favorite speaker at Veterans Day events, Mr. Reed selflessly shares 
his story with all generations of Americans and serves veterans-support 
organizations around North Texas, including the Daughters of WWII.
  It is an honor and privilege to name Jim Reed a recipient of the 
inaugural Congressional Veteran Commendation for the Third District of 
Texas.

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