[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 194 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H9800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THANK YOU IRAQ VETERANS

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in 2003 the United States 
military and its allies began operations to remove Saddam Hussein from 
power, who was a ruthless dictator and a threat to stability in the 
Middle East, undermining world peace. Yesterday, the United States 
military successfully concluded its military involvement in Iraq. We 
have victory in Iraq for the people of Iraq to build upon.
  As a proud father of two sons who served in Iraq, I want to offer a 
heartfelt thank-you to every American servicemember who served in the 
country and their families. I want to thank and assure the family 
members of the servicemembers who lost their lives--exemplified by 
Major Trane McCloud--and those who are wounded warriors, fighting for 
freedom, that their sacrifice and their military families will always 
be cherished.
  Secretary Leon Panetta in Baghdad said: ``Iraq has made remarkable 
progress over the last 9 years.'' Army General Lloyd J. Austin, III, 
Commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, praised servicemembers and families 
for meeting our national objectives and giving Iraq hope for a 
prosperous future.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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