[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 194 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8726-S8727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WELCOMING HOME U.S. TROOPS

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to welcome home 53 of the men and 
women of the Headquarters Element of the storied 25th Infantry 
Division, also known as Tropic Lightning, who will be returning to 
Schofield Barracks in Hawaii from their deployment to Iraq this Sunday, 
in time to join their loved ones for the holidays. I would like to 
recognize the entire 25th Infantry Division for their service in Iraq 
and Afghanistan over the past decade. I would also like to pay my 
respects and give my deepest condolences to the families of the 236 
members of the 25th Infantry Division who made the ultimate sacrifice 
while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, defending the American values 
and freedoms we enjoy.
  Although I cannot be there in person, I send my warmest aloha and 
heartfelt gratitude to these soldiers and their families for their many 
sacrifices and dutiful service to our country.
  Since its activation on October 1, 1941, the 25th Infantry Division 
has played a significant role in every major conflict we have had. In 
that tradition of outstanding service, the 6 major elements of the 25th 
Infantry Division--the division headquarters, the 4 brigade combat 
teams, and the combat aviation brigade--have made a total of 19 combat 
deployments since 2004. Thirteen of these deployments were to Iraq and 
another six were to Afghanistan. In addition, three separate Tropic 
Lightning battalion-sized aviation task forces have deployed to Iraq.

[[Page S8727]]

  I commend MG Bernard S. Champoux, commanding general, and CSM Ray 
Devens, division command sergeant major, for their exceptional service 
and strong leadership of the 25th Infantry Division.
  With this weekend's homecoming, the 25th Infantry Division represents 
the last U.S. military division to leave Iraq as part of the complete 
withdrawal of American combat forces following the successful Iraqi 
campaign.
  I am pleased that the war in Iraq has finally come to an end, and I 
urge my colleagues to remember that the full cost of war includes the 
extended care of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who serve 
so bravely. These men and women have risked their lives to protect this 
country in its time of need, and we must honor our Nation's commitment 
to them afterwards. I would like to again thank these soldiers for 
their service, and may God bless them and their families in Honolulu.

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