[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 33 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING RENE GAGNON ON THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA

  (Mr. GUINTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage and 
sacrifice demonstrated by our marines, specifically Corporal Rene 
Gagnon, a Granite Stater, during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
  Gagnon was selected and participated in what is arguably the most 
celebrated American flag raising in our Nation's history.
  Immortalized by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal, six U.S. Marines, 
including Corporal Gagnon, raised the colors above Mount Suribachi on 
the fifth day of the month-long battle for Iwo Jima.
  Born to immigrants from Quebec, Gagnon grew up in Manchester, New 
Hampshire, and left in 1943 after being drafted. He elected to join the 
United States Marine Corps.
  As part of Operation Detachment, a total of 92,000 men, 70,000 
Americans, and 22,000 Japanese, fought to secure Iwo Jima, a tiny 
island controlled by the Japanese that was no larger than one-third the 
size of Manhattan.
  As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Iwo Jima, let us take a 
moment to honor Corporal Gagnon and the rest of our Nation's Greatest 
Generation who fought bravely to secure and preserve our Nation's 
democracy during World War II.

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