[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H6057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRED RANDLE

  (Mr. WESTERMAN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Mr. Fred Randle.
  Mr. Randle was a longtime Hot Springs resident who was part of 
Merrill's Marauders during World War II. Merrill's Marauders were U.S. 
soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater, using jungle warfare 
techniques to penetrate deep behind enemy lines. In just 5 months, the 
Marauders advanced 720 miles through some of the harshest jungle 
terrain in the world. Upon return, each man in the unit was awarded a 
Bronze Star.
  Mr. Randle's book, ``Hell on Land, Disaster at Sea--the Story of 
Merrill's Marauders and the Sinking of the Rhona,'' described his 
experience watching the sinking of this ship in 1943. He was one of a 
handful of men with the Marauders who had been sworn to secrecy about 
the sinking for 57 years, since it was caused by the world's first 
guided missile.
  Mr. Randle passed away at the age of 97 on November 23, 2020. But 
before he did, we were able to contact him and his family and let them 
know that a Congressional Gold Medal will be placed in the Smithsonian 
in his honor.
  Perhaps there is no better tribute to his life than in the words of 
his family, He loved the Lord and he loved the United States flag.

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