[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   ``A SALUTE TO THE MILITARY'' IN HONOR OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE 
                       CORPS, EL TORO, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 1999

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, on November 10, 1775, the Continental 
Congress met in Philadelphia, passing a resolution that ``two 
battalions of Marines be raised'' for service as landing forces with 
the fleet. This resolution, sponsored by John Adams, established the 
Continental Marines and marked the birth of the United States Marine 
Corps.
  From that time forward, and throughout the history of the United 
States of America, the Marines have proven themselves to be among the 
bravest and most heroic divisions of the military. The Marines have 
fought valiantly in the American Revolution, the Battle of 1812, the 
Mexican War (1846-1848), the Civil War (1861-1865), the Spanish 
American War (1898), World War I, World War II, and the Gulf War. They 
have fought from ``the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli'' to 
keep our nation free.
  El Toro was commissioned as a Marine Corps Air Station in March of 
1943. The base was used as a staging area and training facility for the 
battle with the Japanese in the Pacific. Built on a bean field, the 
first Marines were housed in bean barracks until the new barracks were 
constructed. From that point forward, Marine troops poured into the 
base and soon the first squadrons were formed, flying operational 
missions into combat in the South Pacific.
  Just as the war in the Pacific ended, Congress threatened to close 
the base. However, with new conflicts beginning in Korea, the base was 
kept open. At this time it became apparent that a Western base was 
definitely needed on the Pacific Coast. After the Korean War, the 3rd 
Marine Aircraft Wing was moved from Florida to El Toro. The base was 
expanded to accommodate the increasing military expansion. With 
Vietnam, El Toro again became a training, staging, and debarkation 
point for the Marines.
  In 1975, Vietnamese refugees were flown into the base, before being 
sent to refugee camps in Camp Pendleton. And, in 1983, El Toro received 
the F/A-18 Hornet, the most advanced fighter-attack aircraft in Naval 
history. By now the base has grown from the original 2,300 acres and 30 
Marines to 4,700 acres and 15,000 personnel.
  In the 1990's, the Marines were called into action during Operation 
Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. After America's victory in 
the Persian Gulf, the Department of Defense embarked on an initiative 
to restructure and realign America's military and as a result, El Toro 
was recommended for closure.
  El Toro Marine Base, which has played a most significant and 
important part of history, will now become part of history. As we bid 
farewell to the men and women who have so nobly served our country, we 
will never forget the indelible impression that these dedicated Marines 
have made on the lives of so many individuals. True to their motto, the 
Marines will be ``Always Faithful,'' Semper Fi.

                          ____________________