[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 16138-16139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE U.S. AIR FORCE

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I say to my colleagues in the Senate and 
to those listening everywhere, I rise to congratulate the U.S. Air 
Force on their gallantry and their bravery in risking their lives to 
take much-needed medicine to a woman who is now a scientist working in 
Antarctica on a National Science Foundation expedition.
  This woman recently discovered a lump in her breast and needs medical 
treatment. She cannot leave Antarctica until the middle of October 
because of the horrendous weather conditions. She can't get out and 
nobody can get to her. But God bless the U.S. Air Force. They were 
willing to step forward at great risk to themselves to take the much-
needed medicine, and at a very specific moment, drop the six packages 
that will be able to provide her with treatment, through the genius of 
telemedicine.
  Imagine the terror of a woman who discovers a lump in her breast. 
Imagine if this lump is discovered while you are serving at a remote 
research station on the South Pole, which is completely inaccessible 
during many months of the year. A plane has never landed on the South 
Pole during the winter. So how could she hope to get the medical 
supplies she needed for treatment?
  This is the situation faced by a woman serving at the National 
Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole. 
She could neither leave the station nor expect outside help until 
October. We all know when a lump is discovered, immediate treatment is 
essential. That is part of what we have been arguing about.
  But guess what. This is when our U.S. Air Force became involved. We 
are all so proud of what they do to protect America's values and 
interests around the world. Most recently, they were successful in 
ending genocide and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.
  But on this mission to the South Pole, they were called on to act as 
humanitarians. Flying from New Zealand, the 23-person crew had to fly 
their aircraft for nearly a 7,000-mile round trip. They had limited 
visibility. They had to make their drop with great precision--since the 
medicine and equipment could not be exposed to the harsh conditions for 
more than a few minutes. Personnel on the ground also showed great 
skill and courage. They came outside in 70-below degree weather to plot 
the drop site with a great big letter ``C'' so the supplies could be 
dropped in the right spot, and they could be there at the right time to 
get it.
  All Americans were awed by their skill and bravery. It was led by 
Major Greg Pike and his crew. They made their drop successfully, 
returned safely, and the supplies are now being used.
  For those of us who saw the news, we know the U.S. Air Force risked 
themselves because if that plane ran into difficulty, they were at a 
point of no return. When they opened up the plane to be able to drop 
this much-needed medicine, they had to put special gear on because they 
themselves were facing temperatures at 150 degrees below zero. But they 
did it because they had the ``right stuff'' to make sure she had the 
right medicine. I tell you, it was quite a moment to see. Those great 
guys also sent her a bouquet of flowers and pictures of themselves and 
their families.
  Mr. President, this also reminds us of the bravery of our National 
Science Foundation staff who have also worked in very difficult 
conditions to conduct the important scientific research.
  We say to her, to the lady in the Antarctic, if she can watch us on 
C-SPAN: God bless you. We are pulling for you,

[[Page 16139]]

and we say here in the Senate, God bless the U.S. Air Force.
  I yield the floor.

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