[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 26363-26364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON AND THOSE WHO MADE IT 
                                POSSIBLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with an overwhelming sense of pride 
that I now rise to pay tribute to a truly historic event in the proud 
and distinguished history of the great State of Colorado: the 
establishment of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  As the House sponsor of legislation that redesignated the Black 
Canyon as a national park, it gives me great joy to describe for this 
esteemed body's record the beauty of this truly majestic place. In 
addition, I would like to offer my gratitude to a community of 
individuals instrumental in the long process that ultimately yielded 
the establishment of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  Mr. Speaker, anyone who has visited the Black Canyon can attest to 
its awe-inspiring natural beauty. Named for the dark rock that makes up 
its sheer walls, the Black Canyon is largely composed of what 
geologists call basement rocks, the oldest rocks on the earth estimated 
at 1.7 billion years old. With its narrow openings, sheer walls, and 
scenic gorges that plunge 2000 feet into the clear blue majesty of the 
Gunnison River, the Black Canyon is a natural crown jewel second to 
none in its magnificent splendor. Though other canyons may have greater 
depth or descend on a steeper course, few combine these attributes as 
breathtakingly as does the Black Canyon.
  If ever there was a place worthy of the prestigious status that only 
national park status can afford, Mr. Speaker, it is the Black Canyon. 
But as you know, national parks don't just happen. In this case, it 
took nearly 15 years, several Congressional Representatives and 
Senators, innumerable locally elected officials, and a virtual sea of 
committed citizens in western Colorado.
  Included in this group are the good people of Gunnison, Colorado. 
During this long and at times difficult process, Gunnison's civic 
leaders have given tirelessly and beyond measure in the hopes of making 
the Black Canyon a national park. Again and again these great Americans 
rose to the challenge, doing everything in their power to fulfill. 
Without Gunnison's leadership and perseverance, none of what we have 
accomplished would have ever been possible.
   It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I give my thanks to the people of 
Gunnison who played a leading role in making the Black Canyon of the 
Gunnison National Park a wonderful reality for Colorado, America, and 
the world to enjoy.

                         MEN AND WOMEN OF HONOR

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. HELEN CHENOWETH-HAGE

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

  Mrs. CHENOWETH-HAGE. Mr. Speaker, all of us were alarmed when it was 
recently reported that American soldiers fired upon civilian refugees 
during the Korean War. However, what was not reported were the numerous 
acts of compassion that our fine fighting men and women performed 
during the Korean War.
  One such Marine is Ron Rankin, a Kootenai County Commissioner from 
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Mr. Rankin wrote a powerful guest column 
regarding his personal experiences as a young Marine during the Korean 
War in the October 18, 1999 edition of the Spokesman-Review. In this 
column he details many self-less actions such as Marines giving their 
own rations to starving Korean families, as well as a rifle company 
assisting in the birth of a North Korean baby. I ask unanimous consent 
that his statement appear in the appropriate place in the Record. 
Furthermore, I urge all my colleagues to read Mr. Rankin's entire 
column to see that the majority of the fighting men and women who 
served in Korea did so with honor.

               [From the Spokesman-Review, Oct. 18, 1999]

          Sins of Few Need Not Overshadow Troops' Achievements

                            (By Ron Rankin)

       I felt sick, physically and emotionally, as I read the 
     report. The Forgotten War was finally to be remembered. But 
     of what? For the allegation that an Army company had fired on 
     civilian refugees early in the Korean War.
       America was unprepared when the Korean War broke out. We 
     had recklessly downscaled our military since the end of World 
     War II, which may account for the lack of discipline of 
     troops involved in the No Gun Ri incident. Unfortunately, 
     that incident could stain the reputation of many valiant 
     young men who did serve with honor.
       A headline that would more accurately reflect the character 
     of our American troops should read, ``Tired, over-extended, 
     battle-hardened Marines share rations with refugees.''
       The Marine Corps has the reputation of having highly-
     trained, highly-disciplined and highly-efficient combat 
     soldiers. Not generally recognized is that, behind all the 
     bravado, they are real people with real emotions.
       The Marine Corps Reserve unit I served with, from the 
     historic landing at Inchon to the epic Battle of the Chosin 
     Reservoir, were young husbands and fathers. Many like me had 
     served a ``hitch'' in their teens, had been trained and tried 
     and knew what to expect. We had a desire to get the job done 
     and go home to our families.
       During the outfitting, processing and shipping out we were 
     all given a package from the Red Cross which included a 
     pocket-size Bible.

[[Page 26364]]

       This Bible fit the breast pocket of GI dungarees. It had 
     ``bullet proof'' steel covers front and back. On the front 
     was an American flag. The Lord's Prayer was inscribed on the 
     back. I had a picture of my beautiful wife and seven month 
     old daughter on the inside cover. Every time you took your 
     Bible out, you saw the tiny American flag which reminded you 
     why you were there. The Lord's Prayer gave you the strength 
     to be there. The family picture kept you human under inhumane 
     conditions.
       On the 78-mile breakout fight to the sea from the Chosin 
     Reservoir, in 30-below-zero weather, I witnessed acts of 
     unselfish personal sacrifice that are still fresh in my mind 
     after almost 50 years.
       Along a torturous mountain road, ragged, and near-starving 
     refugees followed along with the troops and trucks. Over and 
     over, I saw battle-hardened Marines pull out cans of rations 
     carried in their underwear to prevent them from freezing, and 
     hand their food to the freezing families.
       The most moving example of wartime compassion I witnessed 
     was when a man and wife with two small children stopped on 
     the road so the mother could give birth. Without hesitation, 
     several Marines from a rifle squad stopped to help. One 
     unrolled his sleeping bag, pulled out the wool blanket liner 
     and tore it in half to make swaddling wraps for a brand new 
     North Korean infant on the road to freedom.
       On reaching the sea at the Port of Hamhung, a mass exodus 
     of troops began.
       Along with our troops, nearly 100,000 refugees came into 
     this port fleeing the Communism of the north; voting with 
     their feet for freedom. The American Navy could not ignore 
     such desperation and determination. A humanitarian flotilla 
     was assembled consisting of every type of ship that could be 
     brought in before the port was leveled on Christmas Eve 1950. 
     All refugees were rescued.
       Conditions were horrible for many thousands of them 
     freezing on the decks of ships at sea. Many of the American 
     troops were on decks too, but far better equipped for the 
     cold than the rag-tag refugees.
       The contrast between the American troops and refugees is 
     still indelible in my mind. We were born and raised in a free 
     republic having experienced all the benefits of freedom. We 
     were anxious to return to our homes, families and freedoms. 
     The North Korean refugees were born and raised in a Communist 
     dictatorship, experiencing only repression and tyranny. They 
     were determined to escape such conditions at any cost 
     including life itself.
       And what of the 100,000 North Korean refugees? Was it worth 
     the hardships endured for freedom? They and their progeny are 
     now living in freedom purchased with the blood of 54,000 
     young American sons, husbands and fathers.
       There are always a few miscreants in every part of our 
     American society, including, at times, a few American 
     soldiers. However, as Americans, we cannot--we must not--let 
     the indefensible actions of a few blemish the magnificent 
     sacrifices of the many in what, until now, has been called 
     The Forgotten War.
       Semper Fidelis.

       

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