[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 24, 1999

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, the recent visit of French 
President Jacques Chirac to the Nation's Capital included the 
presentation of the Legion of Honor, an award created by Napolean 
Bonaparte, to three veterans of the First World War. This serves to 
remind us that eighty years ago, in the Spring of 1919, thousands of 
``doughboys'' of the American Expeditionary Forces in France were 
returning to the United States following the first major appearance of 
U.S. military forces on the stage of world affairs.
  A weather-beaten newspaper clipping hails the arrival in New York 
City Harbor of a Navy transport ship, the Leviathan, carrying the 150th 
Field Artillery Regiment. (``Indiana Boys of Rainbow Welcomed Home,'' 
New York Times, April 23, 1919). They came back to U.S. soil after 
engaging in combat operations and then occupation duty with the famed 
42d (Rainbow) Division. The Hoosier gunners, members of the old 1st 
Indiana Field Artillery, Indiana National Guard, landed in New York 
after having served in five major campaigns in France. These Hoosiers 
were among the first to arrive and among the last to leave before the 
occupation of postwar Germany became the responsibility of the Regular 
Army.
  Today, more than 14,000 dedicated men and women are currently serving 
in units of the Indiana Army National Guard and Air National Guard. 
They continue the tradition of patriotism and selfless service of World 
War I's ``Rainbow Hoosiers.'' They hold down full-time civilian 
employment; they maintain families; they are active in community life--
and they devote whatever time is mandated to fulfill Federal standards 
in order to maintain the military skills that have a distinct impact on 
our National security. Their trained capabilities have helped make it 
possible for the United States to sustain its awesome global 
responsibilities. However, we cannot forget that the National Guard is 
also a community enterprise. The chances are excellent that almost any 
Hoosier has some relative or knows someone who is serving, or who has 
served, in the Indiana National Guard. More than 70,000 Hoosiers are 
National Guard gamily members.
  The Indiana National Guard has a rock solid foundation. During the 
realignment and readjustment of military forces in the post-Cold War 
era, we have witnessed the high regard which the Indiana National Guard 
enjoys in the missions it has been called upon to perform, and the 
special tasks which it has assumed, as a consequence of increased 
reliance on National Guard and Reserve forces by the Department of 
Defense.
  As examples, Mr. Speaker, let me share just some of the things the 
Indiana Natonal Guard is doing: Both the Army and Air Guard units have 
been designated to receive advanced readiness training in order to be 
prepared for possible deployment at the leading edge of U.S. 
commitments throughout the world. Along with stepped-up homeland 
defense, and anti-terrorism and anti-drug missions, these are 
assignments which require serious and dedicated training. The Indiana 
Guard is involved in ongoing assistance missions, and over the last 
twelve months Hoosier Guard soldiers and airmen have lent a helping 
hand in Haiti, Hungary, Kuwait, Slovakia, and South Korea. The 
extraordinary range of military service being performed by the men and 
women of the Indiana National Guard is strong testimony to the reliance 
that is placed on them.
  We should never forget that while the Indiana National Guard is 
responsive to its Federal mission, it also stands ready to respond to 
the call of our Governor for service in support and protection of the 
citizens of Indiana. The Indiana Guard was also in the forefront of the 
special National Guard task force organized to help provide security 
for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.
  The fighting men and women, the soldiers and airmen of today's 
Indiana National Guard, are worthy of those who, 80 years ago, proudly 
returned carrying the honors earned on European battlefields. As 
President Chirac reminds us by his public commendations, we should take 
time to remember and honor the soldiers of that era. Equally, we should 
pause as we approach the new millennium, to recognize today's 
successors to those ``Hoosier Gunners'' who served so bravely and 
honorably on the battlefields of France at the beginning of this 
century.

                          ____________________