[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16109-16113]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  RECOGNIZING HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF INITIAL 
ACTIVATION OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE PERSONNEL FOR OPERATION DESERT 
                   SHIELD AND OPERATION DESERT STORM

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 549) recognizing the historical significance of the 
10th anniversary of the initial activation of National Guard and 
Reserve personnel for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert 
Storm and expressing support for ensuring the readiness of the National 
Guard and Reserve.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 549

       Whereas August 27, 2000, is the 10th anniversary of the 
     initial activation of National Guard and Reserve personnel 
     for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, the 
     operations of the United States Armed Forces conducted as a 
     consequence of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq;
       Whereas over 267,000 members of the National Guard and 
     Reserve were ordered to active duty during Operation Desert 
     Shield and Operation Desert Storm;
       Whereas 106,000 of these members served in the Southwest 
     Asia theater of operations, 16,000 served in a support 
     capacity abroad outside the theater of operations, and 
     145,000 served in a support capacity in the United States;
       Whereas 57 members of the National Guard and Reserve lost 
     their lives in the service of the Nation in Operation Desert 
     Storm; and
       Whereas the majority of these members lost their lives in a 
     missile attack on the United States Army barracks at Dhahran, 
     Saudi Arabia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representa- tives--
       (1) recognizes the historical significance of the 10th 
     anniversary of the initial activation of National Guard and 
     Reserve personnel for Operation Desert Shield and Operation 
     Desert Storm;
       (2) honors the service and sacrifice of these citizen 
     soldiers and their families during Operation Desert Shield 
     and Operation Desert Storm;
       (3) recognizes the growing importance of the National Guard 
     and Reserve to the security of the United States; and
       (4) supports ensuring the readiness of the National Guard 
     and Reserve.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Buyer) and the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 549.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, by adopting this resolution today, we have an 
opportunity to recognize a pivotal event in the military history of the 
United States. This August marks the 10th anniversary of the executive 
order signed by President Bush to call up the National Guard and the 
Reserve components in support of Operation Desert Shield.
  Mr. Speaker, the initial order was modest. Just 48,800 personnel were 
called to serve. But later that fall, following the decision to pursue 
an offensive option, the activation order was expanded to an additional 
188,000 guardsmen and reservists.
  Mr. Speaker, it is during that later activation that I was also 
called to active duty. Like many of my colleagues, I had just 3 days' 
notice to report to active duty. Did activation entail many difficult 
personal and business decisions? Obviously. But I, along with thousands 
of others who have come before me.
  I, along with those thousands of others, were ready to make necessary 
sacrifices to meet the challenges of activation. I later served as an 
operational law judge advocate providing legal advice to forward-
deployed Army combat service support units operating within the Persian 
Gulf theater of operations in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait.
  During my tenure in the Gulf, reservists and guardsmen quickly 
transitioned to the demands of their full-time military service. The 
active duty units quickly integrated us as part of the team. In a short 
time, they

[[Page 16110]]

could not tell the difference between the Reserve from the active 
units. By any measure, reservists and guardsmen performed extremely 
well completing vital missions and bringing critical and, in some 
cases, unique skills to the fight.
  Mr. Speaker, the Persian Gulf call-up was large. When the activation 
orders were finished, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm required 
the largest mobilization and deployment of Reserve component forces in 
the post- World War II period. Seldom in our Nation's history have we 
touched the lives of so many to pursue our national security 
objectives.
  There are many reasons to celebrate the Persian Gulf call-up. Our 
Reserve forces were ready. Their performance was extremely effective. 
The call-up was a massive demonstration of national resolve. These are 
all achievements worthy of recognition, but they are not what made the 
Persian Gulf Reserve call-up a pivotal event in United States military 
history. They are not the reasons why this resolution is so important.
  The Reserve call-up in the Persian Gulf was a pivotal event because 
it marked the first time since World War II that the active duty forces 
could not have accomplished the mission without the support of Reserve 
and Guard forces. The call-up marked a new era in the security of our 
Nation.
  After the Persian Gulf War, we can no longer view the Reserves as 
back-up forces. They have to be ready and engaged in the conflict from 
day one if, in fact, we are to be successful on the future battlefield.
  The Persian Gulf War was proof that our Reserve forces cannot be 
viewed as low priority units for manpower, equipment, and funding. That 
is a luxury that we cannot afford.
  The relationship today is seamless.
  I commend the gentleman from California for authoring the important 
resolution. House Resolution 549 is a reminder to all of us today and 
to all leaders in the Pentagon and to the American people that the 
Reserve components are critical to the defense of this Nation and we 
must support our Reserves if we hope to be victorious in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) 
for his opening statement and for his sponsorship, as well.
  As he indicated, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 549 
introduced by my colleagues the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Gallegly), whom I am very happy to see on the floor today, and the co-
chair of the Reserve and Guard Caucus the gentleman from Mississippi 
(Mr. Taylor), who is also with us, which recognizes the 10th 
anniversary of the National Guard and Reserves in Operation Desert 
Storm and Desert Shield.
  H. Res. 549 acknowledges the contribution of the more than 267,000 
members of the National Guard and Reserves that were ordered to active 
duty to serve or support operations. Their activation and participation 
In Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm was a historic 
chapter in our nation's effort to achieve a total integrated force.
  Although the United States and its allied forces overwhelmed the 
Iraqi opposition, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield 
were not bloodless. Fifty-seven members of the National Guard and 
Reserves lost their lives in service. As we recognize the 10th 
anniversary of the contributions of the National Guard and Reserve to 
Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield, let us also 
remember and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our 
nation.
  From enforcing the no-fly zone over Northern Iraq to supporting 
activities of Southern Watch, Guard and Reservists continue to support 
military operations in Southwest Asia. With 47 percent of the Army's 
combat support service units in the Reserves, the Guard and Reserves 
are increasingly becoming vital to the security of our country.
  As President Clinton recently said, the ``reserves are essential to 
America's military strength; they are part of the total force we bring 
to bear whenever our men and women in uniform are called to action.'' 
In the years following the activation for the Desert Shield and Desert 
Storm the country has called upon its Reservists repeatedly.
  In Haiti we called some 8,000 to active duty. For peacekeeping 
operations in Bosnia, we have called over 19,000 to date, and with 
volunteers, we have cycled over 32,000 Guard and Reserve members 
through Bosnia.
  Mr. Speaker, we will continue to call upon them. The bottom line is 
that today we simply cannot undertake sustained operations anywhere in 
the world without the Guard and Reserve.
  Let me pay tribute to the 267,000 Guard and Reservists who served 
during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as we recognize the 
10th anniversary of their activation, and thank the 1.3 million Ready 
Reservists who are currently serving for their dedication and 
sacrifice.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Gallegly).
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank my good friend the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) for his opening statement. Thanks to the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence) and also thanks to our 
majority leader the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) for their help in 
bringing H. Res. 549 to the floor today.
  I would also like to thank my constituent, Mr. Carl Wade of Ventura, 
who first brought the idea of a congressional resolution for this 
historic anniversary to my attention.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H. Res. 549 with the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) to recognize the historical significance of 
August 27, 2000, as the 10th anniversary of President Bush calling up 
the Guard and Reserves to active duty for Operation Desert Shield.
  This resolution also pays tribute to the service of the Guard and 
Reserves in Operation Desert Storm and reaffirms congressional 
commitment to ensure the readiness of this vital component of our 
national security.
  The measure has 53 bipartisan cosponsors and the endorsement of the 
National Guard Association of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, a little over 10 years ago, Iraqi dictator Saddam 
Hussein invaded Kuwait without provocation. Mr. Wade, a chief warrant 
officer in the United States Naval Reserve, was one of the 267,000 
Guard and Reservists who answered President Bush's call on August 27, 
1990, to draw a line in the sand and defend Saudi Arabia from further 
Iraqi aggression.
  When called upon, the Guard and Reserves were a part of the overall 
force that liberated Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. The decision to 
send our sons and daughters into harm's way was probably the most 
important decision President Bush ever had to make. I know because I 
was one of the original cosponsors of the resolution to give the 
congressional authorization to use force to expel the Iraqis from 
Kuwait, a decision no one took lightly.
  This decision is even more difficult when we call upon the Guard and 
Reserves, units comprised not of career soldiers, Mr. Speaker, but our 
next-door neighbors.
  Of the 267,000 Guard and Reservists called to duty, 106,000 served in 
the Southwest Asia theater of operations, which includes the Middle 
East. Sixteen thousand served in a support capacity out of U.S. bases 
in Europe. And 145,000 served in a support capacity here at home in the 
United States.
  Mr. Speaker, 57 men and women Reservists and Guardsmen did not come 
home, and this resolution recognizes their sacrifice.
  As this resolution states, a majority of our Guard and Reservists who 
died did so in the Scud missile attack on the military barracks in 
Dharhan, Saudi Arabia. This was the largest loss of life in a single 
day for the United States during the war.
  Their sacrifice was not in vain. In a mere 40 days after Desert Storm 
began, Iraq's army was expelled from Kuwait. The Guard and Reserves 
were an integral part of that triumph.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this is appropriate now, 10 years later, to 
take a moment and remember and reflect on

[[Page 16111]]

the courage and sacrifice of these veterans made along with their 
families. And I say, ``families,'' because we always have to remember 
that when we send these men and women away, their loved ones sacrifice 
for their country as well.
  It is also time to recognize that the Reserves are being called upon 
to serve in even more hot spots as peacekeepers and peace enforcers.

                              {time}  1415

  Currently, over 8,000 Guard and Reservists are serving around the 
world in places such as Bosnia, Kosovo, South Korea, Macedonia, Kuwait, 
Saudi Arabia, and Colombia, to name just a few. I am asking this 
Congress to stand with me today and not only recognize the service of 
the Guard and Reserves in the past but to also reaffirm our commitment 
to ensure that we give these troops the best training and equipment we 
can provide. We must ensure the readiness of the Reserves.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I remember being in the leadership of this House when in 
early August 1990 Saddam Hussein determined to go into Kuwait. I 
remember shortly thereafter President Bush called a meeting down at the 
Executive Office Building and there were literally probably 60 of us in 
the meeting room, at which time President Bush set before us what had 
happened, what the challenge was and his intent. I was proud then and 
remain proud today that, to a person, everybody, Democrat and 
Republican, went out of that room and said we are going to support the 
President in confronting this aggression. And, in fact, that is what 
occurred.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this particular resolution, 
because although it was easy for us to sit in that room and say yes, we 
will confront aggression, in the final analysis it is the individuals 
in uniform who take on that responsibility to confront aggression in 
the trenches, in the field, in the air and on the sea. It is those, 
young people for the most part, who show the courage and conviction to 
let aggressors of the world know that the United States is prepared to 
confront them.
  Operation Desert Storm was the largest United States military 
deployment since the Vietnam War. Our National Guard played a role that 
was very important to the success of that mission to end Iraq's 
invasion of Kuwait. This resolution honors appropriately those who 
served in that conflict and the sacrifice they made for their country.
  The National Guard consists of ordinary citizens who are also 
volunteer soldiers devoted to defending America's freedom. Since the 
phaseout of the draft in 1973, our military forces have had to depend 
on a smaller volunteer force, one that has become more sophisticated, 
more educated, and more technologically advanced. Making up an 
increasing share of our military force is a group of well-trained, 
well-educated and technologically savvy citizens who are also some of 
our best soldiers. We know them as the National Guard. The Army 
National Guard has units in 2,700 communities in all 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The 
Air National Guard has 88 flying units at more than 170 installations 
nationwide.
  Over 267,000 men and women were called to active duty during 
Operation Desert Storm, each playing a vital role in ending Iraq's 
invasion of Kuwait. I join all of my colleagues in recognizing this 
10th anniversary of this event to honor those who served and those 57 
individuals who lost their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for introducing this measure and 
join him in honoring our National Guard.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), who was also called up during the Persian Gulf 
War, a colonel in the Air National Guard.
  Mr. GIBBONS. I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) for 
allowing me the time in which to speak.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 549. It was just 10 
years ago that our Nation was on the brink of its largest military 
engagement since Vietnam, with 600,000 men and women joined in an 
allied force facing the world's sixth largest army in the Iraqi forces. 
President Bush declared then that it was our intention to halt Iraqi 
aggression and said that he would draw a line in the sand. 
Unfortunately, however, in this world of ours, words alone could not 
thwart the will of one such individual, Saddam Hussein.
  In order to defend that line and to defend the rule of law, President 
Bush called forth our Nation's military forces. Our Nation's full-time 
defenders of freedom, our active duty troops, were bolstered and 
enhanced by the modern version of the historic Minutemen, that is, our 
National Guard and Reserve forces.
  106,000 of these citizen soldiers left their families, left their 
homes and left their civilian jobs to join the total force in the 
Southwest Asia theater of operations. As a Nevada Air National 
Guardsman, it was my duty and my honor to serve with my neighbors under 
the strong leadership of Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney and General 
Colin Powell in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
  All told, Mr. Speaker, a total of 267,000 Guardsmen and Reservists 
were ordered to active duty at home and abroad. The only reason that 
there was such seamless integration of this total force was the 
recognition of the importance of our citizen soldiers to the success of 
the whole operation.
  Ten years ago, congressional, executive, and local support for the 
Guard and Reserve forces produced a professional force, a force that 
gained a quick and overwhelming victory in the Persian Gulf. Such 
support must be maintained to ensure our ability to do so again if ever 
called.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, in this time of so-called surgical strikes and 
precision warfare, we must remember that there was nothing surgical and 
nothing precise for the 57 members of the National Guard and Reserve 
who lost their lives during Desert Storm. These men and women made the 
ultimate sacrifice in service to their Nation, to their States, and to 
their fellow citizens. Let us recognize their heroism and the strength 
they represent, the strength of our citizens, our soldiers, our 
Minutemen. As President Bush so eloquently said, these are Americans at 
their finest.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member of the Committee on Armed 
Services.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. 
Abercrombie), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military 
Personnel, who does such a marvelous job in supporting the men and 
women in uniform, both active duty, Guard and Reserve, for yielding 
this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is fitting that the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Buyer) is handling this bill on his side of the aisle, because I 
compliment him for his role that he played as a Reservist in the United 
States Army; and I certainly thank him for his dedication then as well 
as for his hard work and dedication now. I also would be remiss if I 
did not mention the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) on the role 
that he played in Desert Storm.
  Today I rise in strong support of this resolution introduced by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly). The inclusion of the National 
Guard and Reserves during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield set 
the standard for today's total force integration policy. The superior 
performance of our Guard and Reserves and our outstanding active duty 
force led to the overwhelming defeat of the Iraqi forces. The 
resolution before the House commends the 267,000 men and women in the 
Guard and Reserves for their service and their dedication to this 
Nation, and it honors the ultimate sacrifice of 57 Guard and Reservists 
who lost their lives in service to our great Nation.
  Nearly 10 years after the operations known as Desert Shield and 
Desert Storm, Guard and Reserve personnel continue their outstanding 
service in

[[Page 16112]]

Southwest Asia. Air National Guard units continue to support our 
efforts to enforce the no-fly zone in Northern Iraq, while Army Guard 
units continue to support the Southern Watch in Southwest Asia.
  Today we have over 1.3 million individuals in the Ready Reserves who 
have volunteered to protect and defend our country. It is because of 
the achievements of the Guard and Reservists who served in Operations 
Desert Shield and Desert Storm that the 49th Armored Division of the 
Texas National Guard is today in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the first 
time, a National Guard unit has responsibility for the command and 
control of the Multinational Division-North Task Force Eagle.
  Let us honor the men and women of the National Guard and Reserves who 
served with such great distinction in Desert Shield and in Desert Storm 
as we recognize the 10th anniversary of their initial activation.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).
  Mr. GEKAS. I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been mentioned that 267,000 people served in the 
National Guard and Reserves during the conflict. Of those I am proud to 
say, 11,000 came from Pennsylvania of the various units that served 
over there. I note that the gentleman from Pennsylvania, my colleague, 
is ready to give testimony to the special contribution that the 
individuals from his area made in this conflict, and I will not touch 
upon that at this moment; but I will also mention that other units from 
other parts of Pennsylvania participated, as they have in every 
conflict in the 20th century. From Harrisburg, my hometown, an Army 
Reserve hospital unit was called and served, an Air National Guard 
unit, and from the neighboring city of Lebanon, also in my district, 
two National Guard units also served in this conflict.
  They are our citizen soldiers, our neighbors. We are all proud of 
them in their everyday and weekend warrioring that they do in our own 
communities. But when a conflict like this occurs, and we hope it never 
reoccurs, the spotlight goes on their day-by-day devotion to duty and 
day-by-day devotion to tradition that brings the best out in all 
Americans.
  When the final chapters are written on the Middle East and the 
conflicts that we have undergone there, these individuals from Desert 
Shield and Desert Storm will have the highest honors.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Mascara) who, as has been mentioned, has particular 
reason to speak today.
  Mr. MASCARA. I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 549, a resolution 
recognizing the historical significance of the 10th anniversary of the 
activation of the National Guard and Reserve personnel in Operation 
Desert Storm.
  My district was deeply affected by the events in the Middle East. The 
14th Quartermaster Detachment of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, located in 
my district, was stationed in military housing attacked by Iraqi Scud 
missiles on February 25, 1991. Thirteen members of the detachment were 
killed in this barbarous attack. Our community is still suffering the 
consequences of that attack; and while time has healed in part the 
wounds, I do not think we will ever be able to return to normalcy.
  The stories of my constituents are not unique. Thousands of Americans 
from across the country answered the call to serve. All told, 257,000 
Guard and Reservists were called to active duty. Tragically, 57 
courageous men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their 
lives in this fight to deter Iraqi aggression and to preserve freedom 
in that part of the world. I know my colleagues join me in praising the 
heroism and honoring the families and loved ones that they left behind.
  In closing, I am grateful for this opportunity to pay tribute to 
these brave Americans. Their country, and I, thank them from the bottom 
of our hearts.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 549.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor), one of the cosponsors of 
the resolution.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the many 
anecdotes of the wonderful job the Guard and Reserve did when called up 
for Desert Shield and Desert Storm, I think there are two facts that 
history will eventually bear out. Number one was the very personal 
relationship of then Congressman Sonny Montgomery with then President 
George Bush.
  Before there was a National Guard and Reserve Caucus of many, there 
was a National Guard and Reserve Caucus of one, that was Sonny 
Montgomery. Sonny and President Bush had come to Congress as freshmen 
together. George Bush went on to become the President of the United 
States, and it was that friendship that allowed then ranking member, 
the then senior member of the Committee on Armed Services, to call the 
President to tell him of the importance of bringing up the Guard and 
Reserve for all the military needs of our country.
  Although the families of the Reservists, and I was a Congressman 
then, and I can tell my colleagues that the families of the Reservists 
were hesitant to send their loved ones away, the remarkable 
transformation that they brought to our Nation should never go 
unnoticed, because when the Guardsmen and Reservists were called up, 
unlike the Vietnam War, which is way too often thought of as that poor 
draftees war, that kid-from-across-the-town war, somebody else's war, 
when the Guardsmen and Reservists were called to active duty, it 
suddenly became my brother's war, my father's war, my uncle's war, my 
sister's war, my cousin's war.
  It suddenly became everybody's war. I would hope that that lesson is 
never lost on this Nation that in addition to the great job that they 
did militarily, the C-141 outfit out of Jackson, Mississippi, I being 
told by the commanding officer at McGuire Air Force Base at midnight, 
long after the war was over, who came to meet me just to brag on that 
unit; the 3 hours that then General Calvano spent with me on July 4, I 
believe of 1991 telling me what a great job the Guardsmen and 
Reservists had done on the tarmac at the Dharhan Air Force Base in 
Saudi Arabia.
  In addition to everything else, they brought the heart and soul of 
America to that conflict, and the heart and soul of America said make 
it quick, make it decisive, and bring our people home.
  We should never forget that lesson. There should never ever be 
another conflict involving the United States of America where the 
Guardsmen and the Reservists are not involved, because they are the 
ones that saw to it that it was every American's war, and that is the 
only way for America to get involved. Either it is all of our war or 
none of our war.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to compliment and thank the last speaker, 
the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor). We work cooperatively 
together as we cochair the Guard and Reserve Caucus here in the House. 
He is a valued member of the House Committee on Armed Services.
  It is reflecting on his comments, and I agree wholeheartedly with 
him, that no country, no aggressor should ever test the resolve and the 
character of our Nation.
  I suppose that they were reflecting upon the Vietnam experience and 
whether or not we actually would rise together and fight. So it makes 
me think about the Vietnam veteran. Often when we think of the Gulf War 
and its successes, I pay significant compliment to their contribution 
and leadership, because when we arrived in theater, one of the quick 
words was, when is the rotation? And the Vietnam leader said there is 
no such thing as rotation, it is called duration. We are

[[Page 16113]]

going to be here for the duration; and when we get it done, then you 
get to go home.
  I think what they brought to the battlefield was how not to do it. I 
also think of the complements of the military buildup of the 1980s. 
Iraq was very foolish to hit us at that time. I also think today about 
my first reaction when this resolution was brought up, whether the 
House should pay significance to the contribution of Guard and Reserve 
as if we also should not include the active counterpart, because on the 
desert sands, we were one team.
  Then I began to think that, perhaps, we do need the added recognition 
of the contribution, because the Guardsmen and Reservists that serve in 
the communities all across the Nation are, in fact, twice the citizen. 
They are three times and four times the citizen. They go about their 
duties, balancing their lives with their homes and their families, the 
religious practices, civic responsibilities; and on top of that, they 
take an oath to lay down their life to fight and die for this country. 
I think that is worthy of extra recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, of the 57 Guardsmen and Reservists that lost their lives 
in the Gulf, I want to recognize, in fact, one of them who was a dear 
friend of mine, Lieutenant Laurie Lawton. If God had given me the 
ability and said, Steve, one person in your unit will die, you get to 
choose one person that gets to stay home, whom would you choose? I 
would have chosen Laurie Lawton, because she would have had an impact 
on so many lives in the most positive way.
  She was a remarkable individual who was studying her Ph.D. at Purdue 
University and was in France at the time. She was called up and came 
back home and then traveled with us as a unit, and she sat beside me on 
the plane as we went over to Saudi Arabia. When I left her, I told her 
that I would see her back in Indiana as I left, and I went off to the 
front.
  The sad end of that story is I did see her back in Indiana, and it 
was at the cemetery. It was the most dramatic moment for me, but it was 
one that helped formulate my views and opinions in that I understand 
personally firsthand the tears of so many families out there who shed 
them for a loved one or a friend that have paid the ultimate sacrifice 
so that we can enjoy the freedoms and liberties of the greatest Nation.
  I want to thank the gentleman from California for bringing the 
resolution to the floor as we pay significance and contribution to what 
occurred 10 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Resolution 549, expressing the sense of the House that Congress 
acknowledges the historical significance of the anniversary of the 
initial activation of National Guard and Reserve personnel for 
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. August 27, 2000, is 
the tenth anniversary of President Bush calling up the guard and 
reserves to active duty for Operation Desert Shield. Over 267,000 
members of the National Guard and Reserves were ordered to active duty 
during these Gulf War operations. 106,000 of these members served in 
the Southwest Asia theater of operations, 16,000 served in a support 
capacity abroad outside the theater of operations, and 145,000 served 
in a support capacity in the United States.
  This resolution honors the service and sacrifice of these citizen 
soldiers and their families. We need to remember that when these 
patriots were called to the colors, the units were not comprised of 
career soldiers, but of our next door neighbors. Fifty seven of these 
brave men and women reservists and guardsmen did not come back. The 
majority who died, did so in the tragic Scud missile attack on the 
military barracks in Dharhan, Saudi Arabia. This was the largest loss 
of life in a single day for the United States during the war. Their 
sacrifice was not in vain. In a mere forty days after Desert Storm 
began, Iraq's army was expelled from Kuwait. The guard and reserves 
were an integral part of that resounding triumph. It is only right that 
we recognize their ultimate sacrifice.
  Finally, this bill recognizes the growing importance of the National 
Guard and Reserve to the security of the United States and supports 
ensuring the readiness of the National Guard and Reserve. It reaffirms 
Congressional commitment to ensure the readiness of this vital 
component of our national security. The reserves are being called to 
serve in even more world hot spots. Currently over 8,000 guard and 
reservists are serving around the world in places such as Bosnia, 
Kosovo, South Korea, Macedonia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia.
  I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize the service of the 
guard and reserves in the past, but also to reaffirm my commitment that 
we give these troops the best training and equipment we can provide to 
ensure their readiness.
  Mr. KUYKENDALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 549 recognizing the contributions of our reservists in Operations 
Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
  We all have stories about where we were when the first scud was 
launched in the Gulf War. My memories, however, are of my family 
members and friends who were called up to serve their country during 
this time. Both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were called up, one 
to serve as an oral surgeon in the Army and the other to serve as a 
nurse in the Navy. For a time, my wife and I thought we might have to 
take care of our nieces and nephew because it looked like their parents 
would be deployed overseas. Fortunately, only one was deployed, and he 
eventually returned from the Gulf effort unhurt. So many people were 
called up to aid their strategically important effort that during 
Sunday church service, we were given a handout each week listing the 
names of those in our church family who had been called to serve. The 
names covered both the front and back of the weekly hand out.
  Ten years later, we can look back and celebrate our accomplishments 
in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. That celebration 
appropriately must contain an acknowledgments of the reservists--those 
individuals who promised to serve their country and to put their 
personal lives on hold to fulfill that commitment. This recognition is 
a small gesture to honor their sacrifice. Though small, the gesture 
also stands as a priceless assurance to those who continue to serve 
their country, as well as to those who may be called on to active duty 
in the future. This nation appreciates your willingness to serve and 
will stand behind you.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 549.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 549.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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