[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21836]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   TRIBUTE TO SGT. MAJOR BILLY RAY LANEY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 5, 2000

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a fallen soldier from my 
home state of Alabama. It is a most unusual day for my district, today 
they are welcoming home Sgt. Maj. Laney 33 years after they sent him 
off to serve his country in the Vietnam War. Laney's widow, Charline 
and his three grown children, Wanda, Billy Ray Jr. and Vicky deserve 
our recognition for the sacrifices they have endured these many years. 
As their husband and father is laid to rest in the soil he fought and 
died to protect, I would like to offer my condolences to the family and 
express my utmost gratitude for Sgt. Maj. Laney's brave actions.
  Sgt. Maj. Laney was only in Vietnam for one month. He was a member of 
the 5th Special Forces Group of the 1st Airborne Division and was 
listed as missing in action June 3, 1967 in Laos. Although the 
Department of Defense declared him deceased eleven years ago, his 
family has had no physical evidence of his death until two months ago.
  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Veterans Groups of 
my district: Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion, Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Disabled American 
Veterans for going to extraordinary efforts to ensure that Sgt. Maj. 
Laney's life and death and his families' sacrifices will not be 
forgotten. Today as Sgt. Maj. Laney's remains are returned home, though 
tardy, he will be honored properly. Governor Don Siegelman, the Honor 
Guard and the Alabama State Patrol are traveling to join the procession 
and to pay their respects to this brave soldier and his family.
  Sgt. Maj. Billy Ray Laney's retrieval sheds light on the POW/MIAs 
still unaccounted for across the country. There are two soldiers from 
Alabama listed as missing, Prentice Wayne Hicks and Edward Upner. I 
would like to take this opportunity to say that my thoughts are with 
their families and let them know that there is still hope that we will 
uncover their fate.
  On behalf of the Congress of the United States, I would like to pay 
tribute to Sgt. Maj. Billy Ray Laney and his loving family. We can 
never afford to forget the victories and sacrifices of our veterans 
like Sgt. Maj. Laney lest we take for granted the precious freedoms we 
enjoy every minute of every day. My thoughts and prayers are with them 
today as they welcome their husband and father home to rest.

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