[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4874]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO TASK FORCE 2-153, ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD

 Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, it is my distinct honor and 
privilege to recognize the ``Arkansas Gunslingers.'' Task Force 2-153, 
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Steve Womack, made military history on 
January 13, 2002 by becoming the first pure Army National Guard unit to 
represent the United States in performing the Multinational Force and 
Observer, MFO, mission on the Sinai peninsula in Egypt which was born 
out of the 1979 Camp David Peace Accords.
  Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry headquartered in 
Searcy, AR, along with other elements of the 39th Infantry Brigade were 
mobilized October 8, 2001 as part of President Bush's Homeland Defense 
initiative and the War on Terrorism. Under the strong leadership of 
Lieutenant Colonel Womack, Major Franklin Powell and Command Sergeant 
Major John Hogue, Task Force 2-153 exceeded all post-mobilization, pre-
deployment, and post-deployment requirements. This accomplishment is 
particularly noteworthy given that these citizen-soldiers were given 
this critical and highly visible assignment just 90 days prior to 
deployment, at most, half the time to prepare routinely given to 
Regular Army units. When called upon by their commander in chief, this 
proud group of Arkansans literally lived up to their motto: ``Let's 
Go''!
  It is with great pride that I have risen today to pay tribute to the 
more than 500 soldiers who make up the Arkansas Gunslingers. They have 
selflessly put their private lives on hold to answer the call of duty. 
Their presence on the Sinai Peninsula is a powerful symbol of peace. 
The people of Arkansas are grateful for their service, and extremely 
proud that they have been chosen to represent the United States of 
America in this important mission.

                          ____________________