[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 19961]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SALUTE TO THE 109TH ENGINEERING BATTALION

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today South Dakotans will welcome home 
the 109th Engineering Battalion of the South Dakota National Guard. 
This unit, headquartered in Sturgis, was among more than 20 Guard and 
Reserve units from my State called to active duty in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. On March 23, it became the first South Dakota 
unit to enter Iraq, and was the only South Dakota unit to operate in 
Iraq during the early days of combat.
  Today, these soldiers and their achievements become a part of South 
Dakota's military heritage. Like those who served in the two world 
wars, in Korea, in Vietnam, and in numerous other places, this new 
generation has answered the call. They have offered to make every 
sacrifice, including life itself, to protect our freedom and security. 
We must never forget them or the honor with which they served.
  The 109th Engineering Battalion is a headquarters battalion of 39 
members, responsible for the management of several other units in 
carrying out engineering missions. The 109th was a critical part of our 
Nation's efforts in Iraq, completing a wide variety of missions, from 
force protection, to mine clearing, to construction of the Cedar II 
Logistical Support Area. The unit managed the activities of the 68th 
Engineering Company, the 95th Firefighters, the 520th Firefighters, and 
the 562nd Firefighters.
  After being stationed in Kuwait during the month leading up to the 
conflict, the 109th moved to Tallil Air Base in southeastern Iraq, just 
outside of al Nasiriyah, where some of the war's most fierce fighting 
occurred. When the members of the 109th arrived at their destination, 
Logistical Support Area Adder on Tallil Air Base, they found an 
encampment that was quickly filling up with soldiers from the Army, Air 
Force, Marines, and from the British military. Force protection would 
be essential to guaranteeing these troops a swift victory over the 
stiffening opposition in the region.
  At LSA Adder, the 109th oversaw the preparation of the battlefield 
for combat, preparing fighting positions, constructing guard towers, 
building a 3-mile protection berm around the perimeter, establishing 
supply routes, and building two Patriot Missile launch sites. In 
addition, the 109th managed the establishment of critical life support 
structures for the camp, including a water well, nuclear-biological-
chemical (NBC) decontamination sites, a major Convoy Support Center, 
latrines, showers, and roadways.
  I am proud to welcome home the members of the 109th Battalion and to 
commend them on a job well done. All of us know about the tremendous 
courage and commitment of the infantry soldiers and others who engage 
the enemy directly. But often we don't recognize the vital efforts of 
those units behind the scenes--units like the 109th that prepare the 
battlefield, provide medical care, establish life support services, and 
transport supplies. Their work ensures the success of our front-line 
troops and helps to hold casualties to a minimum. In 3 short weeks of 
fighting, the United States military was able to overthrow a tyrannical 
regime that had reigned in Iraq for 45 years and utterly vanquish its 
military, with very few casualties. Support units like the 109th were 
the backbone of this effort.
  The 109th Engineering Battalion participated in a mobilization with 
few precedents in South Dakota history. Nearly 2,000 Guard and Reserve 
troops were called to active duty in our State, by far the largest 
mobilization since World War II. At the time the fighting began, units 
from more than 20 communities had been called up, from Elk Point in the 
south to Lemmon in the north, from Watertown in the east to Spearfish 
in the west. Indeed, our State's mobilization rate ranked among the 
highest of all the States on a per capita basis.
  In addition to the service of the 109th, I want to acknowledge the 
sacrifices and dedication of the families who stayed home. They are the 
unsung heroes of any mobilization. They motivate and inspire those who 
are far from home, and they, too, deserve our gratitude.
  Today, I join these families and the State of South Dakota in 
celebrating the courage, dedication, and success of the members of the 
109th Engineering Battalion, and I honor their participation in this 
historic event in our Nation's history. Welcome home. Thanks to all of 
you for your hard work, your sacrifice, and your noble commitment to 
this country and its ideals.

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