[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6475-6476]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING LEONARD ASH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bonner). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I stand here tonight to honor a fallen hero 
from America's greatest generation. Leonard Ash was a Marine whose life 
richly illustrated President Ronald Reagan's observation. President 
Reagan said, ``Some people live their entire life and wonder if they 
ever made a difference in the world. Marines don't have that problem.''
  Mr. Ash served in the 4th Marine Division and fought at Iwo Jima. 
Seventy-five percent of the 4th Marine Division were killed or wounded 
at Iwo Jima. Mr. Ash belonged to that 75 percent. His leg was nearly 
blown completely off. But some good emerged from that very dark battle. 
Iwo Jima's airfields provided a refuge for American bomber crews. As 
one of the Army Corps pilots observed, ``Whenever I land on this 
island, I thank God and the men who fought for it.''
  While recuperating, Mr. Ash met Lt. Genoveve Durocher, a Navy nurse 
who eventually became his wife for 55 years and the mother of his four 
children. While often overlooked by history, Mrs. Ash and her fellow 
nurses proudly served our country. They healed and comforted the 
wounded, and they bravely stood by the side of servicemen who at times 
were on the threshold of eternity.
  On January 31 of this year, 78-year-old Sergeant Major Ash watched a 
television documentary about protests of America's possible action to 
liberate Iraq. He scrawled out some notes in response to the anti-war 
protest that he had just watched. The next day he and his wife, 
Genoveve, attended an anti-war rally in Port Orange, Florida, near 
their home and in my district. He brought his notes in case he had an 
opportunity to speak and many of the protesters against America's 
participation in liberating Iraq did not want him to speak.
  At the rally, one of the protesters yelled that they would rather 
bomb President Bush than Iraq. At that point Mr. Ash, outraged, 
clutching his notes, stood up to defend our President and our country. 
The following is what he intended to say:
  ``I am sickened at this propaganda against our country. Saddam is a 
murderous dictator. He has exhibited no remorse or hesitation in 
killing thousands of his own population with poisonous gases and other 
hideous means. His intent is to delay his defeat until he is able to 
use weapons of mass destruction against his enemies, the United States 
and his Arab neighbors.

[[Page 6476]]

  ``Those old enough to remember the few years prior to World War II 
should recall Mussolini and Hitler executed similar strategies against 
neighboring countries. Saddam must be stopped before he is able to 
deliver weapons of mass destruction into the hands of terrorists.
  ``Our country is blessed to have Colin Powell, Dick Cheney, Donald 
Rumsfeld, and President Bush with their commitment to protect Americans 
and our allies.
  ``No one wants war. America has only entered a war because war has 
already commenced itself upon us. America enters war to protect and to 
honor the freedoms of this great Nation. That is the duty of the 
President. America is here today because she has not fallen short and 
because she is not fearful.
  ``The time to stand firm is now. My wife and I both dislike war. We 
have seen it firsthand as Marine sergeant and Navy nurse. We stand here 
today as witnesses that the freedoms we share today have not come 
without a grave price.''
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ash never got a chance to finish his speech. After 
standing up and explaining that he and his wife were World War II 
veterans, he clutched his heart and he collapsed and he died of a heart 
attack. But because his proud and loving daughter Annette shared his 
notes with me, while he was unable to finish his speech, I have had the 
great honor and privilege of doing it for him.
  Mr. Speaker, to my friend, Mr. Ash, who I never met but feel like I 
know, all I can say is, Job well done, America's good and faithful 
servant.

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