[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8583-8584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, very briefly, before turning to my 
colleagues, I want to recognize the commitment and sacrifice of 
Tennessee citizen soldiers. One thousand Tennessee National Guard 
troops and airmen have been deployed to participate in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. Another 3,000 have been activated and await deployment. These 
men and women leave full-time jobs and their families to serve their 
country and protect our liberty. I want to very directly say, thank 
you. They are absolutely critical to the success of our mission in 
Iraq. Thanks to their bravery, their boldness, their courage--and that 
is more than 300,000 men and women of the American military in Iraq--we 
will prevail.
  The 101st Airborne continues to make Tennessee and the United States 
of America proud. In Najaf, the 101st

[[Page 8584]]

has helped return the city to normalcy by restoring water and 
electricity and will very soon participate in the delivery of 
humanitarian aid. They have also captured a senior Iraqi intelligence 
officer there.
  The 101st helped to secure and continues to protect Baghdad 
International Airport. The first American aircraft landed at the 
airport yesterday.
  In Karbala, the 101st Airborne overwhelmed the enemy. All Iraqi 
troops either fled or were killed. After cheers and waves from 
thousands of residents, citizens tore down a 25-foot bronze statue of 
Saddam Hussein.
  Lastly, as quoted in this morning's Washington Post, MG David 
Petraeus told a rifle company while awarding two Purple Hearts:

       There is no greater commitment than that which is made by 
     putting the American infantryman on the ground. You've really 
     walked point for our Nation in this particular battle and 
     this part of the campaign. You've performed brilliantly in 
     countless ambiguous situations.

  I close in saying thanks, thanks to those Tennessee citizen soldiers 
and citizen soldiers from all across the country, the National Guard 
troops and airmen, and thanks to all of our military personnel in Iraq 
and their families.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________