[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8847-8850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Texas.
  The majority leader mentioned the 101st Airborne Division in his 
remarks. Both he and I feel a special pride in that division because it 
sits on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. The majority leader was 
there 10 days ago with the families over a weekend, and I was there 
over the past weekend with the Secretary of the Army at a luncheon in 
honor of the families there.
  I suppose this must be said of every part of our military today, but 
no one can go to Fort Campbell without being enormously impressed with 
every single military person one meets, especially the family members. 
Among those was Holly Petraeus, who is the wife of the commanding 
general of the 101st Airborne Division.
  We talked about a great many things on Saturday. We talked about the 
bravery of the men and women from the 101st and from the Army Special 
Forces Divisions who have been in Iraq even longer. We talked about the 
number of Tennessee reservists, American reservists, and National Guard 
men and women who have been deployed since 9/11.
  If I remember correctly, the Secretary of the Army estimated that 
nearly two-thirds of all of our reservists and National Guard men and 
women have been activated in one form or another since 9/11. We owe 
them enormous gratitude.
  We talked about one other thing at Fort Campbell last Saturday, and 
that was the debt we owe to our allies because we are not in Iraq 
alone. We talk about the coalition of the willing. So today, I rise not 
just to talk about our brave men and women at Fort Campbell, about whom 
I will have more to say later this week, but I want to express our 
appreciation for and salute our allies in the military action in Iraq.
  Many of our colleagues have noted the leadership of Great Britain and 
Prime Minister Blair, and rightfully so. Great Britain has long been a 
great ally of this country, and we are deeply grateful for that. But 
another ally has contributed significantly to military resources in 
this effort, a country we sometimes might overlook. That country is 
Australia.
  Although their military is not as large as Great Britain, their 
contribution is significant and they deserve our thanks. Australia has 
long been a friend and ally to the United States. Not only did they 
send troops to support us in the 1991 war in the Persian Gulf, they 
also joined us in military action in Korea and in Vietnam. Australians 
share our values of democracy and a pioneering spirit. Australia also 
shares our history of being a former British colony with a strong 
independent streak. The British may be our ancestors, but the 
Australians are our first cousins.
  Today, Australia is standing with us again. In fact, they have 
committed more troops to our current efforts in Iraq than they did 12 
years ago in 1991. Australia's commitment includes: 14 F-18 jet 
fighters, 3 C-130 transport aircraft, three naval vessels, one 
transport and two frigates, CH-47 troop-lift helicopters and 
accompanying troops, and a Special Forces task group of 500 troops.
  In total, Australia has committed about 2,000 army, air force, and 
naval personnel--their second largest military deployment since 
Vietnam. And they have been very active.
  Australia's Special Forces have seen combat in what their commander 
describes as ``shoot and scoot'' missions. They have destroyed 
installations behind enemy lines and provided important reconnaissance 
information.
  An Australian diving team has been instrumental in clearing 
underwater mines at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, making it possible for 
the arrival of humanitarian aid.
  Their ships aided in the capture of an Iraqi vessel that was trying 
to lay more mines in the Gulf.
  And their F-18 fighter aircraft have joined ours in air strikes on 
enemy military targets.
  Australian Prime Minister John Howard told his Parliament on March 
18:

       We have supported the Americans position on this issue 
     because we share their concerns and we share their worries 
     about the future if Iraq is left unattended to.
       Alliances are two-way processes and, when we are in 
     agreement, we should not leave it to the United States to do 
     all of the heavy lifting just because they are the world's 
     superpower.

  Now that is a true friend. Australia may not have the largest 
military in the world, but that won't stop them from sending what they 
can to help our brave men and women fighting in Iraq. They do not want 
to leave us to do all the ``heavy lifting.'' And, as I noted earlier, 
their help has been real and significant.
  Australia, led by Prime Minister Howard, has taken a courageous stand 
by supporting us in this war and committing so many of its troops. They 
are a true friend and ally of the United States, and I know we are all 
grateful for their help and support.
  If I may say, in 1987, after I left the Tennessee Governor's office, 
my family and I moved to Australia. We lived in Sydney for 6 months. We 
did that to get to know each other as a family even better, after so 
many years in politics. It gave us a chance to know our first cousins 
in Australia and to see our country at home in an even different way.
  In 1992, when I served in President Bush's Cabinet, the President 
asked then-Secretary of Defense Cheney and me to go to Australia to 
help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. I 
have been reminded many times that our Australian friends remember that 
the United States of America stood with them during World War II, and 
they stand with us today. That is why on last Saturday, at Fort 
Campbell, we were not only talking about the bravery of American men 
and women and about our own National Guardsmen and reservists, we were 
talking about how much we respect and appreciate the support our 
fighting men and women have received from our allies overseas, 
especially from the brave men and women in Australia.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Georgia is recognized.
  Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, I rise this morning to share with my 
colleagues the story of one of my Georgia constituents. It beings with 
a brave young 3rd Infantry soldier named Diego Rincon.
  Diego was a native of Colombia and he came to the United States in 
1989

[[Page 8848]]

with his family when he was 5 years old. He enjoyed a life of freedom 
and safety that might never have been possible in Colombia.
  Diego was extremely loyal to the country that welcomed him. And after 
the September 11 attacks, he decided it was time to repay his adopted 
Nation.
  Upon graduation from Salem High School in Conyers, GA, Diego enlisted 
in the Army. He became a member of the ``Rock of the Marne,'' Fort 
Stewart's 3rd Infantry Division.
  Sadly, PFC Rincon was killed March 29 in Iraq by a suicide bomber at 
a military checkpoint. Diego was 19 years old. Three other members of 
his 1st Brigade were also killed.
  In late February, Diego wrote his final letter home to his mother 
just as his brigade was getting ready to move out. I would like to read 
just a couple of paragraphs from that letter:

       So I guess the time has finally come for us to see what we 
     are made of, who will crack when the stress level rises and 
     who will be calm all the way through it. Only time will tell.
       I try not to think of what may happen in the future, but I 
     can't stand seeing it in my eyes. There's going to be 
     murders, funerals and tears rolling down everybody's eyes.
       But the only thing I can say is, keep my head up and try to 
     keep the faith and pray for better days. All this will pass. 
     I believe God has a path for me.
       Whether I make it or not, it's all part of the plan. It 
     can't be changed, only completed.

  This 19-year-old young man, was wise beyond his years. Diego joined 
the Army for the noblest of reasons. He fought and died in Iraq while 
defending our Nation's freedom.
  And after his death, when I talked with his family, they asked one 
last request of the Government in return for their son's life--to be 
able to bury him this Thursday as a U.S. citizen.
  I am very pleased and proud to announce today that, with the help of 
the INS, PFC Diego Rincon has been awarded U.S. citizenship. Tomorrow, 
this brave soldier will be buried in Georgia as a citizen of this great 
country.
  But there are thousands of noncitizens fighting in our military right 
now. So I, along with my fellow Senator from Georgia, Mr. Chambliss, 
have introduced legislation calling for citizenship to be granted 
immediately to any soldier who fights in our armed services and dies in 
combat.
  For those among our troops who are not citizens and who die on the 
battlefield, I believe the least we can do is to honor them with 
posthumous citizenship. I believe it should be done automatically by 
the Government, with no delay and no burden on the families.
  Under our bill, the families of these brave soldiers would not have 
to fill out any forms or make any phone calls. This citizenship would 
apply only to the deceased soldier, and it would not make the soldier's 
family eligible for any extra benefit or any special treatment. It is 
simply a final gesture of thanks and gratitude for the ultimate 
sacrifice these immigrant soldiers have made for their adopted country.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair wishes to announce there are 2 
minutes 49 seconds remaining on the Republican side and 6 minutes 14 
seconds on the Democratic side.
  The Chair recognizes the Senator from Michigan.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, we have moved into morning business, is 
that correct?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Mr. LEVIN. I wonder if there would be any objection to adding 10 
minutes to this period of time, given the number of speakers we have on 
the floor. I would not want to do that without the leadership knowing 
about it. I wonder if somebody could check to see if there would be any 
objection to our adding 10 minutes to this particular period.
  Mr. President, one of my greatest pleasures and privileges of serving 
on the Armed Services Committee has been the close working contact I 
have had with the men and women who make up America's Armed Forces. 
They truly represent the best our Nation has to offer. Whenever I visit 
them, no matter where they are stationed or deployed, I come away proud 
and impressed by their courage, their professionalism and their 
commitment.
  Across the country, Americans have rallied, volunteered, and sent 
donations to show their support for our military members serving in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. This generosity of heart has been apparent in 
every corner of my home State of Michigan.
  Michigan has a long tradition of giving its all in support of young 
Americans waging a war overseas. Over 60 years ago, Michigan's 
automotive factories were the heart of the ``Arsenal of Democracy'', 
which helped to bring an Allied victory in World War II. As President 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt said at that time, Americans at home were a 
crucial component of the war: ``We must apply ourselves to our task 
with the same resolution, the same sense of urgency, the same spirit of 
patriotism and sacrifice'' as those serving on the front lines.
  And Michiganders have always stepped up to that challenge, giving of 
their time, their resources, their energy, and their love in support of 
our troops. Since the war in Iraq began, in countless ways, 
Michiganders have sought to express their thanks to our service 
members.
  There are currently over 3,400 Michiganders from National Guard and 
Reserve units who have been activated, in addition to many active duty 
service members for Michigan serving in support of ongoing military 
operations. In February, I traveled to Kuwait, Qatar, and other places 
in the region and had the honor of meeting with a group of about 20 
Marines from Michigan at Camp Commando. These dedicated, professional 
men and women were highly motivated, well prepared, and their morale 
was high. They are remarkable representatives of America and the values 
we stand for.
  To show our gratitude for their work, thousands have rallied across 
Michigan in support of the troops. At the Capitol in Lansing, at 
Centennial Park in Holland, at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids, at 
Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor, and St. Mary's Park in Monroe--
among many other locales--groups have gathered to voice support for the 
troops and wish them a quick, safe return home.
  In Jackson, people lined the streets for a parade to send off members 
of a local Army Reserve unit mobilized to active duty. A parade was 
held in Houghton, where uniformed men and women displayed their colors 
for the troops, and a similar event in support of the service members 
is planned in Cheboygan. Bowen Holliday Post 35 of the American Legion 
in Traverse City is giving out Blue Star Service Banners to military 
families as a visual reminder of sons and daughters serving the 
country.
  And Rudyard, Michigan--a town of 1,315 in the Upper Peninsula--has 
seen more than ten percent of its population mobilized on active 
military duty.
  Although the Defense Department prohibits sending care packages to 
``any servicemember'' due to security concerns and transportation 
constraints, Michigan residents have found many ways to provide service 
people with a piece of home.
  Girl Scouts in the Upper Peninsula are conducting a campaign called 
``Cookies From Home.'' The scouts are collecting donations from U.P. 
residents, and the money will be used to buy boxes of Girl Scout 
cookies which they will send to the troops. Last year, Girl Scouts in 
the Upper Peninsula sent 2,076 boxes of cookies to Bosnia and Saudi 
Arabia as part of the campaign.
  Students at Ishpeming High School in the U.P. have started a letter 
writing campaign to Ishpeming graduates who are now serving in the 
military overseas. The Gogebic County Sheriff's Department is 
participating in Operation Adopt-A-Family, which is intended to help 
people who need assistance as the result of the deployment of a spouse 
or parent. Many groups--including the Milan Area Chamber of Commerce--
have ``adopted'' soldiers, sending them correspondence, thoughts and 
prayers. Two Jackson, Michigan, men have teamed up to write ``Heroes 
Piano,'' a song supporting the troops.

[[Page 8849]]

  A group of Wayne schoolchildren is showing their support by making a 
special video in appreciation of U.S. service members. Similarly, but 
on a larger scale, the ABC television station in Detroit is traveling 
around town with a camera for a project called ``To Our Troops,'' in 
which they provide residents with an opportunity to send a message 
directly to the men and women in the battlefield.
  Unfortunately, war is a dangerous business and it grieves me to 
report that four Michigan service members have made the ultimate 
sacrifice in the service of their country in Operation Iraqi Freedom: 
Marine Major Kevin G. Nave of Union Lake, Army Sergeant Todd J. Robbins 
of Pentwater, Army Sergeant Michael F. Pedersen of Flint, and Private 
First Class Brandon Sloan of Fraser. I want to close my remarks this 
morning by paying tribute to their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their 
families. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families as they cope 
with their loss. They should know that a grateful Nation will never 
forget their loved one and the sacrifice they have made.
  On behalf of all of the people of Michigan, I say thank you to all 
the men and women of our armed forces who are carrying out the 
dangerous mission of disarming Saddam Hussein and his regime. May God 
speed you home.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from Texas.
  First, for the purpose of the information of the Democratic 
leadership, there are 17 seconds remaining on the Democratic side.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
junior Senator from Michigan be allowed 5 minutes extra. I am going to 
withhold, and then my colleague from North Carolina will follow Senator 
Stabenow because there is a very important speech and a timetable for 
the Senator from North Carolina. I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senator from Michigan be recognized for 5 minutes, after which the 
Senator from North Carolina be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Michigan is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise to commend my colleague from 
Michigan for his comments and rise to support and join him in praising 
our men and women in uniform who are putting their futures on hold and 
their lives on the line to defend our Nation and protect and advance 
freedom around the world.
  The military action is going very well. We expect no less from our 
men and women in uniform; they are highly prepared and trained and 
dedicated.
  Already many of these dedicated men and women have made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  Across the Nation last week we rejoiced at the dramatic rescue of 
Army PFC Jessica Lynch.
  Sadly, among the bodies found in or near the hospital where Lynch was 
held was the body of Private Brandon Sloan of Fraser, MI--one of 
Lynch's comrades in the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company that was 
ambushed by the Iraqis on March 23.
  Others from Michigan who have given their lives in Iraq are: Marine 
MAJ Kevin Nave of White Lake Township, Army SGT Michael Pedersen of 
Flint, MI, and Army SGT Todd Robbins of Pentwater, MI.
  And in the continuing operation in Afghanistan, Michigan mourns the 
loss of Air Force SrA Jason Plite of Grand Ledge who died in a 
helicopter accident as he flew on a mission to rescue two injured 
Afghan children.
  Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these men and the 
families of all the other men and women who, as Lincoln said, ``gave 
the last measure of full devotion'' for their country.
  Our troops who wear the uniform of this Nation with such honor 
deserve to know they are held in honor here at home.
  My father was in the Navy during World War II and my husband served 
in the Air Force during the first Gulf War. Both have told me how 
important it was for the morale of all those who served to know they 
had the support of their Nation.
  Military officials tell me there are things Americans can do right 
here at home to let our troops overseas know they are in our thoughts 
and prayers--things that will make life a little better for people 
right in our hometowns as well.
  I commend, as did Senator Levin, all who are reaching out to support 
our troops.
  Unlike previous conflicts, the Defense Department is asking people 
not to send care packages or letters not addressed to specific military 
personnel. Since the anthrax attacks of October 2001, these kinds of 
mailings just pose too much of a security risk.
  However, the military encourages individuals or groups to show their 
support for the troops abroad by showing support at home for our 
veterans and the families of current National Guard and Reserve 
personnel whose loved ones are deployed far away--and then sharing your 
efforts with our troops in Iraq.
  For instance, my home State of Michigan is home to almost 875,000 
veterans of conflicts going all the way back to World War I. Volunteers 
are always needed at veteran's hospitals and veteran's homes.
  Volunteers are also needed to help family readiness groups that 
assist the families of the National Guard and Reserve personnel who 
have been deployed far from home.
  From my home state of Michigan, the men and women of the 127th Air 
National Guard Wing in Selfridge, the 110th Fighter Wing in Battle 
Creek and the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena have been 
mobilized and deployed to bases around the world, including Kuwait, 
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, South West Asia, and Turkey.
  Army National Guard and Reserve units from Owosso, Taylor, Grand 
Ledge, Grayling, Sault Ste. Marie, Midland, Pontiac, Three Rivers, 
Augusta, Selfridge, and Ypsilanti have been mobilized and are awaiting 
their deployment orders.
  Many of these men and women leave families and well-paying jobs 
behind--creating hardships for themselves and their families just so 
they can serve their Nation.
  Family readiness volunteers help families of Guard and Reserve units 
with everything from arranging for baby sitting and lawn care to 
staffing phone trees that keep families informed of the most recent 
developments regarding the deployment of their loved ones.
  Once you have volunteered, military officials encourage you to go to 
a special website called www.operationdearabby.net.
  There you can post a note to our troops letting them know what you 
and your neighbors are doing here at home to show your support as they 
serve abroad.
  Military mail officials sort these messages so they can be delivered 
to soldiers who would be the most interested.
  Mr. President, over the past 2 weeks our men and women in uniform 
have put on an amazing display of bravery and toughness. We have all 
seen the picture of our troops standing up against not just the enemy--
but pounding sandstorms and blistering heat.
  But something about the scene is very familiar--and very American. In 
fact, it is a scene as old as our Republic itself, as old as the brutal 
winter at Valley Forge in 1777.
  Listen to the words of George Washington when he bid farewell to his 
troops when the war was finally over.
  Against all odds, including that bitter winter and Valley Forge, 
these soldiers had won their freedom and created a new Nation.
  It was almost with a sense of awe that Washington said to them:

       The unparalleled perseverance of the Armies of the United 
     States, through almost every possible suffering and 
     discouragement, was little short of a standing miracle.

  The spirit of that first American army lives on in our men and women 
in uniform today.
  It is still little short of a standing miracle, it still inspires 
awe, and it

[[Page 8850]]

commands us to do whatever we can do here at home to show our 
unwavering support.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Carolina.

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