[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10733-10734]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     WEST VIRGINIA MILITARY SERVICE

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor all West 
Virginians who have served our country in the military, especially 
those currently overseas. Former Senator Daniel Webster once said, 
``God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to 
defend it.'' West Virginians are known for their dedication to military 
service and patriotism, and to this day West Virginians continue their 
proud tradition of military service. Our soldiers are committed to our 
Nation's principles, and they are tireless in their efforts to preserve 
liberty. I rise today to honor these intrepid men and women whose 
military service and commitment is unmatched--they make me extremely 
proud to be a West Virginian.
  Only 3 States had a higher service rate than West Virginia during 
World War II. Thirty-six percent of West Virginia's male population--
more than one out of every three men--served during that war. Nearly 
4,700 West Virginians died fighting for our freedom in that war.
  West Virginia had the highest service rate during the Korean War, 
with 16.2 percent of our men participating. During that war, tragically 
West Virginia also suffered the highest death rate, with about 40 war-
related deaths for every 100,000 citizens, a total of over 800 deaths.
  West Virginia had the second-highest service in the Vietnam War, with 
20.3 percent of our men serving. During that war, again West Virginia 
had the highest casualty rate in the Nation. More than 700 citizens 
from our State died in battle.
  Now we are engaged in a war on terror--a war that our troops are 
fighting heroically. Thousands of West Virginia military personnel are 
taking part in the war effort, from active duty troops, to brave 
citizens in the National Guard, to Reservists. Not long ago, the world 
saw a symbolic climax of this war as the imposing symbol of Saddam 
Hussein's dictatorship was toppled. This moment could not have happened 
without the bravery and sacrifice of American forces and these forces 
would not be complete without the long-standing dedication of West 
Virginians.
  We must not forget those men and women who protected our freedom. In 
1940, pilot V.A. Rosewarne remarked, ``The universe is so vast and so 
ageless that the life of one [person] can only be justified by the 
measure of his [or her] sacrifice.'' West Virginia has lost proud 
soldiers in Afghanistan and also in the recent war in Iraq. In any war, 
there are those who make the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives, 
and we must honor them. Let me take this opportunity to mention the 
sense of honor that runs so deep in a representative sample of these 
West Virginians.
  Second Lieutenant Therrel ``Shane'' Childers was born into a proud 
military family near West Hamlin, WV, and he always dreamed of a 
military career. On March 21, at 30 years of age, he became the first 
U.S. soldier killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His devout 
determination led a childhood friend of his to say, ``I can feel deep 
in my heart that he was doing what he was meant to do,'' and his mother 
to say, ``He died doing what he loved best, and that was being a 
Marine.''
  There are countless examples of such heroes. Kenny Shadrick, from the 
mining town of Skin Fork, WV, was the first recorded American death in 
the Korean War. On July 5, 1950, he gave his life in the fight against 
tyranny. While it was July 5 in Korea, it was still Independence Day in 
the United States, and I am sure Kenny understood what he was fighting 
for as he bravely shot bazooka rounds at the approaching enemy tanks 
until his life was tragically cut short. President Truman articulated 
Kenny's sacrifice well when he wrote: ``He stands in the unbroken line 
of patriots who dared to die that freedom might live.'' West Virginia 
will never forget the service of people like Kenny.
  More recently, the world has heard the heroic story of Private 
Jessica Lynch, the teenager from Palestine, WV, whose rescue as a 
prisoner of war from Iraq was universally celebrated. As a matter of 
fact, approximately 400 West Virginians are surviving former prisoners 
of war, a further testament to the courage and patriotism present in 
West Virginia. Still today, Jessica is being treated for an injury to 
her spine and fractures to her right arm, both legs, and her right foot 
and ankle. She has endured so much pain, and yet her family tells me 
she has remained cheerful since her rescue. So much courage in such a 
young soldier as Jessica inspires us all, and underscores how proud I 
am to represent my fellow West Virginians.
  We all owe these soldiers and so many more from all over West 
Virginia and across the country, past and present, an enormous debt of 
gratitude. For the dead: we celebrate and remember their lives, mourn 
their deaths, and thank God that such people served.
  For the living, we must fight for them, who have fought so bravely 
for us. We cannot forget to honor our veterans. I will continue to 
fight for them as well--for the nearly 25,000 West Virginia veterans of 
the Persian Gulf, for the 65,000 surviving West Virginia veterans from 
the Vietnam era, for the more than 30,000 surviving West Virginia 
veterans of the Korean War, for the 36,000 aging veterans of World War 
II, and for the next generation of veterans coming home from the Middle 
East. So today, with my sincerest gratitude and pride for the services 
of these men and women, I pledge to always

[[Page 10734]]

honor their sacrifices, because all West Virginians understand the 
sacrifices they have made and the respect they have earned.
  West Virginians have always felt a sense of duty toward America, and 
we have always answered the call for military service. West Virginians 
understand the importance of living in a free society, and we also 
understand the patriotic duty and sacrifice required to do so. West 
Virginia soldiers have always reminded me of General MacArthur's 
description of the American soldier: ``Possessed of enduring fortitude, 
patriotic self-denial, invincible determination . . . giving his youth 
and strength, love and loyalty . . . one of the world's noblest 
figures.'' I am honored to say that the good people of West Virginia, 
in particular, exemplify noble military service and proud patriotism.

                          ____________________