[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        GEORGIA CELEBRATES CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER RON YOUNG, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2003

  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, the capture of Chief Warrant Officer Ron 
Young, Jr. by Iraqi forces terrified not only his family back in Lithia 
Springs, Ga., but also all the Americans watching the news clips of the 
POWs.
  When our Nation goes to war, our soldiers answer the call to 
sacrifice with honor. In the War on Iraq, they proved once more that 
they're the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.
  Yet, even with the best trained soldiers, even with the best 
equipment, real dangers confront our fighting men and women.
  Such was the case on March 24, when the helicopter of Chief Warrant 
Officer Young and Chief Warrant Officer David Williams went down and 
they were captured by Iraqis.
  For several days, the families of the captives and the American 
public watched the excruciating television footage of our brave 
soldiers being interviewed by their captors.
  We could tell by the looks on their faces that they were unsure of 
their fates. In fact, as Ron Young recently said, death seemed to be an 
inevitability.
  But their families held out hope. Without new information, hope was 
all they had.
  Weeks passed with no news and hope turned to despair.
  And on Palm Sunday, our despair turned to jubilation, as advancing 
U.S. forces liberated the POWs.
  Many of us woke up that day to see the Young family celebrating Ron's 
freedom.
  The Young family talked of their lasting faith, of their hope. They 
talked of their love for Ron and their excitement over his imminent 
return. Mrs. Young, a day from her birthday, had her wish come true: 
She would, indeed, be reunited with her son.
  Their joy was our joy. When American soldiers face danger in the name 
of freedom, their compatriots rally behind them. We mourn their 
setbacks; we hail their victories.
  We celebrate the safe return of Ron Young Jr., an American patriot 
and hero, to his family in Georgia.
  On May 9, the people of Douglas County, Ga., will gather by the 
thousands to welcome home Chief Warrant Officer Young.
  And we also want to say thank you to Ron Young and the thousands of 
other soldiers who put their lives on the line to defend their country 
and its people.
  May God bless this country and its military.

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