[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20847-20850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE SERVICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS IN THE UNITED STATES 
                              ARMED FORCES

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 306) honoring the service of Native 
American Indians in the United States Armed Forces, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 306

       Whereas American Indians have served with distinction in 
     the United States Armed Forces and in military actions for 
     more than 200 years;
       Whereas the courage, determination, and fighting spirit of 
     American Indians were strengths recognized and valued by 
     American military leaders;
       Whereas nearly 190,000 American Indian veterans have fought 
     for the United States in the struggle for freedom and peace, 
     often in a percentage well above their percentage of the 
     population of the United States as a whole;
       Whereas the Elders of the American Indian Society have 
     proclaimed that official recognition of the military service 
     of American Indians would help engender a sense of self-
     esteem and pride in American Indians;
       Whereas, although November 11, Veterans Day, marks a day of 
     observance for all veterans who served in the Armed Forces, 
     the establishment of a specific National American Indian 
     Veterans Day would honor the service of American Indians in 
     the Armed Forces; and
       Whereas November 7, a date during the annual National 
     American Indian Heritage Month, would be an appropriate day 
     to establish as National American Indian Veterans Day: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) honors the service of American Indians in the Armed 
     Forces;
       (2) recommends the establishment of a National American 
     Indian Veterans Day;
       (3) encourages all Americans to learn about the history of 
     the service of American Indians in the Armed Forces; and
       (4) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     on the people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
     demonstrate their support for American Indian veterans.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).


                             General Leave

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page 20848]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
306, a resolution that honors the service of Native Americans in the 
Armed Forces of the United States. As a proud member of the Chickasaw 
Nation, it is a great honor for me to speak in tribute of the thousands 
of Native Americans who have worn the uniform of the United States or 
served in the ranks of our military throughout our history. As the 
heirs of their own proud warrior traditions that precede the founding 
of the United States, Native Americans have made notable contributions 
to the Armed Forces of our country from its very inception.

                              {time}  1745

  Even in the 19th century, an era of conflict between Indian nations 
and the United States, Native Americans could be found serving in and 
with our military. Native Americans fought with Andrew Jackson at the 
Battle of New Orleans. A Native American was a member of General 
Grant's staff at Appomattox. And Indian scouts played a critical role 
throughout the wars on the American Plains.
  In the 20th century, Choctaw Indians from Oklahoma were used as Code 
Talkers in the trenches of Europe during the First World War. In World 
War II, the Comanche Code Talkers from the district I represent in 
Oklahoma sent the first messages on D-Day. And of course the Navajo 
Code Talkers who fought and died on the other side of the world helped 
turn the tide of war in the Pacific.
  Two of the five Native American Congressional Medal of Honor 
recipients are from my home State of Oklahoma. Jack C. Montgomery, a 
Cherokee; and Ernest Childers, a Creek, served our country with great 
distinction. More recently, my fellow Chickasaw, Commander John 
Herrington, became the first Native American astronaut. Even now he is 
training in Russia for his next mission.
  But, Mr. Speaker, not all Native American soldiers are scouts, Code 
Talkers, Medal of Honor recipients, or astronauts. Most serve in the 
ranks and at the same jobs as their fellow Americans. I think of my 
uncle who joined the Navy, fought in the Philippines, and endured 3\1/
2\ years in Japanese prison camps during World War II. Or my brother, 
John Cole Jr., who followed my father, a career Air Force 
noncommissioned officer, and enlisted in the United States Air Force 
during the Vietnam era. They are typical of the thousands of American 
Indians who have served our country in times of peril.
  That tradition of service continues today. Native Americans volunteer 
for military service at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic 
group in America. This concurrent resolution which honors their gallant 
service comes as we celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian's National 
Museum of the American Indian. That institution honors the rich history 
and enormous contributions made by the First Americans to all 
Americans.
  I congratulate the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi), the proud son 
of a career officer and a former member of the Defense Department who 
represents thousands of Native Americans, for his fine work on this 
concurrent resolution. And I encourage all my colleagues to join him in 
honoring the outstanding Native American warriors who have served our 
country in peace and war.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, 
introduced by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi). I would like to 
recognize the gentleman from Arizona for his efforts to bring forward 
this resolution honoring the service of Native American Indians in the 
United States Armed Forces. I also wish to recognize the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), my colleague on the House Committee on Armed 
Services, for his support of this bill. We thank him for that.
  For over 200 years, Native American Indians have distinguished 
themselves in military action. Most Americans would be surprised to 
learn that since the founding of our country, Native American Indians 
have made substantial contributions to our Nation's defense.
  Our Nation is at war, and our troops are serving on the front lines 
in combat in the Middle East. Of those serving in uniform, nearly 
19,000 are American Indians and Native Alaskans, and over 3,000 of 
them, Mr. Speaker, are women.
  There are more than 2,000 Native Americans and Alaskan Natives 
deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom. Over 1,000 American servicemembers have been killed while in 
service to our Nation; and while we honor all those who have given 
their lives to defend our freedoms, today we recognize the 13 Native 
Americans and Alaskan Natives among them that made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, 
introduced by Mr. Renzi. I would like to recognize the gentleman from 
Arizona for his efforts to bring forward this resolution honoring the 
service of Native American Indians in the United States Armed Forces. I 
would also like to recognize Mr. Cole, my colleague on the House Armed 
Services Committee, for his support of this bill.
  For over 200 years, Native American Indians have distinguished 
themselves in military action. Most Americans would be surprised to 
learn that since the founding of our country, Native American Indians 
have made substantial contributions to our Nation's defense.
  More than 12,000 American Indians are believed to have served in the 
United States Armed Forces during World War I. Nearly 600 Choctaw and 
Cherokee Indians from Oklahoma, assigned to the 142 Infantry of the 
36th Texas-Oklahoma National Guard Division, distinguished themselves 
on the battlefields of France. Four American Indians from the 142nd 
were awarded the Croix de Guerre to recognize their bravery in the face 
of enemy action. Also lesser known during World War I was the use of 
the Choctaw language to encode military messages.
  When World War II dropped on the shores of America there were less 
than 350,000 American Indians, yet more than 44,000 volunteered to 
serve this nation in uniform. It is only relatively recent that 
Americans finally learned the valuable contributions Native American 
Indians made to the war effort. Nearly 50 years after the war, the veil 
of secrecy was finally raised and Americans learned the true story of 
the legendary Navajo Code Talkers.
  Navajo Code Talkers took part in every assault the U.S. Marines 
conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. In May 1942, the original 
29 Navajo recruits helped to develop a dictionary of military terms 
that were required to be memorized during basic training. While the 
Japanese were able to decipher the codes used by the Army and Army Air 
Corps, they were never able to crack the Navajo code used by the 
Marines. Over the course of the war, nearly 500 Navajos served as code 
talkers, and it was not until September 17, 1992, that the United 
States finally recognized and appropriately honored the Navajos for 
their extraordinary contribution to the war.
  American Indians, however, served in both the Pacific and European 
theatre during World War II, and three were bestowed the Nation's 
highest military award--the Congressional Medal of Honor--Jack 
Montgomery, a Cherokee from Oklahoma; Ernest Childers, a Creek from 
Oklahoma; Van Barfoot, a Choctaw from Mississippi.
  Native American Indians also distinguished themselves in battle 
during the Korean conflict. Two American Indians were also awarded the 
Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions on the battlefield. 
Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. a Winnebago from Wisconsin; and Charles George, 
a Cherokee from North Carolina.
  Once again, our Nation is at war and our troops are serving on the 
front lines of combat in the Middle East. Of those serving in the 
uniform services, nearly 19,000 are American Indians and Native 
Alaskans, and over 3,000 of those are women.
  There are more than 2,000 Native American and Alaskan Natives 
deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom. Over 1,000 American service members have been killed while in 
service to our Nation, and while we honor all those who have given 
their lives to defend our freedoms, today we recognize the 13 Native 
American Indians and Alaskan Natives among them that made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  The most prominent is the first service woman killed in action. Army 
Specialist Lori

[[Page 20849]]

Piestewa, a Hopi Indian, who grew up on the reservation near Tuba City 
in Arizona. She is also the first Native American service woman to be 
killed in combat. The 507th Maintenance Company to which she was 
assigned was ambushed by enemy forces on March 23, 2003, near 
Nasiriyah, Iraq. She along with the 12 other Native American Indians 
and Alaskan Natives will be remembered for their devotion to duty and 
sacrifice in service to this Nation.
  I am proud to be here to honor Native American Indians and all Native 
Americans for their rich tradition of strength, wisdom, and warrior 
ethos. And, I commend them and all those in uniform who have 
volunteered to defend the rights and freedoms that we all hold dear.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Missouri, my good 
friend, for his support of this resolution and, frankly, for the 
terrific work he does for veterans of all stripes, all colors, all 
varieties, all nationalities. Nobody is a better friend to the American 
soldier and the American veteran than my good friend from Missouri.
  I had the good fortune, Mr. Speaker, recently to visit Iraq and 
Afghanistan. And while there, I talked to a number of my fellow 
Oklahomans who are also Native Americans and continue that proud 
tradition of serving their country and honoring their tribes. Many of 
them remarked quite movingly the fact that they were part of a 
centuries-old tradition that they took with enormous seriousness. And, 
Mr. Speaker, they continue that proud tradition of service today as 
generation after generation enlists.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for his leadership on 
this as well as the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi). I think it is 
very important that we recognize this very important segment of 
American society, the Native Americans and the Alaskan Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. 
Udall).
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
House Concurrent Resolution 306, which honors the service of Native 
Americans in the Armed Forces.
  The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and I have had the privilege 
of representing large portions of the Navajo Nation, one of the largest 
tribes in the United States. New Mexico also is the home of two Apache 
nations and 19 pueblos.
  According to the last Census, there are now over 190,000 Native 
American veterans, constituting the highest rate of service of any 
ethnic group in our country. Two weeks ago when the Museum of the 
American Indian opened on the National Mall, Native Americans from 
around the hemisphere traveled to Washington to celebrate, honor, and 
preserve Native American culture. One aspect of that culture is the 
value of service. One of the best examples is the Navajo Code Talkers, 
a group of soldiers who have been credited with saving the lives of 
countless American soldiers with their unbreakable code in the Second 
World War.
  These individuals risked their lives for our freedom at a time when 
some considered them second-class citizens. Their code was so 
successful and so critical to keep secret that some Code Talkers were 
guarded by fellow Marines whose role was to kill them in case of 
imminent capture by the enemy. The Code Talkers set a fine example of 
service for generations to come.
  A reminder of the brave service that Native Americans provide to our 
country was brought to light once again last year when Army Private 
First Class Lori Piestewa of Arizona gave her life in the war in Iraq. 
Private Piestewa is believed to be the first Native American woman to 
be killed in the U.S. Armed Forces combat.
  This concurrent resolution, which calls for the establishment of a 
National Native American Indian Veterans Day, is a fitting way to honor 
America's first sons and daughters in arms. This concurrent 
resolution's adoption will serve as a tribute not only to the Native 
Americans who have served our country well but also to their families 
and communities who have supported them.
  I urge its adoption and have enjoyed very much working with the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Renzi) and the other cosponsors on this, and I urge all Members to 
support this concurrent resolution.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi), the author of this 
resolution.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to stand before the House today to 
recognize our Nation's Native American veterans. I thank the gentleman 
from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), who has worked very closely with me and my 
staff to recognize these brave warriors.
  I have the privilege to represent eight tribes in Arizona, the 
largest of which is the Navajo Nation, home to the Navajo Code Talkers.
  On my travels throughout Arizona district one, I have met many of 
these veterans and have heard their stories of sacrifice, valor, and 
patriotism and have seen firsthand their fighting warrior spirit that 
reinforces their commitment to serve our Nation in the Armed Forces.
  Native American Indians and these veterans have served our Nation in 
battle long before they were ever considered citizens of the United 
States. From the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq, a strong sense 
of patriotism and protecting the homeland has prompted Native Americans 
to answer our Nation's call. Many Native Americans come from rural 
areas where they learn to rely on the land and they learn to rely on 
each other for self-preservation and the family and the tribe and their 
national sovereign nation. These are inherent characteristics found in 
the best and brightest of our service personnel.
  Five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are Native Americans. 
Last year on Veteran's Day, I had the honor of presenting the 
Congressional Silver Medal in honor of nine Navajo Code Talkers on 
behalf of President Bush. This distinguished group of soldiers used 
their distinctive language to defeat the enemy in World War II. Today 
in the communities on the Navajo Nation, they are revered and are 
respected elders among the entire Navajo Nation because of their 
service to this country. It is an honor to recognize their service and 
to walk with them. And I rise today to give them our respect and the 
honor due from this Nation to those Native American veterans, whom we 
are so grateful and appreciative of their service.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for the 
representation and hard work that he has shown particularly on this 
issue.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Iowa (Ms. Boswell).
  Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I am very happy today to represent those in 
my district, an extension of the Sac and Fox Tribe, Meskwakis, great 
Americans, Native Americans, and a number of those that live in that 
settlement, as they refer to it there, in Tama County, Iowa, that I 
know that served as I did in Vietnam and other places. And I associate 
myself with the comments that have been made already by my colleagues. 
They have provided and will continue to provide a great service to our 
Nation. They always have. They are willing to step up and be counted 
and do their part and many times do more than their part. I found them 
to be very self-giving, to be sure; that the freedoms they enjoy at 
this time, regardless of the historical circumstances, they love our 
Nation, and they serve it with honor and distinction, and I am 
satisfied that they will continue to always do that.
  So I appreciate the effort that has gone in to presenting this to us 
today, and I think that this is the right thing

[[Page 20850]]

to do, and we probably ought to do this more often. So I am proud to 
share in these compliments to Native Americans. I urge adoption of the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 
306, which honors the service of American Indian Veterans.
  For more than 200 years, about 190,000 American Indians have served 
and defended this great country in military action. Their service is 
pronounced during our major wars. President Theodore Roosevelt and his 
Rough Riders recruited American Indian Scouts for the Spanish-American 
War. Choctaw Indians were used as Codetalkers in World War I. Comanche 
Codetalkers sent the first message on D-Day. When the United States has 
needed them in combat, American Indians volunteered to serve, 
regardless of whether they were federal citizens.
  Today we are honoring American Indian veterans just like every year 
at hundreds of Pow Wows American Indians honor all American veterans. 
During these annual tribal celebrations, the ``Prisoner of War/Missing 
in Action'' flag is presented while the honor drum plays a ``Veterans 
Song.'' Veterans take part in an honor dance, and are recognized for 
their heroism and service to our country.
  I am proud to be part of this Congress that today recognizes the 
American Indians who have served our country. They have served bravely, 
and deserve our recognition. I thank Congressman Rick Renzi for 
introducing this worthy bill.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ose). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
306, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: 
``Concurrent resolution honoring the service of American Indians in the 
United States Armed Forces.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________