[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11070-11072]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALLIED LANDING AT NORMANDY DURING WORLD 
                                 WAR II

  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy during World War II.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 28

       Whereas June 6, 2004, marks the 60th anniversary of D-Day, 
     the first day of the Allied landing at Normandy during World 
     War II by American, British, and Canadian troops;
       Whereas the D-Day landing, known as Operation Overlord, was 
     the most extensive amphibious operation ever to occur, 
     involving on the first day of the operation 5,000 naval 
     vessels, more than 11,000 sorties by Allied aircraft, and 
     153,000 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force;
       Whereas the bravery and sacrifices of the Allied troops at 
     5 separate Normandy beaches and numerous paratrooper and 
     glider landing zones began what Allied Supreme Commander 
     Dwight D. Eisenhower called a ``Crusade in Europe'' to end 
     Nazi tyranny and restore freedom and human dignity to 
     millions of people;
       Whereas that great assault by sea and air marked the 
     beginning of the end of Hitler's ambition for world 
     domination;
       Whereas American troops suffered over 6,500 casualties on 
     D-Day; and
       Whereas the people of the United States should honor the 
     valor and sacrifices of their fellow countrymen, both living 
     and dead, who fought that day for liberty and the cause of 
     freedom in Europe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing 
     at Normandy during World War II; and
       (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     on the people of the United States to observe the anniversary 
     with appropriate ceremonies and programs to honor the 
     sacrifices of their fellow countrymen to liberate Europe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Ryun) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun).


                             General Leave

  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on S.J. Res. 28.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago this month, on June 6, 1944, Allied 
airborne and seaborne forces invaded Normandy, France, at the start of 
Operation Overlord. On that first day, more than 150,000 Allied 
military personnel came ashore and over 6,500 American troops became 
casualties.
  Leading the overall Allied effort in what he would describe as a 
``Crusade in Europe'' was a Kansas native, General Dwight D. 
Eisenhower. Among the first wave of soldiers on June 6 to storm ashore 
into the devastating fires of the German defenses were soldiers of the 
1st Infantry Division, a proud Army unit with long-standing ties to 
Fort Riley, Kansas, which I am privileged to represent.
  By the end of the ``Crusade in Europe,'' the 1st Division, also known 
as the Big Red One, had suffered more than 21,000 casualties among the 
nearly 44,000 men who had served in its ranks. Sixteen of its soldiers 
were awarded the Medal of Honor. The division's motto exemplified its 
service: ``No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great. Duty 
first.''
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution properly honors the valor and sacrifices 
of our fellow countrymen who 60 years ago answered the call to duty and 
fought to restore freedom and human dignity to millions of people.
  This resolution should also remind us, Mr. Speaker, that today many 
tens of thousands of American military men and women are fighting a 
global war on terrorism. In the process, they are again answering the 
same call to duty as the men of D-Day. While the places and enemies 
have changed, the objective has not. They fight today to protect 
America and to restore freedom and human dignity to millions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. It 
truly is a recognition and celebration of the brave deeds by bold men 
who earned a rightful place in American history over 60 years ago in 
the landing zones, beaches and battlefields of Normandy. But as we 
celebrate their achievements, let us not forget that bold brave men and 
women continue to serve this Nation admirably around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for a ``yes'' vote as a fitting honor for today's 
heroes.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Joint Resolution 28, 
introduced by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, and commend my 
colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of 
the Committee on Veterans Affairs, for introducing an identical bill in 
the House, H.J. Res. 93.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the 60th anniversary of one 
of the most important and critical military operations of World War II, 
the Allied landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944.
  This past Saturday, we honored World War II veterans with the 
official

[[Page 11071]]

dedication of the first National Memorial that honors all those who 
served in the Second World War. This memorial is a tribute to the band 
of brothers who fought to restore freedom and liberty for all across 
the world.
  The turning point in the fight to liberate Europe from the Nazis 
during World War II was the successful Allied invasion of France on 
June 6, 1944. While officially named Operation Overlord, ``D-Day'' will 
forever be known as the day the Allied forces stormed the beaches of 
Normandy that fateful morning.
  As the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower led the 
largest, most aggressive air, land and sea campaign ever undertaken 
during World War II. On that day, the forces of liberty stared down the 
evils of fascism. Five thousand naval vessels, including 3,000 landing 
crafts, carried 153,000 Allied forces across the channel to hit the 
beaches of Normandy.
  While Gold, Juno Sword and Utah were taken by our allies and American 
forces with relatively minor opposition, for American forces that 
fought on the sands at Omaha, D-Day will forever live in their minds 
and hearts.
  The landing at Omaha truly captured the bravery, determination and 
fortitude of the American soldier. Many of them never reached the 
shores of Omaha, heavily fortified and defended by the Germans. Nearly 
2,500 were killed or wounded in the attack.
  As the sun set on June 6, 1944, over 6,000 soldiers gave their lives 
that extraordinary day. Their sacrifices and those of all who fought 
that day allowed over 100,000 men and 10,000 vehicles to come ashore 
that evening, the first wave of Americans that would be sent to the 
European continent to defeat Nazi Germany.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the sponsor of this resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge all of my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 
28, a resolution recognizing the sixtieth anniversary of the Allied 
landing at Normandy.
  Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, this past weekend both my 
wife Marie and I joined with President Bush, former Senator Bob Dole 
and tens of thousands of veterans, many of them from the Second World 
War, as the new National World War II Memorial was dedicated.
  As Marie and I stood on the Mall, we were reminded of the valor and 
sacrifice of millions of American men and women who wore our Nation's 
uniform during this war, including my father, a combat Army veteran who 
saw horrific combat that began in New Guinea and ended in the 
Philippines, and my wife's father, who served with honor and 
distinction on the USS Canberra in the South Pacific.
  Several of our relatives saw combat during the Second World War, 
including Marie's uncle, Joseph Hahn, of the 29th Division, 116th 
Regiment, 121st Engineering Battalion, who hit the beaches on that 
historic day when the tides of war were turned in our favor. Corporal 
Hahn hit the beach on Omaha Beach on June 6, and he was part of that 
very courageous group of men who bravely fought their way through one 
of the most treacherous battlefields in history and made it to St. Lo 
on July 18th. Six weeks to advance about 30 miles underscores how bad 
that battle really was and how vociferous were the forces that were 
arrayed against them. But they prevailed!

                              {time}  1500

  It occurred to me at the monument dedication Saturday, Mr. Speaker, 
that World War II could have had a different outcome and could have 
turned out differently. Nowhere is this more evident than the D-Day 
landings on June 6 of 1944.
  Many Americans look back upon D-Day and think that it was the 
inevitable beginning of Europe's liberation from the clutches of Nazi 
Germany. Yet, on June 6, 1944, failure was still possible. In fact, 
when we pause and consider the magnitude and the scale of such an 
enormously complicated military operation waged by multiple nations, it 
sometimes seems amazing that the operation ever succeeded.
  Historian Stephen Ambrose put the significance of this operation into 
perspective. He said, ``You can't exaggerate it. You can't overstate 
it. D-Day was the pivot point of the 20th century. It was the day on 
which the decision was made as to who was going to rule this world in 
the second half of the 20th century. Is it going to be Nazism, is it 
going to be Communism, or are the democracies going to prevail?'' He 
goes on to say, ``If we would have failed on Omaha Beach and on the 
other beaches on the 6th of June in 1944, the struggle for Europe would 
have been a struggle between Hitler and Stalin, and we would have been 
out of it.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that even General Dwight D. 
Eisenhower himself was not completely confident of victory. Prior to 
the launch of the great amphibious assault, he scribbled a note, a 
brief note about what he would say to the press in the event that the 
invasion failed, and he kept it in his wallet. While General Eisenhower 
had reasonable faith in his war plan, he was also fully cognizant of 
just how badly things could go awry in the fog of war, even if 
everything else had gone perfectly and went out on schedule.
  As we all know now, Mr. Speaker, as dawn broke on June 6, 1944, a 
great invasion force stood off the coast of Normandy awaiting the 
commencement of Operation Overlord. In all, there were nine 
battleships, 23 cruisers, 104 destroyers, and 71 large landing craft of 
various descriptions, as well as troop transports, mine sweepers, and 
merchantmen. Combined, these forces constituted nearly 5,000 ships of 
every type, the largest armada ever assembled. Allied air forces flew 
11,000 sorties to provide air cover, bomb fortifications, and, most 
importantly, to pin down German tanks poised to drive any Allied 
beachhead back into the sea.
  As Operation Overlord continued, several of the Allied beach landings 
went relatively smoothly and according to plan. But at the beach code-
named Omaha, many things seemed to go wrong all at once for the 
primarily American force. According to some estimates, barely one-third 
of the first wave of attackers ever reached dry land. Only sheer 
bravery and the monumental effort of human will posed against 
impossible odds carried the day at Omaha Beach. About 2,500 men were 
killed or wounded at Omaha Beach alone.
  By the end of D-Day, the total of dead and injured topped 9,000. The 
American share was about 6,500. Among the American airborne divisions, 
about 2,500 became casualties. Canadian forces experienced about 1,100 
casualties, and another 3,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded. 
Approximately one-third of the casualties were killed in action.
  Despite the losses and the unspeakable hardship endured by so many, 
the invasion succeeded. More than 100,000 men and 10,000 vehicles came 
ashore that day, the first of millions who would join them and finally 
put an end to Nazi Germany.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation must never take for granted the sacrifices 
that were made to liberate Europe and to preserve freedom. We must 
never forget the veterans who scaled the cliffs and stormed the beaches 
of Normandy against overwhelming odds.
  I urge all Members to strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member of the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, a 
measure to recognize the 60th anniversary of D-Day in honor of the 
Allied forces who participated in that battle.
  I want to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton), and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), and the 
gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter) for their leadership as 
well.

[[Page 11072]]

  Mr. Speaker, the World War II era was a decisive time for this Nation 
and the world; and June 6, 1944 marked perhaps the most decisive moment 
of that time. Winston Churchill, while discussing with President 
Franklin Roosevelt the Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy 
stated, ``This is much the greatest thing we have ever attempted.''
  The D-Day landing on the Normandy beaches was the largest air, land, 
and sea invasion that was ever undertaken. Operation Overlord started 
in the early hours of June 6, 1944, and the battle for Normandy would 
continue throughout the summer. Indeed, the war in Europe would wage 
for nearly another year, until May 8, 1945. It is clear now, however, 
that D-Day was the beginning of the end for the war in Europe and 
Hitler's forces.
  The Allied forces participating in that invasion suffered nearly 
10,000 casualties. American troops suffered over 6,500 casualties that 
day. Over 9,000 American servicemembers now rest on the hallowed 
grounds of the World War II Normandy-American Cemetery and Memorial, 
situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, a 
peaceful and lasting tribute to a generation.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is indeed an important measure as we 
approach the anniversary of D-Day. Let us honor and celebrate the 
commitments and sacrifices of our servicemembers; their efforts that 
day will forever stand as a defining moment in history. I urge all 
Members to support the resolution.
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers; however, 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member of the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for this 
resolution authorizing and recognizing the 60th anniversary of the 
Allied landing at Normandy, France, during the Second World War. By 
supporting this resolution, we not only encourage Americans everywhere 
to honor the heroic deeds and the sacrifices made by the brave Allied 
troops on June 6, 1944, but we also take a moment to remember our 
personal debt to what is now known as the Greatest Generation.
  Dedication to duty, love of freedom, these things drove these 
courageous men to undertake and accomplish a task that seemed 
impossible. Such a comprehensive operation was unheard of at the time, 
and these men knew the risks involved. On that day, June 6, 1944, when 
the beaches of Normandy were stormed in the face of intense opposition, 
over 6,500 American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice so that true 
freedom could be restored to millions of people across the European 
continent.
  It is interesting to note that I have two good friends who were 
there: Dr. Tommy McDonald from Marshfield, Missouri, a sniper on that 
day, a recipient of the Silver Star, wounded three times; Frank Luce, 
from my hometown of Lexington, who not only was at Normandy but he had 
three tanks shot out from under him and was the recipient of the Bronze 
Star and the Purple Heart.
  Mr. Speaker, this last Saturday I had the opportunity to have lunch 
with many American Legion veterans at Higginsville, Missouri, and any 
number of them were at day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 at Normandy beach head. 
It was an honor and a privilege to meet with them and to thank them for 
their duty.
  June 6, 1944, was a pivotal day. At the time, it was almost 
impossible to understand the full impact it would have, but here we 
are. Sixty years of reflection have shown that after the success of 
that landing, the tide of the war swung in favor of the Allies, and 
Adolf Hitler began his ultimate demise. Allied victory in World War II 
preserved freedom and humanity for millions of people and for every 
generation since.
  On this day, we honor one generation of heroes. But as we do so, we 
cannot help but take a moment to remember that there is another 
generation making its mark right now in the middle of the deserts in 
the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of men and women are currently 
serving overseas with the same dedication, the same love of freedom 
that made the landing at Normandy such a remarkable moment in history. 
Whether the year is 1944 or the year 2004, these individuals deserve 
our respect, and they deserve our gratitude.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support this resolution, and I commend 
its authors for bringing it before us today.
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  In closing, I think this is a fitting tribute to the brave men who 60 
years ago stormed the sandy beaches of Normandy, risking all, so that 
we might enjoy the freedoms that we have become accustomed to. I urge 
my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution, a fitting honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the 
House to adopt this resolution in support of our many fine heroes that 
participated in D-Day on June 6, 1944.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Murphy). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 28.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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