[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17028-17029]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO THE MEMBERS OF HEADQUARTERS BATTERY FORWARD, 
  FIRST BATTALION, 109TH FIELD ARTILLERY DIVISION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA 
                          ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 44 
members of the Headquarters Battery Forward of the First Battalion of 
the 109th Field Artillery, based in Kingston, Pennsylvania, who have 
returned after service in Iraq.
  We welcome home our brave soldiers with gratitude for their 
selflessness. During times of war, it is important that we realize the 
sacrifices our troops endure. Through voluntary military service, 
Americans proudly uphold ideals, consistently emerge as leaders and 
valiantly ensure democracy.
  The 109th Field Artillery enjoys a rich heritage. It is one of the 
oldest units in continuous existence in the United States Armed Forces. 
It was organized under Col. Zebulon Butler in the Wyoming Valley of 
northeastern Pennsylvania on October 17, 1775, nearly a year before the 
signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  Since the Wyoming Valley was then part of Connecticut, the unit was 
formed as the 24th Regiment, Connecticut Militia. The Regiment carries 
both the Connecticut and Pennsylvania state flags in its color guard. 
It is also officially named ``The Wyoming Valley Guards.''
  The 109th, under various unit designations, fought in the 
Revolutionary War, mustered into service for the War of 1812, fought in 
the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, 
World War I in France and in World War II in both France and Germany.

[[Page 17029]]

  In World War II, the unit distinguished itself during the Battle of 
the Bulge when the 109th fought valiantly to oppose the German Ardennes 
Offensive. After its guns were destroyed, the unit fought as infantry 
often in vicious hand-to-hand combat. For its valor, the battalion was 
awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest decoration a unit can 
receive.
  On September 5, 1950, the 109th was mobilized for the Korean War. On 
September 11, 1950, the unit was en route to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, 
when a passenger train struck the battalion's troop train in Coshocton, 
Ohio, killing 33 soldiers and wounding scores.
  On April 26, 2004, the unit lost its first soldier in combat since 
1945 when Sgt. Sherwood Baker was killed after a building he was 
inspecting in Baghdad, Iraq, exploded.
  The Headquarters Battery consists of: Christopher A. Barnes, James J. 
Belusko, Clinton R. Bollinger, John D. Borger, Raymond T. Bozek, 
Benjamin B. Chamberlin, Daryl A. Crawford, Matthew J. Deacon, Joseph A. 
Didino, Mark A. Gordon, John Gowin, Travis L. Haldeman, Kevin M. Hayes, 
Shaun A. Hineline, John L. Hosey, Louis F. Johnson, Dean C. Jones, 
Terry D. Ketchem, William H. Maclunny, Jeffrey E. Marriott, Jeffrey 
Martin, Joseph J. May, Joseph A. McHugh, Jonathan Mitchell, Brian J. 
Moore, Troy D. Mueller, Armando Pascale, Casey J. Poeth, Robert R. Rae, 
Roger E. Reed, Evan L. Reibsome, Michael R. Shoffler, John Shulskie, 
Michael K. Skoniecki, Damien J. Smith, Stephen S. Stankavage, William 
P. Verbyla, Brian J. Vest, James E. Waldrop, Patrick L. Walsh, Ralph M. 
Watkins, Valroy Williams, Michael Wisnewski, and Michael Yavorski.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in thanking these soldiers for 
their courage and love of country. It is truly an honor to serve them 
in the United States Congress. Please join me in welcoming these fine 
Americans home.

                          ____________________