[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Pages 28494-28496]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              WAR IN IRAQ

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak briefly about the 
progress on the war in Iraq and, importantly, the well-being and morale 
of our troops in the field.
  Last week, the State of South Dakota lost two of its sons in Iraq, 
SSG Daniel Cuka, 27, from Yankton, SD, and SFC Richard Shield, 40, from 
Tabor, SD. Both served in the 147th Field Artillery of the South Dakota 
National Guard and were killed by improvised explosive devices while 
riding in their humvees.
  They were assigned the mission of assisting in the training of Iraqi 
police. Three other members of their battery were also wounded. South 
Dakota is now in the process of grieving for and

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honoring these two brave men who answered the call of duty.
  One week after this tragic loss, an historic event occurred today in 
Iraq that gives particular meaning and value to the lives and sacrifice 
of these two men. Today Iraq held a national election to fill 
parliamentary seats and it appears that there was a massive turnout of 
voters from each of the major ethnic and religious groups, including 
from the Sunni population that only a few months ago rejected any 
participation in the political process.
  This election is only the latest in a series of milestones giving 
testimony to the great progress that has already been made in our 
effort to transform this country into a true democracy. Granted, it 
will be a long road to the kind of democracy we have in this country. 
But it was a long and bumpy road in our own journey. The fact that this 
Iraqi election occurred at all, is amazing considering where the people 
of Iraq were 5 years ago, without freedom to determine their future and 
under the heel of Saddam Hussein's tyranny.
  Despite the naysayers in this country, optimism among Iraqis is 
becoming infectious. Of course, optimism and support for what we are 
doing has always been prevalent among our troops. Thanks to them and 
the sacrifices they are making, we are on the cusp of delivering 
something very special into the hands of the Iraqi people--the ability 
to shape and control their own lives, lives free from the tyranny of 
dictators, free from radical Islamic intimidation, and free from 
hopelessness.
  Let us dispell the fiction that America is not making progress in 
Iraq, right here and right now. Under United States training and 
guidance, 97 Iraqi battalions are now conducting security operations 
throughout Iraq. In July of last year, there were only 5 Iraqi 
battalions equipped and trained to fight.
  Currently, 33 battalions have assumed their own areas of operation. 
Last year at this time, the Iraqi security forces did not have control 
over any areas of operation. Iraqi border police are now manning 170 
border compounds and 22 ports of entry. Over 75,000 Iraqi policemen are 
patrolling Iraqi cities. In the last election in January, 130,000 Iraqi 
security forces successfully protected polling sites all over the 
country and inspired a wave of pride throughout the country and a sharp 
increase in recruitment. We anticipate that in the election that 
occurred today, over 225,000 Iraqi security forces provided security to 
the polling places.
  In the January election almost a year ago, 8.5 million Iraqis turned 
out to vote, defying terrorists threats. In the October referendum, 10 
million voters turned out. We expect significantly greater numbers in 
this election, including from the Sunni population whose Mullahs are 
now encouraging their people to get out and vote after opposing their 
participation in previous elections. Progress is clearly being made. To 
say otherwise is simply inaccurate and demoralizing to our troops in 
Iraq who are risking their lives to achieve these great milestones.
  I would like to read a portion of an email sent to me by the mother 
of a South Dakota soldier stationed in Iraq.

       Dear John, I am a commissioner in Corson County, McIntosh, 
     SD. I also, happen to be a mother of 2 children in the Army. 
     My son is now in Iraq, stationed at Ar Ramadi--not a very 
     nice place right now! The purpose of this email is to ask you 
     to pass on to Congress the fact that all their back stabbing 
     and finger pointing is very devastating to the families of 
     the sons and daughters now in Iraq. If they think they are 
     representing the families by doing what they are doing on the 
     Hill and in the press they are sadly mistaken. I don't want 
     my son to be where he is, but anyone with any kind of sense 
     knows that we cannot just pick up and desert the Iraqi's at 
     this point. . . .  Please, Please get this message out that 
     this is not what the parents, husbands, wives, and families 
     need to hear from our leaders. We have enough worry every 
     waking moment knowing our kids are in harms way. We don't 
     need the politicians using our loved ones in order for them 
     to further their political future.

  The two fallen soldiers who are being honored today at a memorial 
service in South Dakota gave their lives for a cause greater than 
themselves. Those family members they left behind deserve to know their 
sacrifices were not in vain.
  We will win this war and Iraq will be a free independent democracy. 
When our work is finished, Iraq will provide a vision and a clear path 
for other countries in the Middle East to follow toward freedom and 
democracy. As Americans, we cannot leave the Iraqi people with anything 
less.
  I ask unamious consent that a written statement honoring and paying 
tribute to Sergeants Cuka and Schild, two American heroes, be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Mr. President, South Dakota has paid a heavy price in the 
     effort to make Iraq a functioning democracy and the world a 
     safer place. To date, fifteen South Dakota soldiers have made 
     the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq, nine of whom 
     died from hostile fire. About 85 percent of South Dakota's 
     National Guard members have been mobilized. Earlier this 
     month, two brave soldiers from my state paid the ultimate 
     price, and three more were wounded. I rise today to give 
     voice to the tremendous sympathy all South Dakota citizens 
     have for the families and friends of each of the courageous 
     soldiers our state has lost and this month, specifically, 
     Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Schild and Army Staff Sgt. Daniel 
     M. Cuka. On December 4th these two soldiers of the South 
     Dakota National Guard were killed by roadside bombs in Iraq 
     as they went about the dangerous and critically important 
     mission of training the Iraqi Police Force in one of 
     Baghdad's police districts. They have made the ultimate 
     sacrifice in service to our nation, and we as a nation will 
     be forever in their debt.
       The soldiers of Battery C of the 147th Field Artillery unit 
     arrived in Baghdad only very recently, and have already been 
     exposed to the horror of war, and the deaths of some of their 
     friends. South Dakota has a very small population, Mr. 
     President, and word of the deaths of our citizen soldiers 
     fighting the war on terror has hit us very hard. I am proud 
     of our state's outpouring of support during this time of 
     great personal tragedy for the loved ones Sgt. Schild and 
     Sgt. Cuka have left behind. I know the communities of Yankton 
     and Tabor will miss them very much.
       The lives of these two soldiers are emblematic of the many 
     citizen soldiers currently serving in Iraq. Sgt. Cuka 
     graduated from Yankton High School in 1996 and married his 
     wife Melissa in 2000. They had two young children, Abby, who 
     is 5 years old, and Alex, who is 2. Sgt. Cuka led an active 
     life, and dedicated his life to serving and protecting the 
     public. Apart from serving nearly ten years in the National 
     Guard, he served with Yankton Area Search and Rescue, and his 
     unit has retired his call number, the highest honor it can 
     bestow. He worked for Wilson Trailers in Yankton, and still 
     found time to attend classes at Mount Marty College.
       Sgt. Schild was the office manager of Bon Homme Yankton 
     Electric Cooperative. He and his wife Kay also have two young 
     children. He was serving in Iraq along with his brother, 
     Brooks. After graduating from Mount Marty College, he joined 
     the National Guard. It is clear that Sgt. Schild was highly 
     dedicated to doing his duty, and had a strong sense of 
     community. Even though events in the Middle East made it seem 
     likely he would be called to active duty, Sgt. Schild still 
     re-enlisted. Even while he was in Iraq, Sgt. Schild was still 
     concerned about his community being without power due to a 
     severe winter storm late last month. In fact, the National 
     Guard helped to mitigate the effects of that storm. It is 
     humbling to be able to represent a community that has people 
     like Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka.
       The human toll during wartime always gives us pause to 
     reflect on what we are fighting for in the war on terror. 
     Throughout America's history, we have faced determined 
     enemies on the battlefield, and we have been victorious. In 
     this war, we face a determined enemy that lurks in the 
     shadows, far from anything that can be characterized as a 
     battlefield. Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka fell to an enemy that 
     could not face them on the battlefield.
       The challenges faced by our soldiers in Iraq are far more 
     complicated and delicate than the challenges of a traditional 
     battlefield. While our soldiers make every possible effort to 
     avoid civilian casualties, they face an enemy that hides 
     among civilians, and an enemy that rejoices in maximizing 
     civilian casualties. Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka died while 
     helping the vast majority of peaceful Iraqi citizens develop 
     the means to protect themselves, build a democracy, and 
     enforce the law. They were part of an effort to make the 
     world a safer and freer place for us and for future 
     generations of Americans.
       When I think on the deaths of Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka, 
     and indeed all of the deaths of our soldiers in the war on 
     terror, I am reminded of a passage of Scripture that says 
     ``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his 
     life for his friends.'' To the families of Sgt. Schild and 
     Sgt. Cuka, please

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     know that all South Dakotans have lifted you up in our 
     hearts, and that you are in our thoughts and prayers. If 
     there is anything we can do for you, we will do it. I hope it 
     may provide some small measure of comfort to you to know that 
     Sgt. Schild and Sgt. Cuka have laid down their lives for 
     their friends, and we are forever grateful.

  Mr. THUNE. What they gave to the State of South Dakota, to this great 
country and to the people of Iraq should never be forgotten.
  I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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