[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21479-21480]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF WORLD WAR II VETERANS--PHOTOGRAPHER JOE ROSENTHAL AND ACTOR 
                               GLENN FORD

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, in my capacity as a Senator and chairman of 
the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I rise this evening to pay 
tribute to two men who were bookends of what has been termed the 
``greatest generation,'' those Americans who served in World War II. 
One stood behind the lens and took that famous photo on Iwo Jima that 
became the iconic picture of the war in the Pacific. The other gave up 
his life in front of the lens and laid his life on the line in the 
cause for freedom in Europe. I speak, of course, of the photographer 
Joe Rosenthal and the famed actor Glenn Ford. Both men died a few weeks 
ago, and it is fitting that this body, the Senate of the United States, 
recognize these great men for their contributions.
  Most Americans instantly know that image Joe Rosenthal captured: the 
photo of five marines and one Navy corpsman raising the flag--the 
American flag--over Iwo Jima. That image became the basis for the Iwo 
Jima Memorial which rises above Arlington National Cemetery and a copy 
of which greets those who enter Quantico Marine Base in Virginia. That 
image was also made into a postage stamp, not once but twice, and 
inspired the creation of at least two major pictures: ``The Sands of 
Iwo Jima'' starring John Wayne and the new movie, ``The Flags of Our 
Fathers,'' produced by Clint Eastwood, which will debut in a few weeks.
  It has been said that Joe Rosenthal's famous photograph not only gave 
Americans back home an image of what was happening on the front lines, 
it persuasively argued that America was winning that war.
  The impact of that image cannot be overstated. In fact, former 
President George Herbert Walker Bush, who served as a Navy pilot during 
World War II, recently recalled seeing the flag-raising photo in the 
newspaper during the war with Japan and said that without Joe 
Rosenthal's picture, the war might have dragged on even longer:

       I wonder if Joe fully appreciated what this photograph 
     meant, and what it still means to the American people.

  That is what the elder President Bush wrote.
  The President's comments were shared recently at a public 
presentation in which Joe Rosenthal was posthumously awarded a Navy 
medal for distinguished public service. It was an honor long overdue 
but one I am proud has finally been awarded.
  But while many know the story of Joe Rosenthal's famous photograph, 
few Americans, however, really know the real life story of the famous 
actor Glenn Ford.
  Glenn Ford was born in Canada. He emigrated to the United States when 
he was 5 years old. He was a descendent of U.S. President Martin Van 
Buren. But Glenn Ford made his own way in his life. He went on to 
become a Hollywood movie star who appeared in over 100 movies and 
television shows. But his heroic real-life military actions are worthy 
of a film all its own.
  Before the beginning of World War II, Glenn Ford served in the Coast 
Guard Auxiliary. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In the 
aftermath of the war in Europe, Glenn Ford came upon a displaced 
persons camp several miles outside of Munich, Germany. An estimated 
12,000 to 15,000 homeless Jews were living at the Fernwald camp, which 
appeared to have been overlooked in the postwar confusion.
  According to the Simon Wisenthal Center, which in 1985 presented 
Glenn Ford with the Liberator's Award:

       The survivors were astonished and wept with gratitude to 
     see an American who really cared, and for seven weeks Ford 
     brought food, books and medical supplies. The supply 
     sergeants looked the other way as Ford loaded up his jeep day 
     after day, and headed up to Fernwald.
       Ford alone was responsible for giving hope and life to 
     approximately half of these 12,000 to 15,000 inmates in an 
     over 7-week period. Many women named their newborn sons after 
     him in recognition and in gratitude.

  Committed to service in the Armed Forces, Glenn Ford also served a 
tour of duty in Vietnam in the Mekong Delta during Operation Deckhouse 
V and twice came under fire--intense enemy fire--and narrowly escaped 
death from a sniper's bullet, a bullet which wounded the attache 
standing next to him.
  Among his numerous medals and accommodations are the Medal of Honor 
presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Medaille de la France 
Libre for the liberation of France, two commendation medals from the 
U.S. Navy, and the Vietnamese Legion of Merit. He received the rank of 
captain with the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1968.
  Today, as we battle terrorists wherever they are, I think we should 
all reflect on the words of Glenn Ford

[[Page 21480]]

penned in 1980. Here is what that honored and decorated movie star 
said:

       I'm proud to be an American. Let me say again. I'm proud to 
     be an American. And I believe it's time for every one of us 
     to stand up and show our support for our great country. There 
     are faults and occasional inequities in America. But the 
     proof of how good things really are here is the lines at our 
     borders and at our consulates all over the world of people 
     wanting to come here to live.

  He went on to say:

       In the last 200 years, we have built a wonderful dream that 
     other countries can only hope to achieve. So let us not hurt 
     that dream by our own selfishness. If we think only of 
     ourselves and do nothing but complain about this magnificent 
     country--instead of supporting her--we will lose everything 
     our forefathers fought for. We must all pull together and 
     elect good officials. And we must save energy and help our 
     neighbors--especially the young of America--understand the 
     real meaning of the free enterprise system.
       But let's never forget that to remain free we must always 
     be strong. That is an important lesson I--

  Meaning Glenn Ford--

     learned in my navy career in World War II. National defense 
     must be the top priority for any country. If you are not 
     strong, you are not safe. Now is the time for every American 
     to be proud. This is the land of the free and the home of the 
     brave. But only as long as we are brave. If we are not brave, 
     we will not be free.

  So penned by the actor Glenn Ford.
  As I said at the beginning of my comments this evening, Joe Rosenthal 
and Glenn Ford were bookends of World War II. Joe Rosenthal was behind 
the lens and took that seminal picture of the war in the Pacific, the 
Iwo Jima flag-raising, while Glenn Ford, who had spent his time in 
front of the lens in motion pictures and in business, left the 
limelight to become a true war hero and devote his time to save a 
Nation and to save a world.
  Glenn Ford and Joe Rosenthal were true patriots. Now those heroes are 
gone, like so many other veterans of that great war. The Nation is 
losing many of its World War II veterans. Believe it or not, nearly 
1,000 members of the Greatest Generation pass away each day of each 
week. But while they are leaving us at a sad and very steady pace, 
their legacy of freedom and bravery, I hope, will live on forever. 
Let's think tonight of Joe Rosenthal and the late actor Glenn Ford.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey is recognized for 
15 minutes under the previous order.

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