[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17558]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   CHARLES W. LINDBERG--AMERICAN HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2007

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to Charles 
W. Lindberg, who passed away Sunday in Minnesota. Today would have been 
Chuck's 87th birthday.
  Chuck Lindberg was a real American hero and a great patriot. He was a 
Marine who carried a 72-pound flamethrower into some of the most 
horrific battles in the Pacific during World War II. He earned the 
Silver Star for valor, was shot in the arm and was honored with the 
Purple Heart.
  Chuck was a true profile in courage. And if you do not know his name, 
I guarantee you know of one of his heroic acts. Chuck Lindberg, you 
see, helped raise the first American flag atop Mount Suribachi on 
February 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima. That historic moment 
is captured in the famous sculpture at the Marine Corps Memorial by the 
Pentagon.
  Chuck Lindberg truly represented the best of Duty, Honor, and Country 
and personified our nation's commitment to freedom.
  On a personal level, I considered Charles Lindberg a good friend and 
very much appreciated and enjoyed our visits over the years. I was 
deeply inspired by hearing about his historic flag raising on Iwo Jima. 
I will always remember Chuck and that famous depiction of the flag 
raising will keep his spirit alive forever.
  Madam Speaker, Chuck Lindberg will go down in history as one of the 
greatest Minnesota patriots of all time. He was the last survivor among 
the men who raised that first flag. Before Iwo Jima, Chuck Lindberg 
bravely fought at Guadalcanal and Bougainville as part of Carlson's 
Raiders, an elite unit that operated behind enemy lines.
  Chuck was a hero in every way, and he never stopped being a hero. He 
dedicated his life to raising awareness of the sacrifices made by our 
Nation's brave fighting men and women.
  He reached out to other veterans and he spoke to veterans' groups and 
at schools. The Minnesota Legislature has passed a resolution in 
Lindberg's honor and Chuck is mentioned on several Minnesota war 
memorials.
  Madam Speaker, Chuck Lindberg was a modest man, like so many members 
of the Greatest Generation. Today, in Minnesota and here in our 
Nation's Capital, we honor him by not being so modest about his great 
accomplishments. We are deeply grateful for his many selfless 
contributions to our freedom and liberty.
  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chuck's wife of 59 years, 
Violette, and daughters Diane Steiger and Karen Davidson and sons Rod, 
Rick, and Jeff.

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