[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[Senate]
[Page 36388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 64--COMMENDING THE ALASKA ARMY NATIONAL 
 GUARD FOR ITS SERVICE TO THE STATE OF ALASKA AND THE CITIZENS OF THE 
                             UNITED STATES

  Mr. STEVENS (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services:

                            S. Con. Res. 64

       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry of the Alaska 
     Army National Guard deployment of almost 600 Alaskans was the 
     largest deployment of the Alaska National Guard since World 
     War II;
       Whereas the Alaskans of the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry 
     came from 80 different communities across Alaska;
       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry included 75 
     soldiers from New York, Mississippi, Illinois, Georgia and 
     Puerto Rico;
       Whereas the 586 soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 297th 
     Infantry were mobilized in July of 2006 and deployed to Camp 
     Shelby, Mississippi;
       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry was deployed to 
     Camp Navstar and Camp Buehring in Northern Kuwait;
       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry courageously 
     performed route and perimeter security missions, mounted 
     combat patrols and inspections and searches of vehicles going 
     into Iraq from Kuwait, among other assignments;
       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry, over the course 
     of 15 months in Kuwait and Iraq, inspected and searched over 
     30,000 semi-trucks;
       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry designed all 
     force protection plans in northern Kuwait;
       Whereas the families of the members of the 3rd Battalion, 
     297th Infantry have provided unwavering support while waiting 
     patiently for their loved ones to return;
       Whereas the employers of members and family members of the 
     3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry have displayed patriotism over 
     profit, by keeping positions saved for the returning soldiers 
     and supporting the families during the difficult days of this 
     long deployment, and these employers are great corporate 
     citizens through their support of members of the Armed Forces 
     and their family members;
       Whereas the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry has performed 
     admirably and courageously; gaining the gratitude and respect 
     of Alaskans and all Americans; and
       Whereas members of the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry 
     received 7 Bronze Stars, 23 Meritorious Service Medals, 142 
     Army Commendations and more than 200 Army Achievement Medals 
     for their outstanding service: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commends the 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry of the 
     Alaska Army National Guard upon its completion of deployment 
     and brave service to the Commonwealth of Alaska and the 
     citizens of the United States; and
       (2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Adjutant General of 
     the Alaska National Guard for appropriate display.

                          ____________________