[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4428-4430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TEXAS STUDENTS' INTERVIEWS OF VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, last fall I invited high 
school students living in the Third Congressional District to join the 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. The goal of the CYAC is to foster 
civic involvement and to encourage students to unleash their passions 
for America. Each meeting, they exceed my expectations and make me 
hopeful for the future.
  The students who serve on the CYAC represent the best and the 
brightest in North Texas. Students are leaders, athletes, musicians, 
volunteers, and activists. They are the voice of their generation to 
Congress. They make a difference at each meeting and I'm proud of them.
  For this year's community project, students interviewed a veteran and 
wrote essays. A summary of some of the submitted essays follows.
  It is my hope that some day the Congressional Youth Advisory Council 
will be associated with excellence and one of our highest standards of 
civic pride for young people in North Texas. I commend the students for 
volunteering their time on the Congressional Youth Advisory Council. 
Without a doubt, every student will continue to play an important role 
in our community for decades to come, and that America and North Texas, 
will continue to benefit from their dedication, smarts, and service.
  To the members of the 2007-2008 Congressional Youth Advisory Council. 
Thank you. I salute you; God bless you and God bless America.

       My interview was conducted with Mr. Allen B. Clark. He 
     served in the United States Army as a Military Intelligence 
     Officer for the Fifth Special Forces. He was able to help 
     many of the operations in Saigon and give life to a Special 
     Forces unit started by him. Mr. Allen Clark gave me a 
     perspective of one who risked his life and sacrificed himself 
     for ideals that he believed in. Furthermore, he is the first 
     person whom I have met that has ever faced such adversity and 
     still succeeded in everything he has done. The adjustments he 
     had to make in order to accommodate his prosthetic legs and 
     his spiritual revolution attest to the integrity and strength 
     of his character. Mr. Clark taught me that one who faces 
     adversity never uses it as an excuse to fail, but rather as a 
     motivation for succeeding. If one has a dream, then it is 
     never out of reach even if the odds are against you. Standing 
     firm for principle, guides one in life and gives him 
     direction to make the choices that will allow him to be 
     satisfied with life.--Nabeel Lockmanjee
       For my veteran's interview, I interviewed my grandfather, 
     Theodore Wade Falconer. My grandfather served in the Navy 
     from September 1948 to September 1952 and worked up the ranks 
     from Seaman Apprentice to 2nd Class Petty officer. Ted was 
     born in Portland, Oregon on January 19, 1929, but grew up in 
     Coos Bay, Oregon. He joined the Navy after high school for 
     two reasons: one, he couldn't afford to go to college, and 
     two, the Navy had an exceptional electrical technician 
     program. After going through boot camp for 13 weeks, Ted was 
     shipped off to Treasure Island, where he went to a Navy 
     electrician training school. After 42 weeks of training, he 
     was then shipped off to the Naval Communication Station on 
     Guam, where he spent 16 months stationed there, while stating 
     that it had been the best experience of his Navy career. 
     After spending 16 months in a Pacific paradise, Ted was then 
     shipped off to Hunter's Point in San Francisco to re-
     commission an old World War Two troop transport for active 
     service in the Korean War. After six months of training, his 
     commission was up and he was discharged from the Navy. His 
     post military career was a successful one where he earned his

[[Page 4429]]

     masters degree and went to work for Texas Instruments for 33 
     years before retiring. After talking to my grandfather about 
     his military experiences, I saw a living example of all the 
     good virtues a person can posses; integrity, discipline, work 
     ethic, and respect. My grandfather is a perfect example of 
     these traits, focusing his actions based on these virtues. 
     With this, I learned about not only his military experiences, 
     but also how important it is to use these core values as he 
     used them throughout his life. Anchors aweigh.--Joshua 
     Womboldt
       Veterans have done a service for our country with their 
     selfless acts during the war, regardless of how large or 
     small their sacrifice was. Charles Pearson made his life the 
     best that he could, and was part of the crucial moment of the 
     Japanese surrender in World War II. As 2nd Lieutenant in the 
     Marine Corps, Mr. Pearson was sent to Okinawa and fought the 
     Japanese on the island for a lengthy period of time. After 
     being sent to Guam to rebuild his division, Mr. Pearson and 
     his men who survived the previous assignment were sent to 
     Japan, just north of Tokyo Bay. Their mission was to verify 
     the Japanese's surrender. Mr. Pearson and his men prepared 
     for a possible attack from the enemy, even though an attack 
     would result in a complete destruction of their ship. Bravely 
     entering the enemy's territory, they were relieved that the 
     Japanese had indeed surrendered. After the peace treaty was 
     signed in 1945, Mr. Pearson was finally sent to China to help 
     improve the economy and send the remaining Japanese back to 
     Japan. In 1946, Mr. Pearson returned home. Since the war, Mr. 
     Pearson has fulfilled his dreams by living a quiet and 
     peaceful life on his family farm in Frisco, Texas.--Rena 
     Sheng
       Russell Friese was born in Alto-Pass, Illinois in 1915. 
     After hearing many achievements about brave young men risking 
     their lives for freedom, Mr. Friese decided to enlist and 
     leave with the next shipment of troops for training. He was 
     asked to serve in both the Navy and the Marines but turned 
     down both offers and asked to be stationed in the Army 
     because he knew that he could be more constructive there. He 
     was stationed at Fort Mead in Maryland before going overseas. 
     He received umbilical hernia surgery during boot camp. He was 
     a Private at the time: and his unit was taken overseas. They 
     infiltrated ``Hitler's hideout'' in Salzburg, Austria. During 
     one of the unit's firing missions, Private Friese jumped out 
     of a tank and rolled his right knee. Since then he's had many 
     surgeries and to this day he walks with a cane. He received 
     two battle stars and ended his military career as First 
     Sergeant. He was recently named Grand Marshall in September 
     of 2007 on Veterans Day. Friese is 93 years old and currently 
     lives in Anna, Illinois. Russell's story showed me how 
     determination and love for the U.S. can win freedom for 
     others to take pleasure in. He has encouraged me to stand up 
     for what I believe in and to fight for those beliefs with 
     vigor and passion. Russell's story told of values and beliefs 
     that are in the government and in every American's goal for 
     the future. He showed how perseverance can help you strive to 
     achieve anything with a good heart if you are willing to do 
     so. Finally if we work together as a team, we can all 
     accomplish numerous tasks, and win a war or two.--Alexis 
     Webber
       I interviewed Peter Perry, a former Sergeant in the United 
     States Army, and now a U.S. world history teacher for 
     McKinney High School. During Mr. Perry's service he learned 
     that ``* * * I can do a lot more than I thought. It showed me 
     many different kinds of people in the world than I had 
     encountered previously. It gave me respect for the longer-
     term and career soldiers. Most important, it taught me how to 
     take charge of my life, to organize, plan, overcome 
     difficulties, and to persevere.'' Personally from this 
     interview I gained experience learning how life will be for 
     me within the next nine years. I am going to attend either 
     the United States Naval Academy or the United States Air 
     Force Academy next year and talking to veterans gives me a 
     real outlook on what experiences I can look forward to in the 
     future.-- Sean W. Gent
       Interviewing my grandfather was a life changing experience. 
     Never before had I realized the importance of preserving our 
     history of the United States armed forces. No matter how big 
     or small an action, being a part of the military is something 
     in which my grandfather is proud to say that he has been a 
     part of. Growing up in a military family, my grandfather's 
     transition into the army was not a foreign ideal. Having been 
     familiar to the lifestyle of a solider, it was easy for my 
     grandfather to adjust to the sometimes harsh living 
     conditions. However, regardless of the struggles, being in 
     the military was an award winning experience. ``The army has 
     provided me with so many opportunities and advantages in 
     which I am grateful for . . . it has also provided me with 
     life learning lessons in which I will always carry with me . 
     . . and continue to pass it on to my children . . . people 
     often take for granted what the army does for them . . . 
     being part of the U.S. armed forces is a big responsibility 
     in protecting our country's freedom.''--Mellissa Stepczyk
       I interviewed Commander Martin Nell of the Plano VFW, who 
     served in Vietnam as part of the 1st Amphibian Tractor 
     Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division. He had a diverse range 
     of experiences during his time in Vietnam, and he went into 
     detail about the things he encountered and the people he 
     met--American and Vietnamese--and their impact on him. He was 
     in many combat situations and grew up rapidly during his time 
     in the service. His most poignant remark during our interview 
     was that with regards to dying in battle, he accepted that 
     fact, ``When it's your turn, it's your turn.'' Talking with 
     him was like traveling back in time, and I learned a lot from 
     him about the turbulent era in which Vietnam cast a large 
     shadow over and the cruel ways in which many of the veterans 
     were treated after their brave service in Vietnam. Finally, 
     when comparing his military life to his civilian life, he 
     told me that ``Everyday is a war. In Vietnam I fought for my 
     country and nowadays I fight for my family.'' I will never 
     forget that quote.--Nirjhor Rahman
       Allen Clark has done a lot with his life. As the son of an 
     Army father, he graduated from West Point in 1963 and went on 
     to volunteer for action in the Vietnam War. While there, he 
     set up a secret unit whose ultimate goal was espionage 
     against Cambodia. During a mortar attack in 1967, Mr. Clark 
     was severely wounded and lost both of his legs. Since then, 
     he has suffered through depression and bouts with PTSD, but 
     has always fought back and has become an extremely successful 
     man. He has been awarded numerous medals, been very 
     successful in business/politics, and is always busy with 
     giving speeches in the DFW area. Interviewing a person who 
     has traveled as far as him, both emotionally and physically, 
     was an experience most do not get. I feel that I have learned 
     a lot from Mr. Clark because he seems to have life figured 
     out, and I'm very lucky to have met him and to be able to 
     have spoken with him about his life's events and the way he 
     reacted to them.--James MacGibbon
       My name is Mark Macmanus, and I interviewed Major General 
     Charles R. Bond of the United States Air Force. Second 
     Lieutenant Bond found himself too old to get a commission, 
     and that made getting into a fighter impossible. Until he 
     heard about the American Volunteer Group in China, headed by 
     Claire Chennault, he knew it was where he belonged. They had 
     a fighter waiting for him. He quickly headed to China. Bond 
     was thrilled to have his own P-40 Tomahawk. After World War 
     II started, several battles and raids took place and his 
     kills started to add up. It was May 4, 1942 where he gained 
     fame among the now called Flying Tigers. During a bombing 
     raid he quickly got off the ground ready to fight. He looked 
     back to realize he was alone against 25 bombers. He took down 
     1 bomber, and then 3 Japanese Zeros shot him down. He had 
     severe burns, but he continued to fight until July 4, 1942 
     when the AVG disbanded. For his valiant actions he received 
     the British Distinguished Flying Cross. This story that was 
     relayed to me was an experience that I will never forget. It 
     showed me how many stories of soldiers there are, and how 
     they are all heroes.--Mark Macmanus
       Michael L. Coffman entered the Vietnam Conflict as an E1 
     Private, and returned as an E5 Specialist. He worked 
     logistics in Europe during the war, and made sure that 
     soldiers, military equipment, and supplies were where they 
     needed to be at all times. When the time came that these men 
     and supplies needed to be transported, he would make sure 
     that the trains were at the right place and the right time, 
     and that all the necessary clearances had been provided for 
     the move. After this, he became a trainer to other trainers, 
     instructing them on how to keep up with new army regulations, 
     as they changed frequently. This experience taught me that 
     not all soldiers that make a difference in the war do so with 
     a gun. Had Mr. Coffman not been where he was, and doing what 
     he did in the war, there would have been no soldiers to fight 
     and no guns to use. This interview gave me a new perspective 
     on the Vietnam Conflict as well. Not all of the soldiers were 
     unhappy to be involved, nor did all soldiers consider it a 
     negative experience. Some, like Mr. Coffman, gained valuable 
     knowledge from their experience, and thoroughly enjoyed their 
     time spent.--Jessica Huseman
       I chose to interview David Ramsey, an Airborne Forward Air 
     Controller in the Vietnam War. He received eight Air Medals, 
     awarded for all the combat missions that he flew in. In 
     addition to combat missions he flew various other types of 
     missions such as escort missions. The hardest part for him 
     while in Vietnam was having to be away from his family for 
     all that time. The best part for him was that he enjoyed the 
     high levels of patriotism that his fellow soldiers and 
     officers had. From interviewing him I learned that there is 
     more to being in the military than just shooting the enemy. 
     There is teamwork involved and friendships made in the 
     military, as well as fun to be had. I never knew that the 
     military was like this; I always envisioned it as just 
     shooting at enemies.--Kevin Zimmer
       Veteran Dr. Randall Friese proudly served his country as a 
     lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. Born in Baltimore, 
     Maryland, Dr. Friese became interested in the military when 
     he received a naval scholarship to complete his medical 
     residency. As a battalion

[[Page 4430]]

     surgeon, Dr. Friese served in operations around the world, 
     including Operation Southern Watch in 1998. One of Dr. 
     Friese's most memorable experiences was the opportunity to 
     travel. His assignments included a position at a naval 
     hospital in Japan and stations in the Middle East, 
     California, Dubai, and United Arab Emirates. Dr. Friese's 
     service ended in July 2001, and since then, he has become an 
     assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern 
     Medical Center at Dallas. As a surgeon and researcher in 
     trauma and critical care, Dr. Friese has published several 
     papers. His research on disruptions in Intensive Care Unit 
     patients' sleep was featured in the December 2007 issue of 
     the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care. 
     Grateful of the opportunity to serve his country, Dr. Friese 
     would recommend his experience in the Navy to young 
     Americans. After interviewing him, I gained a greater 
     appreciation and understanding of the many sacrifices of our 
     soldiers.--Amanda Lu
       Many citizens have carried a passionate gratitude towards 
     the United States government and have risked their lives in 
     order to better our nation. Eugene N. Close is a proud, 
     decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. He served as a team 
     leader in Company C, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 327th 
     Infantry, in Thua Thien Province in Vietnam. The war caused 
     much turmoil and many people disapproved of it and did not 
     support it. What happened there to Mr. Close has marked him 
     for life as it has too many other people. On April 21, 1970, 
     Mr. Close's platoon came under a ``sudden small arms fire'' 
     from four enemy soldiers. He was stuck by an enemy round but 
     regardless of his wound, Sergeant Close continued to fire and 
     saved the rest of his squad. It is this act of heroism that 
     makes America what it is today, to sacrifice their lives for 
     not only our freedom, but also for our pride, dignity and 
     honor. After conversing with Mr. Close, I have learned the 
     sacrifices people make for their country on a daily basis and 
     how we must not take this for granted. Veterans Day now has a 
     larger meaning to me and I admire the soldiers that are 
     willing to risk their lives for us. The very least we can do 
     is to give them our gratitude, hearts and minds for simply a 
     day. Samaritans such as Eugene M. Close have risked and given 
     far beyond anything we can wish to do ourselves.--Sibel 
     Kayaalp
       Charles B. Unger was born in Illinois to Robert Williams 
     and Ida Mae Unger and grew up with two brothers and a sister. 
     At the age of 23, he was drafted into the Vietnam War. 
     Although his family was uneasy about the draft, they 
     supported him. First, he attended Fort Leonard Wood in 
     Missouri for basic boot camp and training. The hardest thing 
     about this time was that he was ripped away from his daily 
     life, and thrown into a life of rules, schedules, and tough 
     workouts. But he also trained with helicopters in Ft. 
     Virginia, which led him to working at the helicopter bases 
     while stationed in Vietnam. From January of 1970 to December 
     of 1970, he worked 13 hour days, 7 days a week, taking 
     soldiers out, flying them in, and doing aircraft maintenance.
       While most of it was sheer boredom, there were also times 
     with unexpected terror. There was always the threat that his 
     base at Camp Evans could be attacked. Thankfully it wasn't, 
     and he was able to return home 2 days before Christmas in 
     1970. He still carries the values and lessons he learned 
     during the war and it has helped him to be successful in 
     life. After telling his story, he concluded by saying that 
     what we have in this country is valuable, and we better be 
     willing to fight for it. Charles and many other men were able 
     and willing to fight for our protection and I value the 
     courage it took to do so. I can only hope that the future 
     generations, no matter how anti-war they might be, will be 
     willing to fight for our freedoms and protect this beautiful 
     country.--Erin McGranahan
       Antonio Molina served in the United States Navy during the 
     Vietnam conflict in 1972. After growing up in southern 
     California, he enlisted himself in the Navy at the age of 
     seventeen as a seaman recruit (E-1) and left as a Commander 
     (O-5E). He helped with the evacuation and dismemberment of 
     military bases during the withdrawal of troops from the 
     region. In addition, he helped to clean up many of the mines 
     and other weapons left by troops as they were withdrawing. 
     After leaving the service, he eventually joined a local 
     reserve unit where he attended flight and officer school. He 
     now works in Hollywood using his military and technical 
     experience to create films and spends time stressing the 
     importance of veterans' issues including the existence of 
     post-traumatic stress disorder among the returning troops. 
     This experience stressed the importance of realizing the 
     impact combat situations have on the young minds of our men 
     and women who are fighting in conflicts worldwide from 
     Vietnam veterans to current Gulf War veterans. We owe it to 
     them to help them readjust to life back in the United States 
     just as we help them to adjust to life in conflict.--Laura 
     Rector
       In hearing a veteran's story, we become more appreciative 
     of the freedoms soldiers fight to protect every day. I had 
     the privilege of hearing the story of Specialist 4th Class 
     Gary Herrin of the 101st Airborne, 326th Battalion of the 
     United States Army. Herrin was born and raised in Amarillo, 
     Texas and was drafted into the Army in 1968 to fight in 
     Vietnam. He fought in the Battle of Hamburger Hill, placing 
     C4 and grenades in the North Vietnamese bunkers as the 
     infantry charged up the hill to clear the way for his 
     battalion which followed behind. Specialist Herrin was also 
     involved in numerous reconnaissance missions to scout out 
     sites for potential firing bases. If a site was chosen, 
     Herrin and his unit would clear the plot and construct 
     bunkers. On one particular reconnaissance mission, Herrin was 
     knocked off his feet by the concussion of a rocket-propelled 
     grenade and he sustained a bullet wound in the leg as Viet 
     Cong trackers opened fire on his unit. Ironically, Specialist 
     Herrin believes to this day that had the RPG not knocked him 
     off his feet, he would have been a standing target for the 
     V.C. bullets and probably would have been killed. Specialist 
     Herrin's story brought me to realize that there are people we 
     encounter every day with a story of heroic service to tell. 
     They are seemingly ordinary people that have done the 
     extraordinary by sacrificing their time and possibly their 
     lives to ensure that their fellow Americans and others around 
     the world are safe and free. We owe these heroes a debt of 
     gratitude and I hope that one day I too can serve my country 
     in an honorable fashion as our soldiers do every day.--
     Patrick Ivey

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