[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 23707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA WWII VETERANS

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I am proud to honor a group of 90 
World War II veterans from all over Louisiana who traveled to 
Washington, DC, on September 26 to visit the various memorials and 
monuments that recognize the sacrifices of our Nation's invaluable 
service members.
  Louisiana HonorAir, a group based in Lafayette, LA, sponsored this 
trip to the Nation's Capital. The organization is honoring surviving 
World War II Louisiana veterans by giving them an opportunity to see 
the memorials dedicated to their service. The veterans visited the 
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima Memorials. They also 
traveled to Arlington National Cemetery.
  This was the first of three flights Louisiana HonorAir made to 
Washington, DC, this fall. It is the 18th flight to depart from 
Louisiana, which has sent more HonorAir flights than any other State to 
the Nation's Capital.
  World War II was one of America's greatest triumphs but was also a 
conflict rife with individual sacrifice and tragedy. More than 60 
million people worldwide were killed, including 40 million civilians, 
and more than 400,000 American service members were slain during the 
long war. The ultimate victory over enemies in the Pacific and in 
Europe is a testament to the valor of American soldiers, sailors, 
airmen, and marines. The years 1941 to 1945 also witnessed an 
unprecedented mobilization of domestic industry, which supplied our 
military on two distant fronts.
  In Louisiana, there remain today about 30,000 living WWII veterans, 
and each one has a heroic tale of achieving the noble victory of 
freedom over tyranny. This group had 25 veterans who served in the U.S. 
Army, 19 in the Army Air Corps, 29 in the Navy, 11 in the Marine Corps, 
2 in the Merchant Marines, 2 in the Coast Guard, and 2 were Army 
nurses.
  Our heroes, many of them from South Louisiana, trekked the world for 
their country. They fought in Germany, Holland, France, Italy, Africa, 
Guam, Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Philippines, 
New Guinea, Japan and Saipan. Their journeys included the invasions of 
North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy.
  One of our Army Air Corps veterans was declared missing in action for 
58 days in Yugoslavia after bailing out of his aircraft. Another Army 
veteran fought bravely in the Battle of the Bulge, while an Army Air 
Corps veteran made the Bataan Death March and spent 5 years in prison 
camps before being liberated on August 17, 1946.
  One Navy veteran earned a Gold star, Bronze star, and Hazardous Award 
for his service in the Pacific. An Army Air Corps veteran fought in 
Europe, Africa, and the Middle East where he received an Air Medal, 
three oak leaf clusters, and a Distinguished Unit Badge for his 
outstanding service.
  A Navy veteran earned seven campaign stars and was in Tokyo Bay the 
morning of the Japanese surrender. Another veteran served as part of 
the 101st Airborne, fighting in Holland, Bastogne, Alsace, Ruhr, and 
Berchesgarten.
  I am also proud to acknowledge that of the 90 veterans who visited 
Washington this past weekend, 5 were women who served our country with 
honor and distinction during World War II. Three brothers also made the 
trip together.
  I ask the Senate to join me in honoring these 90 veterans, all 
Louisiana heroes, who visited Washington, and Louisiana HonorAir for 
making these trips a reality.

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