[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Pages 27708-27709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA WWII VETERANS

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I am proud to honor a group of 97 
World War II veterans from all over Louisiana who travelled to 
Washington, DC, on October 24 to visit the various memorials and 
monuments that recognize the sacrifices of our Nation's invaluable 
servicemembers.
  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 
travelled to Arlington National Cemetery.
  This was the last of three flights Louisiana HonorAir made to 
Washington, DC this fall. It is the 20th 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 servicemembers 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 HonorAir group had 41 veterans who served in 
the U.S. Army, 11 in the Army Air Corps, 33 in the Navy, 6 in the 
Marine Corps, 3 in the Merchant Marines, 1 in the Coast Guard, and 2 
were a part of Women's Army Corps, WAC.
  Our heroes, many of them from Southeast 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 veterans fought on the front lines in Europe and was 
held as a prisoner of war. Another Army veteran was wounded in Bastogne 
and received a Purple Heart for his service.
  One Army Air Corps veteran served in 37 combat missions between 1943 
and 1945 as a B-24 tail gunner. One Army veteran served in Normandy 
during D-day.
  Another Army veteran received five battle stars for his service. Yet 
another one of our Army veterans received a Purple Heart and five 
medals, including the Bronze Star Medal, for his service in Europe.
  I am also proud to acknowledge that of the 97 veterans who visited 
Washington this past weekend, two were women who served our country 
with honor and distinction during World War II.
  I ask the Senate to join me in honoring these 97 veterans, all 
Louisiana heroes, who visited Washington. We thank Louisiana HonorAir 
for making these trips a reality.

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