[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15620-15622]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING AMERICAN TROOPS WHO DIED ON D-DAY

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1251) recognizing and honoring the United 
States troops who gave their lives on D-day at the Battle of Normandy, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1251

       Whereas June 6, 2010, marks the 66th anniversary of the D-
     Day landings at Normandy, France;
       Whereas more than 150,000 Allied troops participated in the 
     Normandy landings;
       Whereas approximately 70,500 Americans stormed the beaches 
     of Normandy on D-Day and more than 1,400 of them gave their 
     lives fighting for the cause of freedom;
       Whereas the U.S. Army Air Forces alone flew 8,000 planes on 
     more than 14,000 sorties during D-Day;
       Whereas more than 4,000 ships carrying soldiers and 
     supplies crossed the English Channel;
       Whereas 800 Allied planes dropped more than 13,000 men in 
     parachutes;
       Whereas more than 100,000 Allied soldiers made it ashore 
     while 9,000 of their comrades were wounded or killed;
       Whereas there are 9,387 graves in Colleville-sur-Mer, 
     America's cemetery in Northern France where all graves face 
     west, toward America;
       Whereas there are 307 graves containing the remains of 
     unknown soldiers;
       Whereas within the Garden of the Missing there are 1,557 
     names of soldiers who were never found;
       Whereas captured Germans were sent to American prisoner-of-
     war camps at the rate of 30,000 POWs per month from D-Day 
     until Christmas, 1944; and
       Whereas the Allied landings on D-Day led to the liberation 
     of France and culminated in the ultimate annihilation of the 
     Nazi empire: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the American troops who gave their lives in the 
     Battle of Normandy;
       (2) recognizes the 66th anniversary of the D-Day landings 
     at Normandy, France; and
       (3) expresses gratitude to the ``greatest generation'' of 
     Americans who fearlessly fought for freedom.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1251, to recognize and 
honor the United States troops who gave their lives on June 6, 1944, D-
day, at the battle of Normandy on the coast of France.
  I would like to thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Poe) for bringing 
this measure before the House.
  In June of 1944, Nazi Germany still controlled all of Europe, save 
those portions of Italy which had already been liberated. Operation 
Overlord, the code name for the main landing of Allied Forces in 
France, was to be the deciding battle of the war in Europe, opening up 
a major second front which would lead to the ultimate defeat of the 
Nazi regime.
  Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed that it 
was a battle that he would accept nothing but complete victory. Shortly 
after midnight on the 6th of June, 24,000 Allied Forces consisting of 
American, British, Canadian, and Free French parachuted behind enemy 
lines in Normandy. Their mission was to disrupt the German ability to 
successfully repel the upcoming invasion.
  During the night, the largest flotilla of vessels ever assembled 
before or since began its trip across the English Channel to disembark 
some 150,000 Allied troops across a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy 
beach. The initial beach assault began at 6:30 that morning. The code 
names of those beaches are seared in our memories: Utah and Omaha, the 
American objectives; and Sword, Gold and Juno, the British and Canadian 
objectives.
  Approximately 70,500 American soldiers went ashore as part of a 
larger operation to secure beachhead from which to continue the 
offloading of troops, supplies and equipment necessary for the push 
across France into the German homeland.
  This undertaking was one of the largest single amphibious operations 
ever conducted in the history of warfare. On that one day, American 
Armed Forces suffered an estimated 5,400 casualties with 1,400 killed 
in action. The immeasurable sacrifices of those men should never be 
forgotten.
  House Resolution 1251 is our way of commending the United States 
Armed Forces who participated in Operation Overlord for their 
leadership and valor in a mission that helped bring an end to World War 
II. This resolution commemorates the actions of heroism and military 
achievement by those soldiers.
  So I now call upon the Members of the House to join me in supporting 
this resolution, thereby expressing our common appreciation and 
gratitude for the members of the United States Armed Forces involved in 
the D-day operations and honoring the sacrifices made by our fellow 
countrymen so that others around the world may continue to know the 
gift of freedom.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1251, as amended, which 
honors the members of the United States military who died on D-day, 
June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy.
  I want to commend Representative Ted Poe of Texas for sponsoring the 
legislation.
  The facts of the opening day of Operation Overlord, the start of what 
General Eisenhower called the ``crusade in Europe,'' are clearly set 
forth in the text of the resolution. This was the largest amphibious 
operation in history.

                              {time}  1450

  The 1st U.S. Army Group, responsible for the landings on Omaha and 
Utah beaches was commanded by Omar Bradley, known as ``the soldiers' 
general,'' and, I might add, a native of Missouri.
  In breaching German defenses, the Allied Forces suffered more than 
10,000 casualties on the first day of the invasion. More than 1,400 
Americans died.
  Beyond the facts of the invasion, however, is the heroism and 
unselfish sacrifice of the men who carried out this most magnificent 
operation. Because of that heroism and sacrifice, the door to Hitler's 
Fortress Europe was cracked open.
  So it's entirely fitting that today, 66 years after that historic 
day, we take

[[Page 15621]]

the time to honor and commemorate the men who made the ultimate 
sacrifice on June 6, 1944.
  Moreover, I would also urge my colleagues to take the time to 
individually thank every previous and current member of the Armed 
Forces they encounter for their service.
  I heartily recommend that all my colleagues vote ``yes'' on this 
resolution.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time, Madam Speaker.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Again, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Poe for 
bringing this to our attention. At the end of what was possibly the 
greatest movie ever made, ``Saving Private Ryan,'' the central 
character played by Tom Hanks is a Captain Miller, and, as he is dying, 
he says in a voice barely more than a whisper to the character that is 
playing Private Ryan, ``Earn this.'' It is a phenomenal message for 
every American, and it is great that Congressman Poe brought this 
message to the floor for those of us who are here and the descendants 
of those who survived that battle to say ``Thank you'' to those who 
didn't.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 1251, a resolution to recognize and thank the men and women 
of our Armed Forces that participated in the D-day invasion on June 6, 
1944 at Normandy, France during World War II.
  June 6, 2010, marked the 66th Anniversary of Operation Overlord, the 
D-day invasion at Normandy. On that fateful day, 160,000 Allied 
troops--31,000 Americans--landed on a heavily fortified 50-mile stretch 
of beach at Normandy. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation 
a crusade in which ``we will accept nothing less than full victory,'' 
and he was certainly correct in that statement. More than 5,000 ships 
and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-day invasion, and by day's end on 
June 6, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Normandy. However, this 
success bore a heavy cost--more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed 
or wounded--but more than 100,000 soldiers began the march across 
Europe to defeat Adolf Hitler.
  With a deep sense of appreciation, I would like to express my 
gratitude as well as the gratitude of the people of Georgia's Eleventh 
Congressional District to the brave individuals who acted heroically on 
D-day when they landed at Normandy and took control of the Axis 
opposition, inevitably leading to the end of World War II. I commend 
the members of our Armed Forces for their leadership and valor in this 
operation that led to Allied victory and an end to Nazi oppression in 
Europe.
  Madam Speaker, let us not forget the brave men and women who made the 
ultimate sacrifice on D-day and gave their lives for the freedom that 
we, as Americans, enjoy every single day. The nearly 10,000 graves in 
Colleville-sur-Mer, the largest United States cemetery in Northern 
France, appropriately all face west toward the United States, 
symbolizing our deep appreciation and eternal memory of the heroes that 
gave their lives for liberty. Indeed, the democracy on display here 
today in this chamber is a testament to the courage and dedication of 
the United States Armed Forces. The sacrifice of lives for the cause of 
American liberty will never be forgotten and should never be taken for 
granted.
  Let us also make certain that we remember those individuals who are 
in harm's way today in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of our Armed 
Forces are giving their best effort--day in and day out--to keep 
America safe at home and abroad through the Global War on Terror. They 
have also sacrificed to secure liberty and democracy for other nations 
and people who desire to be freed from political oppression and given 
an opportunity for self-determination.
  I believe that the brave men and women who sacrifice for our present 
freedoms deserve our fullest support. Our nation's service men and 
women represent the best our country has to offer, and they must be 
treated with the respect and honor they deserve. As we ask these 
courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines--and their families--
to do more and more, it's only right we continue doing all we can for 
them. Recognizing the success of our members of the United States Armed 
Forces who participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-day is just 
one small reminder of the superior job our troops do at home and 
abroad, and it is my hope that we will continue to do all we can for 
the members of our Armed Forces.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, we honor the brave men who 
stormed the beaches of Normandy 66 years ago. I hope H. Res. 1251 
causes Members of this body and our Nation to pause, even if for just a 
moment, and remember what 70,000 brave Americans did on June 6, 1944. 
June 6, 2010 marked the 66th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.
  It was an invasion whose timing depended on Mother Nature as much as 
anything. Only a full moon would provide enough light. The tide had to 
be low enough to allow those manning the landing crafts to see German 
obstacles on the French shore but high enough for our troops to avoid 
too much unprotected beach.
  Code-named ``Operation Overlord,'' the invasion would give Allied 
Forces a chance to break the Nazi's hold on Western Europe, but was 
expected to come at an extremely high cost. For paratroopers, including 
members of the 101st Airborne and the 82nd Airborne Divisions, the 
likelihood of death was seventy percent.
  On the day it launched, even the Supreme Allied Commander, General 
Dwight Eisenhower, was uncertain the invasion would succeed. He penned 
a note, to be released in the event of failure, stating that all blame 
was entirely his.
  At 0630, on the morning of June 6, Americans landed on two of five 
Normandy beaches earmarked for the invasion: Utah and Omaha. Bombers 
did their best to pave the way. The B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 
Liberators, and B-26 Marauders filled the sky. Their task was to drop 
their 500 pound bombs right at the water's edge, to stun or kill the 
Germans in their pillboxes, forts, and trenches. Lt. William Moriarity, 
a B-26 pilot, said, ``As we approached the coast, we could see ships 
shelling the beach. One destroyer, half sunk, was still firing from the 
floating end. The beach was a bedlam of exploding bombs and shells.''
  Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., former President Teddy Roosevelt's son, 
was in the first boat to hit the shore at Utah beach. Maj. Gen. Ray 
Barton had initially refused Roosevelt's request to go in with the 8th 
Infantry, but Roosevelt had argued that having a general land in the 
first wave would boost morale for the troops. ``They'll figure that if 
a general is going in, it can't be that rough.'' Almost all the 
objectives were accomplished. In the span of 15 hours. the Americans 
put ashore at Utah more than 20,000 troops and 1,700 motorized 
vehicles. By nightfall, the division was ready to move out at first 
light on June 7 for its next mission.
  If the Germans were going to stop the invasion anywhere, it would be 
at Omaha Beach. It was an obvious landing site with the only sand beach 
within 25 miles. There was no way to outflank it, with cliffs on each 
side. Fortifications and trenches could be easily built on the slope of 
the bluff, giving the Germans the high ground looking down on a wide, 
open killing field. Although Eisenhower hated the idea of assaulting 
it, it had to be done. The gap between Utah and the British beaches was 
too big.
  When the ramps went down, the Germans opened fire. ``We hit the 
sandbar,'' one coast guardsman recalled, ``dropped the ramp, and then 
all hell poured loose on us. The soldiers in the boat received a hail 
of machine-gun bullets.'' The bluffs were too steep for a vehicle or 
even a man to get up them. So the plan was to go up the ravines 
instead. But the Germans knew this and zeroed in on the ravines, 
raining artillery fire down on them.
  Junior officers and noncoms who had been college students two years 
before were pinned down at the sea wall and couldn't retreat. It was 
absolute chaos behind them. But they couldn't go up the ravines or stay 
where they were. They were getting butchered because the Germans had 
fixed their mortars on them and were coming down on top of them.
  So junior officers across the beach looked at the situation and said, 
``The hell with this. If I'm going to get killed, I'm going to take 
some Germans with me.'' And he would call out, ``Follow me,'' and up he 
would start. Sgt. John Ellery of the 16th Regiment, was one of those 
leaders said, ``we sometimes forget, I think, that you can manufacture 
weapons, and you can purchase ammunition, but you can't buy valor and 
you can't pull heroes off an assembly line.''
  In 1964, Walter Cronkite interviewed General Eisenhower on Omaha 
Beach. Looking out at the Channel, Eisenhower said, ``It's a wonderful 
thing to remember what those fellows 20 years ago were fighting for and 
sacrificing for, what they did to preserve our way of life. Not to 
conquer any territory, not for any ambitions of our own. But to make 
sure that Hitler could not destroy freedom in the world . . . To think 
of the lives that were given for that principle . . . it just shows 
what free men will do rather than slaves.''
  Hitler didn't believe this was ever possible. Hitler was certain that 
the soft, effeminate children of democracy could never become soldiers. 
Hitler was certain that the Nazi youth

[[Page 15622]]

would always outfight the Boy Scouts, and Hitler was wrong. The Boy 
Scouts took them on D-day.
  In the end, it was no easy fight. More than 1,400 Americans lost 
their lives that day in a land they had never seen to free a people 
they had never met. For those who survived, the horrific sights and 
sounds of that day were singed on their memories. Many would return 
home, unable to ever speak of that fateful day again. The memories were 
too overwhelming to recall.
  Pvt. Felix Branham was a member of K Company, 116th Infantry, the 
regiment that took the heaviest casualties of all the Allied regiments 
on D-day. ``I have gone through lots of tragedies since D-day,'' he 
said. ``But to me, D-day will live with me till the day I die, and I'll 
take it to heaven with me. It was the longest, most miserable, horrible 
day that I or anyone else went through. I would not take a million 
dollars for my experiences, but I surely wouldn't want to go through 
that again for a million dollars.''
  For others, only a visit back to Normandy would break the chains off 
their lips and allow them to once again speak of that day. For us, 
today, 66 years later, we honor them and recognize their enormous 
accomplishment.
  It is impossible to exaggerate what they did that day. As renowned 
historian Stephen Ambrose put it, ``It was the pivot point of the 20th 
century.'' They won freedom for the world that day, but at tremendous 
cost. In all, 9,387 GIs lie in rest at Normandy.
  Today we say to them and the thousands of others who gave their lives 
that we will not forget your sacrifice. And that's just the way it is.
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 1251, and in honor of the United States soldiers who lost 
their lives on the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. Their 
heroic efforts on what we remember as D-day marked the turning point in 
the Allies defeat of the Nazi army during World War II.
  On June 6, 1944, more than 31,000 American troops and a total of 
100,000 Allied soldiers were carried by more than 5,000 ships across 
the English Channel. At Normandy, in what has become one of the great 
symbols of American bravery, they stormed the beaches. The efforts of 
these ground troops were supported by 31,000 Allied airmen, which made 
it the largest amphibious invasion in history.
  Of these courageous men, more than 6,000 United States soldiers died 
in battle and close to 9,000 Allied soldiers were injured or killed. It 
is because of their dedication to the cause of freedom that the Allied 
forces prevailed. These fallen soldiers were laid to rest in the 
Colleville-sur-Mer United States cemetery in Northern France. The 9,386 
graves face west toward the United States, and serve as a much deserved 
honor and remembrance of the sacrifice made by our Nation's heroes.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the lives 
lost in Normandy. We owe these soldiers our deepest gratitude and 
reverence for playing such a crucial role in ending the tyranny of 
Nazi-controlled Germany and helping to shape the world we live in 
today.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on June 6, 1944--D-day--Allied 
forces crossed the English Channel to land in Normandy, France. Code-
named Operation Overlord, the Normandy landing remains the most massive 
and complex opposed amphibious invasion in history.
  With tremendous courage, the Allies pushed entrenched German forces 
back from the beaches of Normandy. Thus began the liberation of France 
and the massive campaign that would ensure the defeat of Nazi Germany 
in western Europe.
  American leadership and the courageous sacrifices made by American 
servicemen and women were essential to the success of the operation. 
Led by President Franklin Roosevelt, Supreme Allied Commander General 
Dwight D. Eisenhower, and General Omar Bradley, American soldiers and 
airmen sacrificed dearly to defend the United States, our allies, and 
the world against the savage aggression of Nazi Germany and the Axis 
powers.
  Today, let us honor the courage and sacrifice of those thousands of 
brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the 
American people and the people of the world from tyranny.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res 1251, 
which recognizes and honors the United States troops who fought and 
died on D-day at the Battle of Normandy.
  On June 6, 1944, the Western Allies landed in Northern France and 
opened up a major military offensive against the Nazi German forces. 
After 5 years of worldwide warfare, the Normandy invasion proved to be 
a critical turning point in pushing the United States and its allied 
forces to victory. D-day remains one of the greatest beach landings in 
world history, involving nearly 3 million troops crossing the English 
Channel from England to Normandy in occupied France. The collective 
cost to the United States was terribly high, including more than 29,000 
killed and 106,000 wounded and missing.
  As a Member of Congress and the daughter of a World War II veteran, I 
believe I have a duty to honor the men and women who courageously 
served our country and gave their lives at the Battle of Normandy. 
Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of visiting the Battle of 
Normandy Memorial Museum during a congressional delegation and was able 
to get an up-close look at the strength and resilience of the Americans 
who served in the United States armed forces during the invasion of 
Normandy.
  Our country owes all veterans of this conflict a great debt for their 
service.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1251, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Recognizing 
and honoring the American troops who gave their lives on D-day at the 
Battle of Normandy.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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