[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1598]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    THANK YOU TO OUR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION NEW DAWN 
                                VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2012

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those men and 
women who have served this great Nation while conducting combat 
operations in Iraq over the past 9 years. From March 20, 2003 until 
December 31, 2011 our Nation's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines 
supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn while serving 
in Iraq. During this time they disarmed and removed Saddam Hussein from 
power, freed a country and its people from years of suffering under an 
oppressive dictatorship, and fought a brutal insurgency. Many members 
of our all-volunteer force, the greatest all-volunteer force in 
history, served multiple combat tours in Iraq during this time with 
little dwell time at home.
  More than 1.5 million members of the United States Armed Forces 
served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn conducting 
operations against a dangerous and determined enemy force. 4,474 
members of the United States Armed Forces made the ultimate sacrifice 
while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn and 
32,223 members of the United States Armed Forces were wounded during 
almost 9 years of military operations in Iraq. During this time four 
Medals of Honor, the highest United States award for military valor, 
were awarded for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New 
Dawn, additionally, at least 327 Silver Stars, 21 Navy Crosses, and 15 
Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to members of the United 
States Armed Forces.
  I stand today to recognize the tremendous personal sacrifice of the 
members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom and Operation New Dawn, many of whom were committed to multiple 
deployments away from loved ones, and the contributions of military 
families on the home front. The bravery and service of our all-
volunteer force, the best and the brightest that our Nation has to 
offer, adds to the enduring legacy of the proud history of our armed 
forces. I am committed to honoring the memory of these heroes for their 
courage and sacrifice. To all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and 
Marines who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 
New Dawn, welcome home and thank you for your service to the United 
States of America.

                          ____________________