[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12743]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TEXANS IN THE FORGOTTEN WAR: KOREA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Poe) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, an armistice was signed 62 years ago 
today to signify the official end of the Korean war. It was July 27, 
1953.
  This first conflict of the cold war occurred when communist North 
Korea invaded South Korea 3 years earlier.
  The defense of South Korea was supposedly a U.N. action, but as 
history shows, the United States, unprepared for this war, took the 
brunt of the fighting, along with the South Koreans.
  In the end, the war resulted in a cease-fire until both sides could 
``find a peaceful settlement.'' No settlement has ever occurred.
  This war has been referred to as ``the forgotten war.'' It is barely 
mentioned in our textbooks. Over 50,000 Americans were killed; 1,700 of 
them were from Texas.
  Thirteen Texans went above and beyond the call of duty in Korea. They 
received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their valor. Ten of them 
were killed in combat.
  Major George Andrew Davis, Jr., United States Air Force. While flying 
his F-86 Sabrejet, he and his wingman attacked 12 MIGs to protect a 
squadron of U.S. bombers.
  After shooting down two MIGs, he continued the fight until he was 
killed. His actions resulted in the U.S. bombers successfully 
completing their mission.
  Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen, United States Marine Corps, was 
killed 2 days before the cease-fire. He turned an overwhelming enemy 
attack into a disorderly retreat while supervising the defense of his 
position, the treatment and evacuation of the wounded.
  Private First Class Jack G. Hanson, United States Army. While 
covering the withdrawal of his fellow soldiers, Hanson, alone, manned 
his machinegun to stop the enemy attack. He was later found surrounded 
by 22 of the enemy dead. His machinegun and pistol were empty and his 
hand clutched his machete.
  Hospital Corpsman John E. Kilmer, United States Navy. In helping 
defend a vital hill position during an assault, he braved enemy fire to 
aid the wounded and was killed while shielding a wounded marine with 
his own body.
  Corporal Benito Martinez. Electing to remain at his post during an 
attack, he inflicted numerous casualties against an enemy onslaught and 
refused to be rescued because of the danger involved to his other 
fellow troops. His stand enabled troops to attack and regain the 
terrain. He was in the United States Army.
  First Lieutenant Frank N. Mitchell, United States Marine Corps, led a 
hand-to-hand struggle to repel the enemy, led a party to search for the 
wounded, and singlehandedly covered the withdrawal of his men before 
being fatally shot.
  Private First Class Whitt L. Moreland, United States Marine Corps. 
During an attempt to neutralize an enemy bunker, he covered an oncoming 
grenade with his own body. His self-sacrifice saved the lives of his 
fellow Marines.
  Second Lieutenant George H. O'Brien, Jr., United States Marine Corps. 
While wounded during an attack against a hostile enemy, he refused to 
be evacuated and continued in the assault. He set up a defense, aided 
the wounded, and covered the withdrawal so no one was left behind.
  Corporal Charles F. Pendleton, United States Army. He was mortally 
wounded by a mortar burst while heroically manning a machinegun and 
carbine during multiple waves of enemy attacks.
  First Lieutenant James L. Stone, United States Army, led his troops 
in a last-ditch stand of a vital outpost. He exposed himself to enemy 
fire to direct his platoon. When the final overwhelming assault swept 
over their position, a mortally wounded Lieutenant Stone urged his men 
to continue the fight.
  Master Sergeant Travis E. Watkins, United States Army, led 30 men of 
his unit when surrounded by the enemy. Through his leadership, a small 
force of those 30 men destroyed nearly 500 of the enemy before 
abandoning their position. A paralyzed Sergeant Watkins refused his 
evacuation, as his condition would slow down his comrades.
  Corporal Victor Espinoza, United States Army. During an attack, he 
singlehandedly destroyed an enemy machinegun, mortar position, two 
bunkers, and tunnel, taking a heavy toll on the enemy, with at least 14 
dead and 11 others wounded.
  Master Sergeant Mike C. Pena, United States Army. After ordering his 
men to fall back during a fierce attack, he manned a machinegun to 
cover their withdrawal. He singlehandedly held back the enemy until the 
next morning, when his position was overrun and he was killed.
  Mr. Speaker, 62 years later, on this day, we remember the sacrifices 
of these Texas Medal of Honor recipients and other Americans in the 
forgotten war.
  The Korean War Memorial down the street appropriately depicts 38 
uniformed Americans moving silently in the brutal cold and rough 
terrain in some forgotten place, in a forgotten war, in Korea. Mr. 
Speaker, let us forget this unforgettable war no more.
  And that is just the way it is.

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