[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3623-3624]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE COMMEMORATION CEREMONY FOR VIETNAM VETERANS AT 
      THE JACKSONVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 23, 2016

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
veterans who served our country during the Vietnam War. On March 29, 
2016, a Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War will 
be held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery as part of a 13-year 
program to honor and give thanks to the men and women who defended 
freedom in Vietnam.
  The Vietnam War was one of the longest conflicts American forces have 
known and one of the most deadly. Before the war ended in 1975, over 
58,000 Americans would die and another 304,000 would be wounded. We do 
not have to relate those statistics to our Vietnam Veterans. They know 
them by heart.
  It has been said that no event in American history is more 
misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is 
misremembered now. History has told us that unlike in other wars, our 
troops were not driving across a country to hold land and capture 
territory. Many of the missions were designed to find and harass a 
jungle-hidden enemy, inflict casualties, and fall back to a well-
protected base. Our troops fought in canopied jungles, rugged 
mountains, on rivers, and through swampy lowlands. Many spent days--
weeks--in wet rice paddies far from any base.
  They fought for the noble cause of protecting the ideals we cherish 
as Americans. During our Commemoration, we will gather to thank them 
for their sacrifices and for the incredible dangers and hardships they 
endured for our country and for the ideals of freedom. This ceremony is 
a small gesture of grateful appreciation for the service these veterans 
gave our country.
  Each year I hold a ceremony to recognize veterans. I have been 
honored to learn the stories of more than 500 Vietnam Veterans over the 
years. In citations that accompanied the many medals they received, 
these veterans were commended as members of our Nation's and the free 
world's most versatile and potent striking forces. It was in Vietnam 
that helicopter-based, air-mobile operations first demonstrated their 
combat potential. Some were shot down; some wounded; and many served 
multiple tours. Collectively, veterans in my District received hundreds 
of medals including Bronze and Silver Stars and, of course, Purple 
Hearts. Several were POWs for long, agonizing years.
  Their service included jumping from aircraft despite enemy sniper 
fire to go to the rescue of downed soldiers trapped in battle. They 
worked tirelessly to direct tactical air strikes and artillery fire so 
their comrades could be airlifted to safety. They flew over the Red 
River into North Vietnam, and patrolled the brown waters of the Mekong 
River. They drove trucks through hostile territory to supply fellow 
soldiers and marines and ferried the injured to safety. Nurses and 
doctors administered aid and pastors heard too many final words. They 
provided maintenance to keep planes ready. Some walked through jungles 
and rice paddies and claimed they were just grunts. But, for those in 
the field there was often no hot chow, no showers, and no clean socks. 
For them, the fight was often against the weather, the red ants, the 
scorpions, and the leeches. The nights were long and punctuated with 
the distinct sounds of AK rounds, grenades, and M-16s. They sought out 
and

[[Page 3624]]

destroyed the enemy and defended key airfields and routes of 
communication while extending protection to millions of South 
Vietnamese. They did their duty and tried hard to leave no one behind.
  The memory of lost comrades never subsides. Their names are 
beautifully remembered on The Wall in Washington, D.C. Each name 
engraved in the black granite has a story that speaks volumes about 
bravery, ingenuity, and drama. When people say, freedom isn't free--the 
names on The Wall seem to answer, ``It was paid for by me.''
  The Commemoration ceremony in Jacksonville is a tribute to the 
service of all who served during that turbulent time. The unrelenting 
combat spirit and initiative of Vietnam Veterans bears testimony to 
individual acts of personal heroism and daring. Their loyalty, 
diligence, and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest 
traditions of the military services and reflect great credit upon them 
and our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in 
thanking our Vietnam Veterans for their valiant fighting spirit, 
perseverance, resolute courage, and selfless devotion to duty to each 
other and to our country.

                          ____________________