Recognizing 65th Anniversay of Allied Landing on D-Day

Floor Speech

RECOGNIZING 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALLIED LANDING ON D-DAY -- (House of Representatives - June 02, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, on April 27, 2009, Chairman Skelton and I introduced H. Res. 259 to recognize the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the amphibious D-day invasion in Normandy, France and to express the gratitude and appreciation of the House of Representatives for their achievements and acts of heroism.

Madam Speaker, 65 years ago this Saturday marks the 65th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Overlord, commonly referred to as D-day, what would be the largest single amphibious assault in the history of the world.

On June 6, 1944, the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, said in his official message to the soldiers, sailors and airmen, ``You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave allies and brothers-in-arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe and security for ourselves in a free world.''

General Eisenhower then went on to express his confidence in their ``courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle,'' reminding our young men that the United States would accept nothing less than full victory.

So these brave and selfless young men, in the face of incredible danger and challenges, assaulted the Atlantic Wall--a series of military fortifications along Normandy's coast that consisted of minefields, bunkers and artillery emplacements. They courageously bombarded these fortifications, parachuted and glided behind enemy lines and stormed the beaches, code named ``Utah,'' ``Omaha,'' ``Juno,'' and ``Sword,'' to break the grip of the Nazi and fascist regimes and to restore the hope of freedom to Europe and to the entire world.

These were young men like combat medic and surgical technician Warren D. Blaylock of Alma, Arkansas, who served in the 67th Evacuation Hospital, which arrived at Utah beach shortly following the initial invasion forces. One of Warren's responsibilities was to seek out suitable places to treat and to care for the wounded--tents, schools, buildings or any other suitable cover that could be found to protect the wounded and other personnel from enemy fire.

In one instance, Warren recalls a situation in which German machine gunfire strafed his immediate area, and he dove into a foxhole. At that same moment, another soldier dove into the same hole, landing on top of him, angrily cursing the enemy. Warren looked up, and it was none other than his good friend Clovis Bryant from Van Buren, Arkansas, who would later become an Arkansas State senator. Warren would serve in five campaigns during his 2 years in Europe, part of that in support of Patton's 3rd Army into the Bastogne area until he was held behind to care for 23 wounded soldiers, all of whom survived thanks to his direct and excellent care. Warren D. Blaylock received the Bronze Star for his service.

While he is just one of many of Arkansas' native sons who served during this very dangerous time, his story is a testament to their bravery, skill and personal sacrifice in the name of freedom. This resolution honors Warren and all of those who fought to bring peace to Europe.

So I would ask all Members of Congress to take pause this Saturday and to remember the great accomplishment of these servicemembers and what the world might have been if not for the bravery, skill and selfless determination to preserve the universal human right of freedom.

I encourage all of my colleagues to thank those servicemembers on the 65th anniversary of their great endeavor for all of the sacrifices made by them and by their entire generation to secure victory and peace for the freedom-loving people of the world.

I would also like to express my appreciation to Chairman Skelton and to his staff for their assistance in bringing forward this resolution, as well as to Mr. McHugh and to his staff so that we might bring this to the House floor in time to honor these servicemembers prior to the 65th anniversary of this great feat. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

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