Extensions of Remarks 16093 Extensions of Remarks a Special Salute to Robert E

June 24, 1991 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 16093 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS A SPECIAL SALUTE TO ROBERT E. has served on the board of directors for Ohio those who fought for South Vietnam, espe HUGHES Savings Association and American National cially the officers. Bank. The tale of Tran Duat, a former major in Mr. Speaker, Bob Hughes is a committed in the South Vietnamese marines, is ample rea HON. LOUIS STOKES son for the U.S. government to put equal OF OHIO dividual, a talented politician, and a good treatment for all Vietnamese, regardless of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES friend. I am certain that members of his family, the side on which they fought in the war, on including his wife, Marguerite, and their chil the agenda in its discussions about re-estab Monday, June 24, 1991 dren-Tim, David, Jon, and Robin-share our lishing diplomatic relations with this self Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, those of us who pride in Bob's accomplishments over the proclaimed "proletarian dictatorship." are involved in the business of politics have years. His devotion to Cleveland and Cuya Duat, who now lives in the Washington found that although we belong to one political hoga County is unsurpassed, and I am proud area, was a stout-hearted and fearless fight party, we often form friendships with members to extend my best wishes to him for the future. er, to say the least. It was a reputation that of the other party. During my political career, doubtless marked him for an extended eight year stay in the so-called re-education camps I have come to know and respect a man who that the communists established throughout does not belong to my political party. That RECOGNIZING HUMAN RIGHTS VIO Vietnam after their triumph. man is Robert E. Hughes, who has just LATIONS WITHIN THE REPUBLIC The son of a midlevel Saigon bureaucrat, stepped down as the chairman of the Cuya OF VIETNAM Duat was commissioned in 1966, and his com hoga County Republican Party in Cleveland, bat tour lasted nine years. He was promoted OH, following 23 years of service. Just re HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER meritoriously twice for heroic leadership under fire. The list of major battles in which cently friends, family, and colleagues gathered OF ILLINOIS to pay tribute to Bob Hughes for his significant he fought includes the great 1968 Tet offen IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sive battles around Saigon and in Hue city. contributions to the Republican Party and our Monday, June 24, 1991 In the formidable North Vietnamese Easter community. I ri$e today to join in this salute to Offensive of 1972, he led his company of my good friend. At this time, I would like to Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, as this Nation troops to retake the citadel at Quang Tri share with my colleagues some of the high continues to heal from the scars of our in city. lights of Bob Hughes' career. volvement in the Vietnam war, we must not Duat accumulated a chestful of medals, in Bob Hughes grew up in Warren, OH, grad disregard the ongoing battle over human rights cluding the National Medal of Honor (equiva uating from Harding High School. He earned a violations within the Socialist Republic of Viet lent to the U.S. Medal of Honor) and various journalism degree from Ohio State University, nam. Our hasty withdrawal from this conflict Gallantry Orders with gold, silver and bronze stars. while writing for three Columbus newspapers. back in 1975 ushered in a Communist Gov He was wounded three times, twice by AK- Upon graduation, Bob Hughes was called to ernment which has repeatedly violated the 47 bullets and once by shrapnel from a B-40 active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. He rights of its southern military captives. We rocket grenade. served as a platoon leader and a company must not attempt to bury this painful and tur In the final, tragic hours of the war, Duat commander. bulent period in this Nation's history by turning kept his battalion together, fighting in their Mr. Speaker, following his military service, our backs on the plight of our former allies. In positions east of Saigon until the last mo Bob returned to Ohio where he became a re stead, we must operate through diplomatic ve ment. They learned on the radio that the porter for a small Ohio newspaper, and state hicles to undertake initiatives such as those Saigon government had surrendered. house reporter for the Associated Press be "We went back to our barracks, and I dis used during the Persian Gulf crisis concerning missed the battalion," Duat recalled. "One fore going to work for General Electric. the fate of the Kuwaitis and Kurdish refugees. of our sergeants shot himself in the head In 1961, Bob Hughes was selected as vice In a recent edition of the Chicago Tribune, right then and there. chairman of the Cuyahoga County Republican columnist David Evans emphasizes the mis "I took off my uniform and walked home. Party in Cleveland. Later, he became cochair treatment of the Vietnamese people through My mother just cried and cried," he said. man of the Cuyahoga County GOP, chairman the experience of a former South Vietnamese Later that day, April 30, 1975, a North Viet of the executive committee, and finally, chair officer, Tran Duat. Mr. Evans makes a power namese Army official came to the door and man of the board of elections. In 1975, Bob ful argument that our upcoming diplomatic re informed Duat that he was under house ar Hughes was elected chairman of the central rest. On June 14, loudspeaker trucks in the lations with the Vietnam Government should streets called for all former officers of the committee and was made sole GOP chairman. place human rights at the top of the agenda. Saigon regime to assemble, and they were His contributions to the Republican Party are He cites Vietnam's need for economic aid and deported to re-education camps. immeasurable and will certainly be missed. Western investment as a leverage tool to com Duat and 2,000 other officers were placed in Mr. Speaker, Bob Hughes has also worked pel this ignoble regime to recognize the basic the former camp of the U.S. Army's Black diligently to improve the quality of education in fundamental rights of its citizens. Horse regiment, the 11th Armored Cavalry. northeastern Ohio. He devoted his efforts to Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I submit for the "We were ordered to cut trees, build roads Cleveland State University; expanding the RECORD David Evans' ·account of Tran Duat's and clear mines. Some were killed trying to campus, bringing it into the State university remove the mines," Duat said. 16-year endeavor as a prisoner of war which They were given absurdly small rations of system, and serving 8 years on the board of surely serves as an example of the numerous noodles, Duat said, and the North Vietnam trustees. In addition, he contributed to the de atrocities committed by this Government and ese Army ordered the inmates' families to velopment of Cuyahoga Community College. as a cue for the United States to rectify them. send food. Bob Hughes has also played an integral role The article follows: "Every night, after work, we were forced in Cleveland's downtown development. He is [From the Chicago Tribune, May 31, 1991] to sit and listen to talk about politics," Duat said. credited with assisting in the improvement of HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD TOP U.S. AGENDA ON Cleveland's lakefront; the renovations of Pub The indoctrination sessions were thor VIETNAM oughly unconvincing. "They said [North Vi lic Square and Playhouse Square in downtown (By David Evans) Cleveland, and financing the expansions of etnamese] troops used rifles to shoot down WASHINGTON.-Abraham Lincoln's postwar B-52s," Duat recalled derisively. Mount Sinai, University and Hillcrest Hospitals, policy of "malice toward none" has been They were shipped to a former French pris and the Cleveland Clinic. turned on its head by the communist victors on northwest of Hanoi. The days were spent Lastly, Bob Hughes has donated his time of the Vietnamese civil war. To this day, clearing trees. Duat used some of the and talents to several banking institutions. He their policy is one of extreme malice toward survivial training he had received from the • This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 49~59 0--95 Vol. 137 <Pt. 11J 37 16094 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 24, 1991 U.S. Marines to find edibles in the forest. For far too long public safety TRUTH ABOUT THE NATIONAL RE- Even so, he lost weight. dropping to 76 telecommunicators have gone without proper PUBLICAN INSTITUTE FOR pounds. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS "I became so weak. I had to use my hands recognition. Their job is one the public seldom on my knees, like this, to stand up," he ges notices, but one that saves lives every day. tured. The joint resolution I have introduced today HON. ROBERT J. LAGOMARSINO There were beatings. It was obvious to will establish a National Public Safety OF CALIFORNIA Duat that the policy was one of extermi Telecommunicators Week for the second IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nation of the weak through forced labor and week of April each year. It is time that we Monday, June 24,1991 neglect.

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