15224 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE July 18, 2000 the chairman, and this is not intended civilians in occupied areas during Chamorros from who worked at to single out Mr. Greenspan but to World War II. the Pan American station in Wake Is- apply to all past and present and future But, as is sometimes not understood land were not evacuated. They were ci- chairmen, that the chairman domi- about Guam, Guam is a unique story vilians, and these were people working nates the board. all to itself and it is an experience of for Pan American clipper station in If all this does not concern this Con- dignity in the midst of political and Wake Island. They were not evacuated. gress, then history will record the re- wartime machinations of larger powers Whereas, their counterparts, American sult. over small peoples and, as well, as a U.S. citizens civilians, were. f story of loyalty to America, a dem- The end result was that this handful onstration of loyalty that has not been TRIBUTE TO VETERANS OF PA- of Chamorro civilian and construction asked of any civilian community dur- CIFIC THEATER IN WORLD WAR workers ended up fighting like Marines ing the entire 20th century. II in the battle for Wake Island, and Guam, which had been an American many of them died and were placed in The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. territory since the end of the Spanish- prison camps. And after a long cam- HUNTER). Under the Speaker’s an- American War in 1898, was invaded in paign, we were able to provide those nounced policy of January 6, 1999, the the early morning hours of December Wake Island defenders with the bene- gentleman from Guam (Mr. UNDER- 10, 1941. Thus began a 32-month epic fits of veteran status as a result of WOOD) is recognized for 60 minutes as struggle of the indigenous people of their battle efforts at Wake Island dur- the designee of the minority leader. Guam, the , to main- ing World War II. Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I am tain their dignity and to survive during For the actual defense of Guam, it taking this opportunity for a one-hour an occupation by a brutal oppressor. special order to pay homage to the vet- In the months leading up to the war fell to the Guam Insular Guard and the erans of the Pacific Theater during in the Pacific, American military plan- Guam militia comprised of civilian re- World War II and especially for those ners had decided that it was not fea- serve forces, along with a handful of who participated in the battles for sible to defend Guam against possible Marines and sailors. The Japanese in- Guam and Saipan as part of a con- invasion forces by Japanese forces in vasion force, numbering some 5,000, flagration sometimes referred to as the the surrounding areas. All of the areas easily overwhelmed the American de- Marianas Turkey Shoot, one of the in Micronesia, save for Guam, were in fenders. And ironically, the only ones greatest naval victories during World the hands of the Japanese under a who really fired any shots in anger War II. League of Nations mandate and the with the Japanese were members of the On July 21, at the end of this week, most significant Japanese installations Guam Insular Guard, who had set up a the people of Guam will be celebrating being held in Saipan a hundred miles to couple of machine gun nests in defense the liberation of Guam. It is the day the north and the naval forces in the of the plaza and the governor’s offices. that commemorates the landing of the Truc Lagoon some 350 miles to the The signal that the Japanese had Third Marine Division on the shores of south. used to indicate that they had now Asan and the First Marine Provisional This decision was made because the taken over the island was to lay an Brigade supported by the 77th Army In- war plans up to that time had called American flag on the grounds of the fantry in Agat. for several fixed fortifications on Guam plaza. This was early in the morning, I want to send my greetings to the that required congressional appropria- so the sun had not fully risen, and to veterans of that conflict as well as to tions; and, unfortunately, due to rap- flash flashlights over it to signal air- draw and honor and pay respect to not idly moving events in the Pacific and craft overhead. only the U.S. forces who liberated tight military budgets, Guam did not Throughout the ordeal of the occupa- Guam from Japanese occupiers but also receive the necessary funds to build tion, the Chamorro people maintained to remember the people of Guam and any defenses in anticipation of World their loyalty to America and their the suffering that they endured during War II, a conflagration which everyone faith that American forces would soon the Japanese occupation. in the Pacific expected to occur at return to liberate them. The resistance Japanese troops had earlier bombed some time. against the occupation manifested and invaded Guam on December 8 and When the Japanese landed, they itself in many, many forms but none so 10, 1941, as part of Japan’s attacks on found 153 Marines, 271 naval personnel, powerful and costly as the effort to U.S. forces in the Pacific, including the and 134 workers associated with the help American servicemen who had de- attack, of course, on Pearl Harbor and Pan American clipper station and some cided not to surrender. on the Philippines, both areas having 20,000 Chamorros who were at that time Along with their other fellow service- also significant U.S. forces. under a status called United States na- men, seven U.S. sailors decided not to This commemoration, which I do an- tionals. All American military depend- surrender and they were captured one nually and which is marked by a laying ents had been evacuated from Guam in by one. Each in turn was hunted down of the wreath at the Tomb of the Un- anticipation of the war, with the last and killed by the Japanese occupiers. knowns, which I did last week, will ship having left on October 17, 1941, One fortunate sailor evaded capture honor the American veterans and re- pursuant to an order of the Naval Gov- throughout the entire 32 months of oc- member the sacrifices of the people of ernor Captain McMillan. cupation with the assistance of the Guam and will serve as a tribute for The other vulnerable territory, the people at the cost of numerous beat- the necessity for peace. For it is only Aleutian Islands in Alaska, were simi- ings and even beheadings. The story of in the remembrance of the horrors of larly threatened by their proximity to this one sailor, George Tweed, was war do we really truly remain vigilant Japanese forces. However, in that in- made into a movie entitled No Man Is in our quest for peace. stance, the army evacuated all of the an Island. My purpose this evening is to give an civilians off of the Aleutian inhab- historical perspective to the events we itants in anticipation of the Japanese The actual liberation of Guam began are commemorating on Guam and to invasion, thus sparing the people of the on July 21, 1944, and was preceded by a enhance the understanding of people Aleutian Islands enemy occupation. So serious bombardment which began in across the Nation of the wartime expe- that it ended up that the Chamorros, mid June. This was a time when they rience of the people of Guam and the the U.S. nationals in Guam, were alone thought the invasion of Guam was post-war legacy which has framed the among American civilian communities going to be an immediate follow-up to relationship of my island to the rest of to withstand the onslaught of an the invasion of Saipan in June of 1944. the United States. It is a story that is enemy occupation. After they began their preinvasion a microcosm of the heroism of the sol- To demonstrate how Chamorros were bombardment of the coast of Guam, diers everywhere and the suffering of treated distinctively, a handful of they were called back only 2 hours

VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:20 Nov 17, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H18JY0.003 H18JY0 July 18, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 15225 after the initiation of the bombard- Simultaneously, the southern beach- bombing raids flying out of Guam, fly- ment because of the ferocity of the bat- es of Guam were being braved by the ing out of what was then North Field tle for Saipan. So the invasion was ac- First Marine Brigade. However, this and now what is called Andersen Air tually called off for a period of about 5 less formidable, it is a lot flatter area, Force Base. weeks. was quickly interrupted by the only The importance of the Marianas as During the intervening 5 weeks fol- Japanese counter attack of the day. It the islands from which to prosecute lowing the original naval attack, the is also in those beaches that former not only an air war against Japan but onslaught of cruelty endured by the Senator Hal Heflin was wounded as a as the jumping off points for further Chamorros on Guam from their occu- Marine in Guam. landings in the Philippines and Oki- piers was incessant. This gave actually The people of Guam are a resolute nawa and Iwo Jima became crucial to 5 weeks for Japanese forces to reinforce and tenacious people, as was proved final victory. In effect, on their position in full anticipation and, over 56 years ago as they fought side by Guam became the forward naval base of course, gave them additional oppor- side with the Marine Corps partici- as Pearl Harbor was effectively moved tunity to mass the people on one side pating as scouts, lookouts, and even 3,500 miles to the west. And in the of the island. This increased brutality forming little pockets of armed resist- words of the victory at sea treatment and intensity of the atrocities and ance to Japanese occupiers. of the battle for Guam, it is said that marked the beginning of the end of the The liberation of Guam is commemo- Guam became the supermarket of the 21⁄2 year enemy occupation. rated as a time of solemn memory and Pacific struggle after the recapture in The invasion, dubbed Operation For- remembrance every year since World July of 1944. ager was scheduled for July 21 and was War II, because it is this special strug- From Guam, Admiral Nimitz set up preceded by a preinvasion bombard- gle of Americans liberating what must his headquarters for the balance of the ment lasting 13 days. be seen as fellow Americans that serves war. In the island-hopping strategy of Now, my colleagues have to under- as a reminder of the spirit of freedom the Pacific, the Marianas Islands were stand that this was an island 212 square and the high cost that must be paid to not to be leapfrogged since they were miles, had a preinvasion bombardment maintain it. an integral part of Japan’s defensive lasting 13 days in large measure due to structure. The ferocity of the Marianas b 2045 the experience of the battle of Saipan campaign was an indication of the and the invasion of Normandy, there The Chamorro people suffered severe blood that was to be shed in later cam- was a lot of rethinking about the na- privations and cruel injustices under paigns. On Saipan, the Americans en- ture of preinvasion bombardment. the 3-year occupation by the Japanese countered a phenomenon that had While this bombardment leveled where hundreds lost their lives. Thus never been encountered before but they most fortified structures in Guam, it the mutual and sacrificial experience would subsequently see in greater and also acted as a stimulus for further of Guam’s liberation holds unique dis- greater numbers, the site of hundreds atrocities against the people of Guam. tinction in the hearts and souls of both of Japanese soldiers and civilians com- And as the bombardment continued, the Marines and the soldiers of the 77th the Chamorros became more restless mitting suicide by jumping off of cliffs infantry, and their story is the story of rather than surrendering. At places and the Japanese, realizing their ensu- liberators from without and liberators ing fate, inflicted further brutality and that are now called Suicide Cliff and from within. One came down from the Banzai Cliff on Saipan, American sol- mass slaughter against my people. mountain while the others came from The preinvasion bombardment had diers and Marines could only watch the shore and some came from places been preceded by numerous air raids helplessly as civilian noncombatants called and Agat and others, the beginning in February 1944, 5 months chose death over surrendering to an ones coming in from the ocean, came earlier. After the bombardment, under- enemy that they believed would com- from places like Brooklyn and Des water demolition teams, UDT teams, mit atrocities against them. And while spent 4 days sweeping the shoreline, Moines. This special kind of spirit in sporadic kamikaze raids had been en- making the marine invasion possible. the liberation of Guam which was not countered in some air battles, naval air It is maybe perhaps an apocryphal seen in any other battle during World battles, nothing could compare to the story, but the Navy, the UDT, put a War II was very obvious in the 50th an- mass suicides that stunned the Amer- sign on Asan on the shore of Guam say- niversary of the liberation of Guam in ican forces. ing ‘‘Welcome U.S. Marines’’ signed 1994 when so many thousands of vet- All of these factors weighed into the ‘‘U.S. Navy.’’ erans came back, still very tearful, decision to avoid an invasion of Japan The U.S. Marines landed on the nar- still very appreciative and still very and the eventual use of atomic bombs row beaches of Asan and Agat to crawl understanding of the unique nature of on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Again as up their way to what is now known as this battle. we all know the Marianas played a piv- Nimitz Hill. The men of the Third Ma- The importance of this particular otal role in providing the airfield in rine Division were thrust wave after battle for the war was very important Tinian where the bombers loaded with wave onto Asan Beach, already littered to winning the war against Japan. The the world’s first atomic bombs were with Marines that had come before defeat of the forces on Saipan and launched. them. And once on the shore, the U.S. Guam led to the fall of the Tojo gov- As I have indicated before, there is a troops were in the heart of Japan’s de- ernment and the recognition in Japan special dimension to the battle for fense fortifications. that there was no doubt left about the Guam which was not present in any This well-thought-out plan led to the outcome of the conflict with the other Pacific battle, indeed, any other heart of Japan’s defense fortifications United States. ‘‘Hell is upon us,’’ stat- battle during World War II. If you look and into the heart of the defense for- ed Admiral Nagano, supreme naval ad- at it historically, Guam was the only tifications climbing steep ridges. viser to the Japanese Emperor, and in- U.S. territory inhabited by civilians I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. deed it was as the Marianas was used that had been invaded and occupied by William Rose, who came to our wreath as the primary location for bombers to an enemy power since the war of 1812. laying in honor of the liberation of take off from airfields on Guam, This special relationship between the Guam last week, and he was a partici- Saipan and Tinian, Harmon, Andersen, liberated and the liberators, the people pant in this as a 16-year-old Marine. He North, Northwest Field, Isley Field, who suffered and endured and the peo- was in an advanced team of Marines Kobler Field and other names, very fa- ple who remained loyal and the people and he had lied his way into the Marine miliar to the men of the Army Air who came to liberate them and free Corps. He had joined at the age of 14; Corps, including one of our own distin- them from their occupiers is really re- and he went on to participate in guished members here in the House, flected in this very, very special por- Tarawa, Guam, and Iwo Jima, all as a the gentleman from New York (Mr. trait. This is a painting of a picture 16-year-old. GILMAN), who participated in many taken by a serviceman who stumbled

VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:20 Nov 17, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H18JY0.003 H18JY0 15226 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE July 18, 2000 onto two young Chamorro boys and lib- walls almost became transparent. I am harmless which is very common in erated them and these two young the only child in my family that was peace treaties. So here we have a situa- Chamorro boys have two flags that are born after World War II. For most peo- tion where in a very literal sense, the basically replicas of what they think ple, this was a very typical experience, people of Guam fell through the cracks an American flag should look like. It a very common experience. For most on this war reparations effort. Because was clear that when the servicemen Chamorros, the war challenged them in they were not U.S. citizens, they were first saw this and they first had the ex- these very direct ways. not included in the 1948 law. Two years perience of this, it was reported that There is an element to this story later they were declared U.S. citizens, many battle-hardened American serv- which does have a legislative end to it a few months later they were not al- icemen broke down at the sight of and which needs some resolution to it. lowed to submit claims against Japan these people and sobbed at the sight of A lot has been said about the sacrifices and they were still not included in the the children with the handmade Amer- made by U.S. citizens and our allies 1948 law. In 1962, this law was then re- ican flags, imperfect in their design yet during the war in the Pacific, World amended in Congress, but at that time perfectly clear in what they were rep- War II. The story that I just told about the people of Guam were still not in- resenting. This was these boys’ presen- the people of Guam has not really been cluded in the law. There was no rep- tation of that same flag which had ear- fully understood in the context of how, resentation of anyone from Guam in lier laid on the ground in Guam and what do you do with the experiences of 1962 here in the House of Representa- which the Japanese commander waved these people. The people of Guam at tives. As a consequence, that effort did the flashlight over as a sign of victory. the time of the Japanese occupation not include the people of Guam. The people of Guam had endured were not U.S. citizens. They were in a So what I have done is there is a much during the occupation of their is- category of people called U.S. nation- piece of legislation which has the sup- land. There was forced labor, particu- als. That is to say, they were in polit- port of members of the Committee on larly in the last few months as the Jap- ical limbo, fully anticipating that one the Judiciary. I am proud to say that anese hurriedly built defense fortifica- day they would become U.S. citizens. the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. HYDE) tions and air strips on the labor of men Because they were in this particular who is himself a veteran of the conflict and boys as young and 13 and 14. There situation, in 1948 the U.S. Congress in the Philippines fully understands was confiscation of food to feed the passed a law that compensated U.S. and supports this effort. I am proud to thousands of Japanese soldiers brought citizens for their experience during say DANIEL INOUYE over in the Senate in from Manchuria as garrisoned troops World War II, including forced labor has a companion measure which is ba- to fight off the invasion. This led to and internment. The people of Guam sically identical to the measure which some form of malnutrition affecting all were not included in that legislation has been reported out of the Com- of the population of Guam, especially because, A, they were not U.S. citizens mittee on Resources, which is to create the children. In a postwar study of the at the time and there was a bill that a commission to study the claims of children of Guam, those who were born Congress had passed in 1945 designed to the people of Guam, those who still re- after the war were on the average two give them property compensation but main of the original 20,000 who sur- inches taller than those children who not compensation for the trials and vived the occupation, probably less were born right at the beginning of the tribulations. The way the law that was than 6 or 7,000 remain today as living occupation or just before the occupa- passed for Guam worked was that if embodiments of that experience, to tion. Those who had grown to adoles- you wanted to make a claim beyond study the claims and for the commis- cence prior to the war were also taller $5,000, you had to personally come to sion to make recommendations regard- than the children of the occupation. Washington, D.C. and present your ing that. And there was the forced marches claim to a Navy committee with some I am hopeful that this legislation will and eventual internment in camps near congressional involvement. Of course, see the light of day and that it will places called Maimai and Manengon. in 1945 most people on Guam were sim- bring to light and bring honor and Manengon was where most of the peo- ply trying to piece their lives together, memory to the people who did suffer. ple went and Manengon today still is a so not much happened. So what hap- Many names come to mind in this ef- testimony to that. It has a river run- pened with most people in Guam is fort that we have undertaken and we ning through it, has lots of bamboo, that the Navy officials who were adju- have tried to move this legislation over lots of coconut palms, it is a very heav- dicating these claims on Guam would many years. I cannot let this rest with- ily wooded area. As people were simply offer a dollar amount for an in- out again bringing honor to one indi- marched, many were shot or bayo- jury. In one instance, a real life exam- vidual in particular, a young lady at netted or executed or beaten for mov- ple, a gentleman got $90 compensation the time by the name of Beatrice ing too fast or too slow as whole fami- for loss of his thumb. Another family Floris who later on married Mr. lies, young and old, made their way in got $300 compensation for loss of their Emsley, Beatrice Floris Emsley who as ox carts and , water buffalos father. When the 1948 law was passed, it a 13-year-old survived an attempted be- and just on foot and carrying each offered, of course, a whole range of dif- heading by Japanese soldiers. They at- other. And in the camps, the people ferent options and an unending time tempted to behead her. She felt a stayed for weeks with no food, waiting period in which to resolve these claims thump, she was dumped into a shallow for their deliverance and hoping that that would arise out of the activities of grave, left for dead for 2 days, finally the Japanese would not carry out the the Japanese government. At the time dug her way out, it was a shallow grave threats to kill them all which of course the theory was that the U.S. Govern- so she could still breathe, and for the were numerous and in many instances ment had confiscated much Japanese next 3 days kind of wandered aimlessly the Japanese did try to carry out some property, had frozen all Japanese as- until American soldiers discovered her. of these threats. sets. This was the pool of money In this entire panorama of experi- through which people who suffered at b 2100 ence, there were naturally heroic sto- the hands of the Japanese were going The interesting thing about Mrs. ries and very dramatic tales. But most to be compensated. The people of Guam Emsley, and she was a great woman, is experienced the war as a time in which were not included in that legislation. that she never liked to talk about this their families were put at risk. My par- In 1950, the people of Guam were de- experience. Of course, it was a very ents lost three children during the war. clared U.S. citizens. A few months painful experience. There are not very Two were buried in areas that my later, Japan and the United States many people who would survive an at- mother can remember but which we signed a peace treaty which then stat- tempted beheading. And if any of us cannot really find today. My elder ed that U.S. citizens could not file have ever seen stories of these atroc- brothers and sisters became so ill. One claims against Japan for the experi- ities, that was a favored method of exe- was so malnourished, the stomach ence of the war. It was kind of a hold cution, simply a big Samurai sword

VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:20 Nov 17, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H18JY0.003 H18JY0 July 18, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 15227 would come down and basically make a in Japan and the Philippines and the global stability and economic growth fatal cut in your neck, sometimes de- Pacific Islands. will hinge upon the delicate regional capitating people right on the first All of these things have happened interplay of security, trade and the stroke. since then, the Cold War and Guam’s peaceful resolution of grievances. This young lady at the age of 13 did vital part in the Cold War, and also its The Pentagon’s reexamination of the not like to talk about it. I remember part as a staging area again for the Ko- role of Guam within this is refreshing when I was in high school I used to see rean conflict, as a major B–52 base for and prudent and necessary. What re- her, and we would always say, did you the Vietnam conflict, as a very impor- mains to be seen, however, is whether get to see Mrs. Emsley’s scar? Some- tant part of the network of basing and this renewed look will result in re- times young people, not being as sen- forward presence of the United States newed commitment, and that is sitive as they should be, would take in Asia and being a part of the Cold through budgetary support and con- note of it. War struggle; now we are beyond the crete action. In any case, the people of Mrs. Emsley proved to be the most Cold War, but the importance of Guam Guam stand ready to join the military courageous spokesperson for this gen- has, nevertheless, taken on new dimen- in a renewed partnership. eration of a very courageous people, be- sions as we try to figure out what we July 21, the end of this week, will cause we would ask her to come to are going to do in that part of the mark the 56th anniversary of the Lib- Congress to tell her story, and she world. eration of Guam. In Guam, this is the would. She did so at great personal sac- Guam is the only American territory single biggest holiday. Its recognition rifice and discomfort for herself, but on the other side of the dateline that of the unique nature of the history of her words were remarkably free of any has a $10 billion military infrastruc- the island, commemorating not just bitterness. ture. It is the only place where Amer- the fact that the Marines and the sol- She never said anything that could ican forces can operate with complete diers conducted themselves in a heroic be considered unkind. She never said a freedom and mobility without having way to defeat what was ultimately a hostile word. She only recounted the to consult local authorities or foreign brutal, oppressive enemy, but it is also experience and the brutality of the war countries. It is the place which dem- a commemoration of the fact that the and then made a special plea for rec- onstrates and which continues to dem- Chamorro people were tested severely; ognition of the Chamorro people of onstrate that America is a Pacific they not only survived, but they proved Guam. power and an Asian power. that they could thrive under the most The very first piece of legislation As we contemplate what we are going difficult circumstances. that I was able to pass as a Member of to do in the 21st Century, and as we de- Mr. Speaker, in that interplay be- this body, and I did so with the assist- termine what is going to be our strat- tween the Chamorro capacity to sur- ance of the gentleman from Minnesota egy on strategic vision in the 21st Cen- vive and the Chamorro capacity to deal (Mr. VENTO), at that time who was tury, and it would be, I think, sim- with adversity and the fact that the chair of the Subcommittee on National plistic to simply say that China has Americans did come back and the fact Parks and Public Lands, to him I owe somehow replaced the Soviet Union, that the Chamorro people were them- a great debt for helping me with this, but we certainly need to consider what selves Americans, it is in that inter- and Mrs. Emsley, was to construct a the challenge of China means to us as play that makes this particular com- memorial wall of the War in the Pa- we consider all of those elements and memoration, I think, unique amongst cific National Park. all of the areas that could go wrong, all the other commemorations of World There is only one national park that that could provide serious involvement War II and why it continues to have a is devoted to the attention to the war of American forces, whether it is very powerful hold upon the people of on the Pacific, and that happens to be things going wrong in Southeast Asia, Guam. in Guam. We did build a memorial wall as we look at what is going on in Indo- If one can understand the scene of listing all of the people, the soldiers nesia, and the problems with the rebels Guam as in Washington, D.C. or any- and the Marines and servicemen, who in the Philippines and the disputes place else here, it is seen as a very iso- died in the Liberation of Guam and the over the Spratlys or the issues that are lated community, a very insulated People of Guam who died and were in- pertaining to and China, or the community. All of my days as a child, jured and who were subjected to force possibility of a Korean conflict on the I looked forward to Liberation Day. We labor interment. Korean Peninsula, which hopefully will had a great parade. We would see lots Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, Mrs. dissipate over time; all of that has of recreations of the war experience. Emsley has since passed away. I cannot Guam as a very important part of it. We would see a lot of military people let any commemoration of the Libera- Even in a more peaceful scenario in parade up and down. We would see a lot tion of Guam pass without drawing the Pacific, if we pull out of Guam, if of community floats, and there would special attention to her courage and we pull back from Guam, we are really just be a lot of spirit of contentment her dedication and her genuine human- going to pull out of the eastern hemi- and commemoration mixed with happi- ity. sphere. We are really going to have to ness and laughing and also some seri- Today, as we try to resolve these pull back all the way to Hawaii, and ous reflection upon this. issues, it brings attention that Guam that would basically mean that the We also had at that time the Island’s has a very important role, not only in United States is no longer an Asian only successful carnival, islandwide World War II, but also today. And as power. carnival. It would be what would be Guam’s Representative here in the In the early part of the 1990s, there seen here as a county fair atmosphere. House of Representatives, as a Member was a lot of knee-jerking, I believe, in All of those things together really ce- of the House Committee on Armed the military that tended to deempha- mented our understanding of what it Services, I have frequently maintained size the importance of Guam. The means to be American. and tell the message that the Euro-cen- military until recently not only dra- I have to say this with a very strong tric focus, much of our attention, not matically reduced their presence on sense of pride in my people and the only economically but sometimes in Guam, but closed down a ship repair fa- people that have brought me here to terms of strategic vision, is an anach- cility, forced thousands of loyal civil Washington, D.C. to represent them ronistic vestige of a by-gone-era. service workers to leave the island that they did something that is re- We often heard the cliche that the through very ill-advised commercial markable, is historical and stands as a last 100 years was known as the Amer- outsourcing studies. In order to bal- great testimony to their potential, ican Century, and that the next 100 ance this, we are happy to see that their loyalty, their devotion to duty years will be known as the Pacific Cen- there is a new emphasis on East Asia. and their commitment and their capac- tury. After World War II, America’s We on Guam recognize that we live in ity to survive. As we deal with legisla- Asian presence was relegated to bases a very important neighborhood where tion here in the House, or as we deal

VerDate Aug 04 2004 12:20 Nov 17, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H18JY0.003 H18JY0 15228 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE July 18, 2000 with what sometimes appears to be b 2115 mental people, a community of busi- very mundane matters, when compared COLORADO AND ITS NATIONAL ness leaders, a community of regular to the kinds of sacrifices and tribu- PARKS citizens, a community of water experts lations that we pay homage to, at a have come together as a team and to- time when we reflect upon great con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under morrow we are about to pass out of the the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- flagrations like World War II, it really Committee on Resources one of the uary 6, 1999, the gentleman from Colo- is with a sense of awe and a sense of most significant bills to come out for rado (Mr. MCINNIS) is recognized for 60 deep satisfaction that I am able to rep- the State of Colorado in many years minutes. resent them. called the Colorado Canyons Bill. Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, tonight I In order to set you up this evening so Later on this week, ironically, there want to talk about a number of sub- that you can properly follow me will be a time to review the World War jects but before I do, first of all, I want through this bill, which I think by the II memorial, which will be built here to address the preceding speaker, the way is very interesting, I do not think on the Mall. There is some level of con- gentleman from Guam (Mr. UNDER- you will be bored at all this evening, I troversy as to whether to build a me- WOOD). I thought his comments were first of all would like to just give a lit- morial to World War II. There is some excellent. tle preamble, as you might say, or people who are saying that it is an in- I would like to note that my father, some basic facts for you to consider. trusion on the Mall between the Wash- who now lives in Glenwood Springs, First of all, the bill covers an area in ington Monument and the Lincoln Me- Colorado, fought off Guam when he was the Third Congressional District of the morial, and that somehow or another 18 or 19 years old, and we are proud of State of Colorado. That is the district this will somehow change the nature of him for that. Three times a week, I that I represent here in the House of that. guess, they would fly off to bomb Representatives. The Third Congres- Japan. He is one who I wish I would It is hard to believe and it is hard to sional District of Colorado is well- have known the gentleman was making known throughout the United States. imagine that there will be people actu- his comments this evening. I would It contains all or most all of the ski re- ally opposed to a World War II memo- have had my father tune in. He would sorts in Colorado and has many com- rial, only someone who is totally out of have enjoyed the gentleman’s com- munities known throughout the United touch with historical reality would fail ments. States, communities like Aspen, Colo- to understand what World War II Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, will rado, some of the world class skiing; means to the lives of everyone alive the gentleman yield? communities like Telluride, Colorado, today in the world. Mr. MCINNIS. I yield to the gen- with some of the most beautiful moun- I do want to point out that there was tleman from Guam. tain terrain you can find; Beaver a particular dimension of the memo- Mr. UNDERWOOD. Yes, I have met Creek, Colorado; Vale, Colorado; rial, which was envisioned when the the gentleman’s father, and it is with a Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Glen- very first memorial was proposed for great source of pride that I continue to wood Springs, Colorado; Durango, Colo- World War II, it had 50 pillars. I in- meet many people that were touched rado; Grand Junction, Colorado, nu- quired of the people that were building by the battle for Guam, and on behalf merous ski areas and many of the con- the memorial. I said what did the 50 of the people of Guam I want to ac- stituents of my colleagues have prob- pillars stand for? They said they stand knowledge the gentleman’s father’s ef- ably rafted on the Colorado River, the for each of the 50 States, and this is forts and thank him very much for par- Rhine Fork River, up in the Green how we are going to commemorate ticipating in the . River or on the White River or on the World War II. I said where is the pillar Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, the com- Blue River or in the Arkansas River. for Guam? They said that is not a ments of the gentleman from Guam All of these rivers have something to State. It is not part of the thinking (Mr. UNDERWOOD) were excellent. I ap- do or originate, many of them origi- that went into it. preciate that. nate, and certainly they all flow I also this evening wish to pass on through, the Third Congressional Dis- I was incredulous, because given just my condolences to the people of the trict of Colorado. the remarkable story that I have told State of Georgia and to the people There is something else very unique about the unique circumstance of the throughout this country who knew about the State of Colorado and the battle for Guam and the occupation Senator COVERDELL who passed away Third Congressional District in that and then the return of the Americans earlier today. It is a sad moment back the eastern border, and I will show this to Guam and all the unique Americans at the U.S. Capitol when there is a per- on a map later on if we have an oppor- liberating, in effect, other Americans, son who is really a gentleman and a tunity to get into multiple use, but on that that story for this memorial was scholar and a dignitary within his own a map that I will show you later on now not going to be included. So there ranks pass away. I know that the Sen- from the eastern border, which sim- proceeded a series of discussions over ator has gone on to a finer life, as we plified as a description, is basically a time. all dream of, but his acknowledgments highway called the I–25 interstate from I pointed out to them your memorial and his achievements while he was a Wyoming to New Mexico. The Third is historically inaccurate. There were United States Senator, while I had the District, by the way, is larger geo- only 48 States at the time of World War opportunity to work with him as a graphically than the State of Florida, II. So what does that mean for Alaska House Member, are tremendous. He but on that eastern border, clear to the and Hawaii? You said you are not hon- will not be forgotten. He will be long Atlantic Ocean, there is very little oring territories, but Alaska and Ha- remembered in these chambers, and in Federal land ownership, but from the his own chambers over on the Senate waii were territories at the time. eastern border of this Third Congres- side. sional District to the Pacific Ocean So after a series of discussions, we So for the Members and citizens of there are huge amounts of Federal land have now settled on 56 pillars. I am the State of Georgia and for all citizens ownership. very happy to report that at least we of the United States, Georgia, your loss As a result, when we deal with land had a little bit of a victory in getting was our loss and we pass on our deepest issues in the West, we deal with much, people to understand the true impact sympathies. much more with what is called public of World War II and the true dimension Mr. Speaker, this evening I want to lands. In the East, you do not deal with of all the contributions of all of those talk again a little bit about Colorado. the public lands near, not even close to people who live under the flag and who I want to talk about how a community the extent that we do in the West. It is participated in a very direct way in has come together. A community of simply because you do not have a lot of World War II. ranchers, a community of environ- them in the East. So the circumstances

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