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Congressional Record—Senate S13335

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Congressional Record—Senate S13335 November 18, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S13335 Marine GySgt John Basilone was 1 of cific Campaign Medal, World War II much a patriot, very much a military 10 children of an Italian-born tailor, Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Cita- man. He was a person who wanted to do Salvatore Basilone, and his wife Dora. tion with Star, and Presidential Unit what he could for his country.’’ He was born in Buffalo, NY and raised Citation with Bar. We must remember Private First in Raritan, NJ. After the war, John Basilone was re- Class Yancey’s family, in both Georgia He enlisted in the Army when he was buried at Arlington National Ceme- and Iowa, and stand with them during 18 and served in the Philippines, where tery. In 1949, the USS Basilone, a de- this time of loss and grief. The he picked up the nickname ‘‘Manila stroyer, was commissioned in his thoughts and prayers of countless John.’’ He fought as a light heavy- honor. Today, a life-sized bronze statue Americans go out to Private First weight prizefighter in the Army, going of him watches over his hometown of Class Yancey’s family and friends. He undefeated in 19 fights. He received an Raritan, NJ, and in 1981, Raritan began did not die in vain, but rather gave his honorable discharge after completing a parade in his honor. It remains the life for the promotion of freedom and his 3-year enlistment, returned home, only parade in the Nation dedicated to security around the world. He will be and worked briefly as a truckdriver. the memory of one veteran. sorely missed, but will also be an inspi- In July 1940, sensing war clouds on The National Italian American Foun- ration for future brave Americans for the horizon, John Basilone enlisted in dation, the Order of the Sons of Italy of years to come. the Marine Corps. In October 1942, he America, the Sergeant John Basilone f was serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Foundation, and veterans and marines Marines, 1st Marine Division, on Gua- organizations worked long and hard to U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL dalcanal. For 6 months, the Army and see this ‘‘plain soldier,’’ as John SERVING IN IRAQ Marines had fought a bloody battle to Basilone called himself, included Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I hold a critical airfield on that island. among the marine heroes honored on rise today to share with my colleagues On October 24, GySgt John Basilone the new stamps. We thank them for another positive story from a member and 14 other marines were ordered to helping to make a new generation of of the U.S. Armed Forces currently hold back many times that number of Americans aware of the service and serving in Iraq. His story, once again, elite Japanese troops. sacrifices of this son of an Italian im- depicts the frustration that so many of A private first class serving under migrant, a true American hero. our servicemembers have with the lack him would later recall that, ‘‘Basilone When he died, The New York Times of public attention in the U.S. to the had a machine gun on the go for three noted in an editorial that there always humanitarian and military successes of days and three nights without sleep.’’ had been Americans like John their work in Iraq. He fired machine guns, fixed guns, and Basilone, willing to fight for their I recently received a letter in the crawled repeatedly through Japanese country even when they knew their mail from Ms. Ann Sensenich of Boil- lines to get more ammunition. When luck wouldn’t last. ‘‘The finest monu- ing Springs, PA. Ms. Sensenich wrote the sun rose the next morning, the ma- ment they could have,’’ the newspaper to me: rines still held the airfield, and John said, ‘‘would be an enduring resolve by DEAR MR. SANTORUM: Enclosed is a copy of Basilone was credited by his men with all of us to this time fashion an endur- a letter I received from one of our soldiers giving them the will to fight on the ing peace.’’ serving our country in Iraq. I am forwarding most terrifying night of their lives. Let us never forget how much we owe this to you as I feel this is a letter that For his heroism at Guadalcanal, John Basilone and all those who have should not be viewed by only my eyes. John Basilone was awarded the Con- I have been sending packages to my em- given so much, over so many genera- ployer’s son in Iraq and he forwards them on gressional Medal of Honor and ordered tions, so that we can live free. to his soldiers and this is one of the re- home to take part in a war bonds tour. sponses I received. The tour brought in $1.4 million in f Please share this letter with anyone you pledges. He crisscrossed the country, feel would appreciate the service of this and met Hollywood startlets, and even met HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES all our U.S. soldiers defending our country his wife, another marine, at Camp Pen- PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DUSTIN YANCEY and keep in mind he indicated he would go dleton. He could have remained state- Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, back seven times before he would let terror- side for the remainder of the war but, today I address the Senate in tribute to ists on our soil. Thank you for reading this and please he turned down the bars of a second PFC Dustin Yancey, originally from share his words with others. lieutenant because, he said, he didn’t Cedar Rapids, IA and more recently Sincerely, want to become ‘‘a museum piece.’’ In from Goose Creek, SC. Private First ANN B. SENSENICH. his words, ‘‘I’m a plain soldier, and I Class Yancey was tragically killed on Attached to Ms. Sensenich’s cor- want to stay one.’’ So just before November 7, 2005 during Operation respondence is the letter that a de- Christmas 1944, he kissed his new wife Iraqi Freedom. His Humvee was struck ployed servicemember wrote to her goodbye and rejoined his ‘‘boys’’ in the by an improvised explosive device and when her package was shared with fel- Pacific. both Private First Class Dustin Yancey low servicemembers. He wrote: On February 19, 1945, SGT John and Captain James M. Gurbisz were DEAR ANN SENSENICH, I am deployed with Basilone was serving with the 1st Bat- killed. Private First Class Yancey the 3/3 ACR. We received your package, and talion, 7th Marines, 5th Marine Divi- served with the 26th Forward Support I just wanted to take a little bit of my time sion during the first day of the inva- Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Di- to say thanks. sion of Iwo Jima. He was on the island vision based in Fort Stewart, GA. He Your package helped with the morale of a less than 2 hours when an enemy artil- was only 22 years old. lot of soldiers. Due to the negative feedback lery round exploded, killing Basilone I ask that the Senate, the people of we get from the media and people back and four members of his platoon. He Iowa, and all Americans stand today home, it is nice to receive a package from had just destroyed an enemy block- and recognize the sacrifice that Private someone who supports us and what we do. People like you are the reason why we house, enabling the marines to capture First Class Yancey made yearlier this fight this war. We sit over here day to day another critical airfield. On his left month. Our country has survived risk getting shot at or having mortar rounds arm were tattooed the words ‘‘Death throughout the centuries due to the dropped in on us so that the people back before Dishonor.’’ John Basilone was 27 brave men and women who have com- home (like yourself) can keep on enjoying years old. posed our Armed Forces, and I am sad- the freedoms that a lot of people take for He was awarded the Navy Cross and dened to announce to the Senate that granted everyday. I, myself used to take Purple Heart posthumously, making another of our bravest will be buried in those things for granted also until I was de- him the only enlisted marine in World Arlington National Cemetery. ployed to fight for our freedom. This is my War II to be awarded the Congressional We could all learn from the patriot- second deployment, and this is the first time that we have received a package from some- Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, and ism and spirit of Private First Class one in the states. So, thank you for your un- the Purple Heart. He was also awarded Yancey. His cousin, Brian Yancey of selfishness, and don’t ever feel bad for the the American Defense Service Medal, Cedar Rapids, IA, remembered that soldiers that are over here fighting this war. American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pa- Private First Class Yancey ‘‘was very This is our job! This is what we were trained VerDate Mar 15 2010 20:52 Jan 30, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2005SENATE\S18NO5.REC S18NO5 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY.
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