November 18, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1959 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS TRIBUTE TO BERT DORAN After three days of fighting, Doran was in ‘‘They told me right before the surgery a foxhole with two other men when a mortar that a lot of them don’t live through the sur- shell hit. gery, so that didn’t sound very good,’’ he HON. TOM LATHAM ‘‘It killed the one guy,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t said. OF IOWA know what happened to the other one. I A lot of people don’t live through the sur- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES probably was temporarily knocked out, and gery, but even fewer survive a mortar shell then I pushed up through . The guys from landing in their foxhole. Doran went through Thursday, November 18, 2010 the next foxhole came out and pulled me out, the 111⁄2 hour surgery 25 years ago without Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise to rec- put a tourniquet on my arm. Then I was car- problems. After all, having survived Iwo ognize Bert Doran, a World War II Marine ried out of there.’’ Jima, cancer is just another challenge to Corps veteran from Boone, Iowa, and to ex- The soil at Iwo Jima was composed nearly overcome. Now, looking back on his time in the serv- press my appreciation for his dedication and entirely of volcanic ash. ‘‘That’s what that whole island was,’’ ice, Doran vividly recalls stories of his serv- commitment to his country. Doran said. ‘‘My face was completely full of ice with sharp clarity. He claims that the The Boone News Republican is currently it.’’ military taught him discipline, and he’s running a series of articles that honors one Details are fuzzy for Doran, as he was on proud of joining a legacy of military service Boone County veteran every Tuesday from morphine at the time, but he remembers in his family—having had a brother, John F. Memorial Day to Veterans Day. Bert Doran being shipped out on a hospital ship, sent to Doran, fight in the Battle of the Bulge and was recognized on Tuesday, October 26. Saipan, and then flown to the Hawaiian is- his father serve in the Army during World Below is the article in its entirety: lands. War I. From there, after a month, he was sent to These days, Doran said, the military is dif- BOONE COUNTY VETERANS: BERT DORAN a hospital in Oakland, Calif., and finally to ferent. Soldiers now use technologically ad- (By Greg Eckstrom) the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, where he vanced weapons. The soldiers that are fight- ‘‘I was lucky I lived.’’ stayed for 11 months. ing, however, don’t seem to have changed The sentence came from Bert Doran, a Ma- ‘‘It was kind of a blur after I was wound- much. Ellis has a son that just joined the rine Corps veteran who served in World War ed,’’ he said. Marine Corps. When he was seen off, in addi- II under harsh fighting. He was injured in The blast had put so much volcanic ash tion to family members, Doran was there as Iwo Jima after three days of fighting in into him that he had lost his eyesight. He well. After all, Marines support each other— which half of his company was killed. Doran, said that at first, he could see a little light, both in WWII and today. however, isn’t exactly one to go down with- but after a surgery was attempted to correct ‘‘He wished my son good luck,’’ Ellis said. out a fight. his vision, he could see nothing. ‘‘They always talk about the Marines.’’ It’s that spirit that drove the 191⁄2 year old ‘‘They said my eyes were so full of that I commend Bert Doran for his many years who was born in South Dakota and moved to volcanic ash that they couldn’t see into of loyalty and service to our great Nation. It is them,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s the first thing I re- Boone at age 7 to join the military. Some an immense honor to represent him in the guys he knew said they were going to do it, membered at the hospital. One of their help and Doran decided he wanted to do it, too. was rubbing my face. Trying to get that ash United States Congress, and I wish him all the The reason he picked the Marine Corps as his out. I imagine it looked like a mask.’’ best in his future endeavors. branch of choice was a decision explained For the man that got through boot camp f just as easily. with grit and determination, however, his ‘‘It’s supposed to be an elite outfit, so it’s lost vision didn’t seem to slow him down. In RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVER- what I picked,’’ he said. his time at the hospital he learned Braille, SARY OF CHAPTER 227 OF VIET- United States Marine Corps, third division, and even took a trip up to New York City NAM VETERANS OF AMERICA ninth regiment, third battalion, K company with a group. was where Doran ended up, and after signing ‘‘They took us from there for a week up to up he was sent to California for boot camp. New York to the Institute for the Blind in HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY Boot camp was in San Diego, followed by New York City, and we were there for a OF VIRGINIA training at a portion of Camp Pendleton up week,’’ he said. ‘‘And they took us out to the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in the hills, ‘‘where all the snakes were,’’ big night clubs at night for eats and drinks. Thursday, November 18, 2010 Doran said. We met Guy Lombardo at the Roosevelt Boot camp was, as a bit of an understate- Hotel.’’ Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speak- ment, tough. He also married his wife, who was from er, it is my great honor to recognize the 25th ‘‘Boot camp was some of the toughest Ogden, during a furlough. When he went Anniversary of Vietnam Veterans of America training,’’ he said. ‘‘It was 8 weeks, and I had back to Philadelphia Naval Hospital, his wife Chapter 227. Founded in 1978, Vietnam Vet- to stay an extra two weeks because I came with him and got a job at the facility. erans of America, VVA, is the only national couldn’t swim.’’ It was at the hospital that Doran was pre- veterans organization exclusively dedicated to Tough was also a definition, also an under- sented with the Purple Heart for his service statement, that fit Doran, though. to his country. Vietnam-era veterans and their families. Cur- ‘‘I decided I was going to make it through After being discharged from the service, rently, there are 46 state councils and 630 it, so I did,’’ he said. ‘‘I lost a lot of weight Doran received training at the Veterans Hos- local chapters with more than 50,000 indi- after I went through boot camp.’’ pital in Des Moines on how to make rugs—a vidual members. VVA’s goals are to promote Leaving Camp Pendleton, Doran was next task he picked up quickly and enjoyed for and support issues that are important to Viet- sent overseas to Guam for further training. years. nam veterans, to create a new identity for this ‘‘It was supposed to be secured, but we had ‘‘I made rugs and that kind of stuff for 25 generation of veterans and to change public an eight day push to the jungles to clean out years,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve got to liking it.’’ perception of Vietnam veterans. what was left,’’ he said. ‘‘It was thick jungle. Doran also keeps in contact with the men We had to use knives to chop through.’’ of K company—sending out Christmas cards One local chapter, VVA Chapter 227, serves There were also plenty of snakes in the to a list that has slowly been dwindling as the needs of Vietnam veterans who live in jungle . although after time in the hills in the years go on. These days, he sends out Northern Virginia, and I commend them for Camp Pendleton, Doran was used to this. about 10–12 cards each year to men from the their dedication and commitment to our vet- It was January of 1944 that Doran left company. erans. Chapter 227 was founded in 1985 with Guam. Arriving at Iwo Jima on Feb. 26, 1945, Billie Ellis, who works for Boone County 15 people meeting at the NCO club at Fort he was greeted with fierce fighting. Public Health, helps Doran out at home, and Myer. Since then, the chapter has grown and ‘‘We were actually pinned down,’’ he said. knowing him for 25 years she describes him continues to be an engaged and active asset ‘‘About half the company had been killed. as a perfectionist. We had to wait for replacements. The cap- ‘‘He was a perfectionist and he still is,’’ she in the community. tain was killed the first day, my platoon said. ‘‘He likes everything done right.’’ Chapter services include providing support lieutenant was killed the first day. About 200 Over the years, the ash has been taken to homeless veterans, assisting in maintaining in the company. About half of them were from Doran’s face, although one piece next the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Wash- killed the first day.’’ to his nose did develop into cancer. ington, DC, awarding the Vince Kaspar Prizes ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.