[Pages S3465-S3466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONGRATULATING U.S. ARMY RESERVE ON ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY AND
RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF STROM THURMOND, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 213
submitted earlier today by Senator Helms.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

A resolution (S. Res. 213) congratulating the United States
Army Reserve on its 90th anniversary and recognizing the
important contributions of Strom Thurmond, the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, who served with distinction in the
United States Army Reserve for 36 years.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
<bullet> Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the resolution that I am offering
today, along with 28 other Senators, is intended to commemorate the
90th Anniversary of the United States Army Reserve and to honor the
soldiers who have served in the USAR, including our good friend and
Senate President pro tempore, Senator Strom Thurmond, who served with
distinction as an Army Reservist for 36 years.
Winston Churchill once remarked that ``the reservist is twice the
citizen.'' Indeed, the accolade ``twice the citizen'' serves as the
title of the definitive history of the U.S. Army Reserve that was
written by the late Colonel Richard B. Crossland and Colonel James T.
Currie, whose assistance was invaluable in drafting this resolution.
The concept that reservists fulfill multiple roles as citizens in their
community while simultaneously training for war and other military
operations was never more true than today.
Today's Army Reserve of almost 487,000 Ready Reserve and Standby
Reserve soldiers and 600,000 Retired Reserve soldiers is a far cry from
its predecessor, the Medical Reserve Corps, which was authorized by
statute on April 23, 1908. On that date, President Theodore Roosevelt
signed an act ``to Increase the Efficiency of the Medical Department of
the United States Army.'' The act provided for the commissioning of a
few hundred Reserve medical doctors, in order to avert future shortages
of officers, such as the one that had occurred during the Spanish-
American War.
Mr. President, since that modest beginning, the USAR has grown to
become a community-based force with over 1200 facilities across the
United States and more than 2000 units in the United States and its
territories.
While comprising only about 20 percent of the Army's organized units
and receiving only about 5 percent of the Army's budget , today's Army
Reserve includes 46 percent of the Army's combat service support (CSS)
assets and more than a quarter of the Army's combat support (CS)
assets. These assets include medical, engineer, transportation, civil
affairs, legal, military police, and psychological operations units
which are essential to any military operation.
From World War I when the USAR contributed more than 160,000 soldiers
to the United States Army, through World War II, Korea, Vietnam and
Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the soldiers of the USAR have been ready
when the President called upon them.
Even today, as we spend more and more of our limited defense
resources on so-called ``contingency operations'' and ``operations
other than war,'' the soldiers of the USAR and their families are
making the sacrifices necessary to serve their country.
Each year, the Army Reserve deploys approximately 20,000 soldiers to
50 countries worldwide on a variety of missions. In Bosnia alone, the
Army Reserve has contributed almost 15,000 citizen-soldiers,
representing more than 70% of the Army's reserve component
mobilization.
Mr. President, I recently received a letter from Colonel Herbert N.
Harmon (USMCR), National President of the Reserve Officers Association,
who suggested that I introduce this resolution.
I am honored to do so.
Mr. President, it is appropriate that Senator Thurmond and the
citizen-soldiers of the USAR be honored on the occasion of the Army
Reserves 90th Anniversary on April 23, 1998. For, in many ways, Senator
Thurmond's service as a reservist is the story of the consummate
citizen-soldier.
His remarkable record of service as a reservist began in 1924 when he
received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. By the
time he transferred to the Retired Reserve in 1965, Senator Thurmond
had risen to the rank of Major General, the highest rank available to a
Reserve Officer.
Then First Lieutenant Thurmond volunteered the day war was declared
against Germany even though his position as a South Carolina Circuit
Judge exempted him from service in World War II. He received a
commission in the active Army, became a member of the First U.S. Army
and was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division for the Normandy
invasion. It was during that action that he sustained an injury for
which he was awarded a Purple Heart.
While serving in Europe, Senator Thurmond served in all battles of
the First Army, which fought through France, Belgium, Holland,
Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, and Germany. In addition to the Purple
Heart, he received numerous other awards and commendations for his
heroism and valor, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal
with V device and the Army Commendation Ribbon just to cite a few.
Mr. President, it would be difficult to overstate Senator Thurmond's
contribution to the security of our country and our gratitude for his
exceptional service. Suffice it to say that he is, perhaps, the single
most qualified person ever to serve as the Chairman of the Senate Armed
Services Committee and that I am honored to have had the privilege of
serving with him for these past 25 years.
I am also grateful for the service and the sacrifices of the soldiers
who willingly serve in, and the families who support, the Army Reserve.
Their dedication, commitment, and accomplishments are properly noted on
this occasion.
Mr. President, I urge Senators to support this resolution and to join
me in honoring Senator Thurmond and the soldiers of the United States
Army Reserve. It's the right thing to do and I am confident that
Senators will agree.
I ask that the letter from Col. Herbert N. Harmon be printed in the
Record.
The letter follows:

[[Page S3466]]

Reserve Officers Association

of the United States,

Washington, DC, April 14, 1998.
Hon. Jesse Helms,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Helms: On April 23, the United States Army
Reserve will observe the 90th anniversary of its founding as
the first federal Reserve force established by the Congress.
During those 90 years the Army Reserve has served proudly and
effectively as a full partner in our nation's Army. Indeed,
today it is no exaggeration to say that the Army cannot
conduct any sustained operation without the support of the
Army Reserve. It is appropriate that the contributions of our
Army Reserve be recognized on this occasion.
Enclosed is a draft resolution that congratulates the Army
Reserve on its 90th birthday; commends the citizen-soldiers
of the USAR for their service and sacrifice; and recognizes
Senator Strom Thurmond, President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
and former national president of this association, who served
with distinction for 36 years in the Army Reserve, rising to
the rank of major general. We ask that you introduce this
resolution honoring the Army Reserve and Senator Thurmond.
We thank you for your support of our men and women in
uniform and for your support of this resolution honoring the
Army Reserve and Senator Thurmond. If we may be of assistance
to you in this matter, please let us know.
Sincerely,

Herbert N. Harmon,

Colonel, USMCR,
National President.<bullet>

Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolution be agreed to; the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to
reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 213) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

S. Res. 213

Whereas the United States Army Reserve was created by
statute on April 23, 1908;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve was the first of the
Federal reserve forces created by Congress;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve has played a major
role in the defense of this country for 90 years;
Whereas many notable Americans have served with distinction
in the United States Army Reserve, including Presidents Harry
S Truman and Ronald W. Reagan, the current Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry H. Shelton, Brigadier
General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Major General William J.
Donovan (Director of the Office of Strategic Services during
World War II), Drs. Charles H. Mayo and William J. Mayo, and
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker;
Whereas the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Strom
Thurmond, who received the Purple Heart for injuries received
while participating in the Normandy invasion with the 82d
Airborne Division on D-Day, served with distinction in the
United States Army Reserve for 36 years, rising to the rank
of Major General;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve contributed more
than 160,000 soldiers to the United States Army during World
War I;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve was recognized by
General George C. Marshall for its unique and invaluable
contributions to the national defense during World War II;
Whereas more than 240,000 soldiers from the United States
Army Reserve were called to active duty during the Korean
War;
Whereas 35 units of the United States Army Reserve were
sent to Vietnam, where they served honorably and well;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve contributed more
than 90,000 soldiers to Operations Desert Storm and Desert
Shield in 1990 and 1991;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve has contributed more
than 70 percent of the reserve soldiers mobilized in support
of Operation Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard in Bosnia;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve constitutes a very
high percentage of the mission essential combat support and
combat service support forces of the Army;
Whereas the Army cannot go to war without the 1,100,000
trained Ready Reserve and Retired Reserve personnel of the
United States Army Reserve;
Whereas the United States Army Reserve is a community-based
force with over 1,200 facilities in communities across the
United States; and
Whereas the United States Army Reserve has made these
contributions to the security of our country in return for a
very small percentage of the Army budget: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) congratulates the United States Army Reserve on the
occasion of the 90th anniversary of its establishment on
April 23, 1998;
(2) recognizes and commends the United States Army Reserve
for the selfless and dedicated service of its past and
present citizen-soldiers who have preserved the freedom and
national security of the United States; and
(3) recognizes Strom Thurmond, the President Pro Tempore of
the Senate, for 36 years of service with distinction in the
United States Army Reserve.

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