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[Pages S3100-S3101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO THE ALEXANDER FAMILY
Mr. ROMNEY. Mr. President, it is my honor today to pay tribute to
five native Utahns who are brothers and veterans of World War II and
Korea: William, Gail, George, Jack, and Bert Alexander.
These five brothers answered the call to defend our freedom and the
freedoms of others from foreign invaders. Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan,
and the North Koreans believed it their right to attack and forcefully
restrict the freedoms of their neighbors, but these brothers recognized
that our freedom as American citizens is inextricably linked to the
freedom of our friends and allies. Remaining safely protected in
Northern Utah was not an option for the Alexander brothers; they
answered the call to take up arms and defend freedom's cause.
One brother, SGT Gail Alexander, was killed in action exactly 75
years ago tomorrow, May 24, 1944, during the Anzio campaign to retake
Rome, Italy. The Anzio campaign and then Operation Neptune--or D-day,
as it came to be known--marked an important turning point in World War
II, with the Allies beginning to liberate and retake German-occupied
Europe, restoring freedom to the French and Italians and subsequently
to the rest of Europe.
Prior to his death, Gail received a Purple Heart and Silver Star
citation for Gallantry when on February 4, 1944, after sustaining a
gunshot injury to his hand, he singlehandedly took out a
[[Page S3101]]
German machine gun position that had held up his entire company. Alone
and the his company under fire, Gail gradually ran 130 yards across the
battlefield, machine guns kicking up dirt on both sides of him and
artillery shells falling all around. He made it to the machine gun
position, knocking it out with grenades, allowing his company to come
out from under cover.
In the official military report of the incident, Gail's commanding
officer said, ``Sergeant Alexander's fearless action under direct
machine gun fire for twenty minutes, enabled our company to obtain the
objective . . . and prevented any further casualties to our own men.''
Gail's brothers William, George, and Jack all returned home after
serving in various capacities more than 2 years each all throughout the
European theater. The youngest brother, Bert Alexander, who just passed
away on April 2 of this year at the age of 87, was too young to serve
in World War II but still answered the call to defend liberty when he
embarked for service in Korea.
So today I, along with the entire U.S. Senate, honor these five
brothers, their Gold Star mother, and their families, both living and
deceased. We remember their tremendous service and sacrifice, and we
express our profound gratitude for their sacrifice in defending freedom
for us and for America's allies.
____________________
