Transcripts For CSPAN Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony 20240622

Ladies and gentlemen please stay standing. Let us pray. Internal lord, god, the source of our hope and dreams, we think you for the doolittle tokyo raiders. A group of 80 patriots who bathe himself the country loved. We are grateful for the morale boost their exploits provided. A beleaguered nation, infusing america with the spirit of hope when it needed it most. Lord, we ask your special blessings on the two surviving raiders, the retired with a net kernel Lieutenant Colonel and the Staff Sergeant. Bless also and comfort the families of a third doolittle raider, the retired Lieutenant Colonel, who recently died. Made inspiration we see from this congressional Gold Medal Ceremony that celebrates the humble heroism of the doolittle tokyo raiders, motivate us to live more laudable lives. We pray in your great name, amen. Amen. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, u. S. Representative from the 22nd district of texas. [applause] good afternoon here it i want to thank leaders of both parties for making this long overdue day happy. A special thanks on these endeavors. In my navy career, i have landed and taken off on military carriers many times. I want yall to know what these heroes did in 1942. That was the first day they dropped off a carrier deck and saw the rough waters come up to meet them. They spotted the hornets 12 hours before the intended launch. America could not lose the hornets. The men were given a choice. They knew it would go down in a many in enemy territory. All 15 bombers took off. That still had never been touched by a foreign power in 1000 years. Those 54 bombers did little damage to the japanese navies and armies. But the fear put into the japanese admirals made them want to have a fight with our navy in the pacific. We won that fight two months later at midway. After midway, america was going to win world war ii. That did not happen without the doolittle raid. This gold medal ensures we remember the heroes who saved our world from tyranny. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, u. S. State senator from ohio. [applause] thank you to legislative leaders. Thank you. This has been a long time coming. Four years since the doolittle tokyo raiders came to my Office Seeking recognition the raiders never fought for themselves. Go back to spring 1942. Americans were still reeling from pearl harbor. We had lost battle after battle in the pacific. Too Many Americans allied forces seem to be in retreat across the globe. Across the ocean in japans arrogance, it reached new heights. Japanese generals proclaimed that no one could launch an air attack against japan. Japan had never lost a war in its history. In that spring, 80 americans and barked on a mission many thought in possible. The airman knew the dangers. They knew many of them would not come home. The reader showed america and the world that yes, japan could be invaded. Yes, the u. S. And allied forces could win the war. After the war when they returned, when airmen returned, i talked little of their service. They went back to their lives in ohio, texas, illinois, louisiana , california. They blended into American Life of the 1940s. When asked about the raid by the new york times, Lieutenant Colonel saylor said it was just a mission we did in the war. We did what we had to do. Like my dad, the doolittle raiders came from a generation that spoke proudly of service to our country but rarely drew attention to their own courage. They sought no recognition but how they earned it. That is why i am honored play a role in the awarding of this metal today. To the raiders still living, also to the 78 no longer with us, thank you for what you did for this country. Because of you we live in a free and grateful nation. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the United States army band. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the majority whip of the United States house of representatives. The honorable steve scalise. [applause] good afternoon. Proud to be here with you today, especially as someone who represents part of the city of new orleans where we host the National World War Ii Museum will be pay tribute to those brave men and women of the greatest generation that defended our freedoms during world war ii. Almost 73 years ago today 80 brave airmen stepped forward and volunteer for a mission that they knew very well may be their last. These 80 men, the doolittle tokyo raiders, believed our freedoms and the defense of our nation, our american way of life, were worth risking their lives for. They believed that their selfless participation in this mission was simply, as they put it, doing their job. After japans attack on pearl harbor, the american war effort was diminished. Telegraphed a message to the rest of the world that america will not back down. That america will fight and win. Today, as members of the house and senate leadership, but more importantly as americans, it is our privilege in recognition of bravery, and Great Service to our nation. God bless america. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the democratic leader of the United States house of representatives, the honorable nancy pelosi. Senator brown, representative olson, thank you for giving us this opportunity. It is an honor to be here with all of you. Lieutenant general john hudson thank you for your leadership. Looking at the program, at all of these names listed here, what a heavy list of honor and courage. How wonderful that we are honoring them today. It is fitting that we come together today in emancipation hall. Today marks the 100 and 50th best 150th anniversary of the death of president abraham lincoln. As we gather to pay tribute of the impossible bravery of the doolittle raiders, president lincolns words ring true as ever. The world will little remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did. [applause] i take special pride because it was less than four months after pearl harbor come on april 2, 1942, that the u. S. Won its steam out under San Francisco bridge. Planes never intended to take off from an Aircraft Carrier planes that could never land back on the carrier, on the hornet, once launched. Their crews volunteered with a new nothing more than the missions importance would be matched by its perils. The training had been compressed into a few months. At every chance to back out these 80 men kept stepping forward to see the raid through. Hundreds of miles short of the launch point, 80 planes vaulted into the sky, racing toward the enemy homeland, placing their hopes in a successful crash landing on the chinese coast. Reeling from the surprise attack on pearl harbor, our nation needed a reason to believe. The doolittle raid was just that. In a letter to captain ted lawson after the war, the Commanding Officer of the uss hornet during the mission road to americans currently facing reverses on every front it brought electric shock of hope. As general Jimmy Doolittle wrote years later, our country faced with the greatest adversity we had ever experienced have fought back. Some were killed or executed. Some were grievously wounded. Some faced years of captivity. The doolittle raiders had pierced the invulnerability of the axis war machine. That given america a reason to believe victory was within reach. For all of those men who made it through the raid in one piece, the world was only the beginning. With many more Dangerous Missions ahead, more raiders would give their lives before the final victory was one. Ever into danger it was. I want to Say Something to the families of our members of the air force. As i travel europe and north africa, we always visit the american cemeteries there. What is always remarkable to me is as we look across at all of the tombstones and how proud and brave they were and how proud we are of everyone, we have to usually go to the wall to see the names of those who were in the air force because that is the way it is. No remains. I know that is another gift that the families give us, not just the courage of their family members but to have not being able to come home but nonetheless to be recognized for evermore on those walls. It is not any surprise that when we go to those walls we escorted usually by the air force. Everyone is in tears because of the Freedom People have given us with their lives. With their entire being. I thank you, families of the air force for that history. It is not any surprise that when we go to those walls we escorted usually by the air force. Everyone is in tears because of the Freedom People have given us with their lives. With their entire being. I thank you, families of the air force for that history. Those gifts to our country. [applause] after the raid, these men believed they had a job to do and they meant see it through, no matter how long or how hard it would be. Seven decades later, we are still awed by the audacity of the raid and the men whose grit and bravery made it possible. Your humbled by their humility. It will never dim the daring of their deeds. For their awakening of the indomitable spirit of our nation in the darkest hour of our need, we are proud to honor the doolittle raiders with the congressional gold medal, with thanks and respect. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the assistant democrat leader of the United States senate. The honorable dick durbin. Good afternoon. Think back for a moment. Where were you on september 11 2001 . We all have that memory. Something you will never forget. 60 years before, there was another day just like that in American History. December 7, 1941. A message which electrified america, we had been attacked pearl harbor. Brave men and women had died. War was declared just hours after in the hall of the u. S. House of representatives when president Franklin Delano roosevelt came and describes that day that would live in infamy. It was his job as commanderinchief to rally the American People and our forces to win that war. He summoned Winston Churchill to come across the ocean in need in the white house. Two weeks after pearl harbor Franklin Roosevelt sent the order to the military, attack japan. He knew he had to make the point that they were not invulnerable and he had to prove to the American People that we had the will to stand up and fight back against the odds. Lucky for him, and lucky for america, 80 brave americans stepped forward to volunteer for this mission. Some might have described it as a Suicide Mission. We are going to fly bombers off a carrier . Were not going to have fighter escorts . Were going to have to give up our armament because of these 500 pound bombs we have to transport such a great distance . Were going to find ourselves out in the ocean. As congressman olson said earlier, spotted by the japanese. Where going to have to ditch these planes after its over. Perhaps in russia, perhaps in the ocean. These 80 men stepped forward and said, we will do it. Nelson mandela was asked about courage. He said courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. These 80 men, the doolittle raiders, triumphed over fear. They went out on that mission and amazingly, 69 of them returned. I would like to recognize major griffith paul williams. A reader from my home state of illinois. Major williams copilot did the 1525 bomber. A flight that almost did not happen. One of the engine the plane was not working. The cannot get it running. The told him that if they could not get that plane up and running they would have to push it overboard when the other bombers launched. That is when Lieutenant Colonel Edward Saylor, the engineer said we are in this mission to stay. He to the engine off the aircraft and rebuild it and put it on the plane. When they asked him, do you think is going to work, he said a line we can all relate to. There are not any parts left over. [laughter] the engine worked. The mission was successful. Unfortunately, Edward Saylor passed away a few months ago. For he died, they asked him how it felt to be a hero and he said, there is no way you can call yourself a hero. As for someone else to say. Today, the congress of the United States of america is calling Edward Saylor and the other 79 doolittle raiders just that, heroes. On behalf of freedom loving people in the United States and everywhere we say thank you for your service and a job well done. [applause] ladies and gentle man, the majority leader of the United States senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [applause] for decades, a group of survivors gathered annually to remember a mission that never should have succeeded. From silver chalices before them the aroma of strong elixir. In chairs beside them, reminders of what they worked on together to accomplish. In empty spaces near them, reminders of what they had since lost. At the end of each ceremony, rollcall. Heroes saluted, fallen comrades remembered. With swills brandy, a toast to a Fateful Mission that helped change the course of war and with it, history. The success of their raid launched april 18, 1942 did seem improbable. Jimmy doolittles volunteers flew anyway. There were five extra crews and everyone wanted to go. One raider remembered one individual offered 1000 to anyone willing to give up their seat but there were no takers. 80 raiders took off that morning. Just over a year ago at the u. S. Museum of the national air force, three surviving raiders met to commemorate him. They were not alone. As their motorcade rolled forward, grateful crowds came into view. As their eyes turned upward, b25s soared overhead. The gratitude of an entire nation for each of them to see. A few weeks later, when the raiders met to clink goblets one last time, it wouldve been easy to think of so many empty cups with sorrow, but i hope they remembered all that have been gained instead. Morale for a nation, achieved through their bravery. Freedom for millions, secured with victories of free people. Bonds of enduring friendship strong as the brandy used to toast it. There is something else. The gratitude of a nation that has not forgotten. A nation that will not forget. Lieutenant colonel dick cole and Staff Sergeant David Thatcher saw it. These survivors will see another reminder when they present the metal we have bestowed today to the very same museum. Today, we hope these veterans and the family of every raider veteran will see it here too. Let me invite general hudson to join us on the stage. Come on up. It is our high privilege on behalf of the American People to present the congressional gold medal, the highest civilian honor congress can bestow, in honor of the doolittle tokyo raiders. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the director of the National Museum of the United States air force Lieutenant General john hudson. United states air force, retired. [applause] leader mcconnell, leader pelosi, senator brown and representative olson, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the great honor today of accepting the congressional gold medal on behalf of our doolittle raiders in having the chance to say a few words on their behalf. The raiders led by Jimmy Doolittle were 100 volunteers. Almost none of them knew the details of the mission. The two surviving raiders include attendance here today. They wanted to help out with the nations war effort. They volunteered for what was described as a difficult and dangerous mission. The raiders will tell you they were within our Army Air Forces and it was there teammates, the crew chiefs, weapon years, feel specials and more who help them train and prepare the airplanes for the missions. Their innovation and ingenuity continues today in our nations air force as it did in our Army Air Forces. The raiders will tell you our nations navy transported the raiders to launch point with a task force that included the uss hornet which held the b25 bombers. That it was their navy teammates who helped them train and prepare for the mission. The raiders with tell you that north american aviation designed and built a robust platform that was capable of taking off from an Aircraft Carrier and delivering the blow which helped turn the strategic tide of world war ii. The doolittle raiders serve as a model of excellence. The joint team which accomplished that mission is an inspiration for all of todays military and all of america. The raiders with the support of our army navy and american industry, achieved the unimaginable. Consistent with the wishes of our doolittle raiders, the National Museum of the United States air force, located at Patterson Air force base at dayton, ohio placed their congressional medal on permanent display in our world war ii gallery. Containing the 80 silver goblets, one for each raider donated by the city of tucson to the raiders in 1959. The medal will go on display this weekend. Helping to form and educate the American Public about the doolittle raid and our military heritage and secondly to inspire and motivate current and future generations of American Youth toward greatness as exemplified by the raiders. More than one million visitors annually will visit the medal. In just a minute, you will hear a prerecorded statement from Lieutenant Colonel retired dick cole. Jimmy doolittles copilot on the mission at took place 70 years ago this coming saturday, 18 april. The first aircraft off the flight deck of the uss hornet. They had the shortest amount of takeoff space available. They did it and paved the path forward. Dick cole turns 100 years young this september. He and Sergeant David thatcher are the two surviving raiders of the 80 through the mission on 18 april, 1942. You can be assured that the doolittle raiders, those two that survived are extremely grateful for this prestigious honor the stowed upon the raiders by our United States congress. Thank you very much. Lets play the video. [video clip] my name is lieutenant richard cole. Along with Sergeant David m thatcher, we are today the only surviving doolittle tokyo raiders. We want to thank congress for an acting and presenting the congressional gold medal to the tokyo raiders this day, april the 15th, 2015. On behalf of our 78 fallen raiders, who we proudly servedthis famous raid, we are honored to accept this prestigious and most appreciated award. We have asked the museum to display our congressional gold medal in the doolittle exhibit as part of our history along with 80 silver goblets for all visitors to enjoy. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, the United States army band and chorus. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the chaplain of the United States house of representatives, the reverend patrick conroy. Let us pray. God of power, god of justice, it is because of the weakness and failures of our human nature that the terror of war so often plagues the human family. Yet, it is during wartime that they greatness of human spirit is demonstrated. In 1942, our nation was reeling from a preemptive strike by japan upon the pacific fleet. Japan no doubt feared what the United States might use that fleet for. It was a shocking blow. The 80 men who volunteered for virtual Suicide Mission did not strike a similar blow upon japan. Little damage was done to the military force of that nation. The success of their Mission Rather was in the tremendous message of hope that we americans could respond to the dangers of powerful enemies, despite impossible odds. Today, only two raiders remain. Lieutenant colonel dick cole and Staff Sergeant David Thatcher. May the breath of god uphold their noble stories. May it carry to other generations and even to other nations a message to inspire citizens everywhere to believe and act upon the truth, that there is no greater aspiration than to be willing to lay down ones life to save others. May those who made the ultimate sacrifice that day and thereafter rest in peace, along with those companions who joined them in eternity in the years since. Bless all women and men in military service, their families and all those who put themselves in harms way for the safety of others. God bless america and grant us peace both in the present and with you forever, amen. Ladies and gentlemen, remain at your seats for the departure of the official party. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2015] on newsmakers matt schlapp. He talks about moderates in the tea party and his thoughts about the current field of republican candidates. Watch the interview here on cspan. Lucy was the first first lady to earn a college degree. Soldiers serving under her husband called her the mother of the regiment. As first lady, she hosted the first annual white house easter egg roll. Lucy hayes on cspans original series first ladies. From Martha Washington to michelle obama. Sundays at eight p. M. Eastern on American History tv on cspan 3. Cspan gives you the best access to congress. Live coverage of the u. S. House congressional hearings and news conferences, bringing you events that shape public policy. Every morning, washington journal is live. Your comments by phone facebook, and twitter. Cspan creative high americas Cable Companies and brought to you as a service by your local cable or satellite provider. Tonight, a look at the future of radio at a conference hosted by talkers magazine. Gary sinise talks about his advocacy for veterans and the work of his foundation. Later, the tokyo raiders are honored with a congressional gold metal or their service during world war ii. Talkers magazine is a digital publication focused on various aspects of the talk media industry. This year, the magazine marked its 25th anniversary by looking at the future of radio at a conference in new york city. Speakers included talk show hosts and executives talking about industry trends, digital technology, and the changing landscape of political talk shows. This is almost an hour and a half. [applause] thank you very much. Good morning. I was just sitting here with ryan kilmeade. The long island guys are well represented here this morning. I work right down the block here, a couple blocks away so it isnt easy john job this morning to come in and say hello. I was looking through some stuff the last couple of days and everyone is talking about radio. It is amazing the amount of negativity no matter what part of the business that you are in. I have in part of wfan since 1987. I have been in the same job since 1989. Kind of warring. Same time, same station. I used had a partner, i lost him about somewhere along the way. I look up and he was gone. I think he is working. I sent out notes. He is doing fine on a different part in doing a baseball show. All you read now is consolidation leads to death clusters, which to me is a dirty word, cut tax, nobody has a good word for radio anymore. I am here to tell you even now i am probably close to the finish, if back when i was pounding on the door to get in, it took me 18 interviews to get hired. I would be as bullish on radio and as gung ho about getting a career and feeding my family and radio now as it was then. I am just telling you. I will tell you why. I know you dont believe me. Because all you hear now is that company. I work for a big company now and i fight with them. Some of my executives are in the room. I have not talked to them in months. Maybe years