Transcripts For CSPAN3 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony 20240622

Devils brigade. I was on the hallowed grounds of arlington today to see the canadian cross of honor erected in 1930 by our government in those majestic fields to honor the 3,000 americans who died in world war i serving with canadian units. And the heroics of the devils brigade continue. Our joint defense of north america through norad, korea where tommy prince served in the battle of kapyong, in the korean war. In afghanistan, where the 40 americans who died serving alongside canadians in kandahar are held as close to our chest as the 158 men and women we frost that dangerous province. And today our Royal Canadian air force and our soldiers from the jtf 2, the successor unit to the devils brigade, are serving in iraq in cause of freedom and alongside our allies and friends like those in the United States. So its my honor to represent canada here today to thank you for recognizing these special, special veterans and allowing us to remember the service and sacrifice their unit remembers. Thank you very much. [ applause [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please stand at the chaplain of the United States house of representatives father Patrick Conroy gives the benediction. Let us pray. Lord, may the hands and hearts of this nation be raised in prayer and praise for these h o heroic members of the First Special service force, an elite unit made up of american and canadian soldiers. This Legendary Special force was tasked with creating havoc behind enemy lines during world war ii and laid the foundation for todays special forces units in the modern day special forces in canada. After extensive training in 1942 near helena, montana, they emerged as a recognize united in anzio italy in 1944 where it earned the nickname the devils brigade from their opposing german forces. May the breast of god uphold their noble and heroic story. We thank you, oh god, that our two nations remain Good Neighbors and stand ready to assist one another in any time of danger. Bless all women and men in military service, both in canada and here in our nation and less their families. God bless canada, the True North Strong and free. And God Bless America and grant us peace both in the present and with you forever, amen. [ applause [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the departure of the official party. In april, the house and senate held a congressional Gold Medal Ceremony at the capital honoring the doolittle tokyo raiders for their service during world war ii. The 80man volunteer unit conducted the first air raids on japan in april, 1942, four months after the attack on pearl harbor. Senate majority leader mitch mcconnell, minority leader nancy pelosi, and Senate Minority whip dick durban speak at the ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, the majority leaders of the United States senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [ applause ] well, good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the capitol. Normally, Speaker Boehner would preside over this ceremony, but sadly over the weekend his younger brother rick passed away so the speaker is with his family today in southwest ohio. And he asked me to send his deepest regards, regrets that hes unable to be here. Today, pursuant to hr1209 we will present a congressional gold medal to the doolittle tokyo raiders. The gold medal represents congress highest expression of gratitude for distinguished achievements and contributions. It is being presented to the doolittle raiders for their outstanding heroism during world war ii. After todays ceremony, the medal will make its way to the National Museum of the United States air force in dayton, ohio, where it will be permanently place. General john hudson, the director of the museum, is with us to receive the medal. Thank him for being here. [ applause ] making this day a reality was the work of many people, especially families of these heroes, and we thank you all for being here as well. I hope you all enjoy todays remarks. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of the colors by the United States armed forces color guard. The singing of our National Anthem and the retiring of the colors. Present arms. Present forwar. O say, can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh, say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing as the chaplain of the United States senate, dr. Barry black, gives the invocation. Let us pray. Eternal lord god, the source of our hopes and dreams, we thank you for the doolittle tokyo raiders, a group of 80 patriots who more than self their country loved. Were grateful for the morale boost their exploits provided by a beleaguered nation, infusing america with the spirit of hope when it needed it most lord, we ask your special blessings on the two survivaling raiders, retired Lieutenant Colonel richard cole and Staff Sergeant David Thatcher. Bless also and comfort the family of a third doolittle raider, retired Lieutenant Colonel robert hight, who recently died. May the inspiration we receive from this congressional Gold Medal Ceremony is that celebrates the humble heroism of the doolittle tokyo raiders motivate us to live more laudable lives we pray in your great name, amen. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, United States representative from the 22nd district of texas, the honorable pete olson. [ applause ] good afternoon. I want to start by thanking the republican and democrat leaders of both parties for making this long overdue day happen. A special thanks to senator brown for allowing me to be his wing ban on this endeavor. In my navy career i have landed and taken off from an Aircraft Carrier many times. I want yall to know what these 08 heroes did on april 18, 1942. That was the first day they dropped off a carrier deck and saw the rush of water come up to greet them. A japanese patrol boat spotted the hornet 12 hours before their intended lun intended launch. America could not lose the hornet, so the men were give a choice watch, knowing it would go down in Enemy Territory or scrub the mission forever. All 16 bombers took off and bombed japanese soil. That soil had never been touched by a foreign power in over 1,000 years. Those 64 bombs little damage to the Japanese Navy and army, but the fear that raid put into japanese admirals made them want to have a winner take all fight with our navy in the pacific. We wan that fight two months later at midway. After midway, america was going to win world war ii that would not have happened without the doolittle raiders. This gold medal ensures we will never forget these heroes who ser saved our world from tyranny. Thank you. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, United States senator from ohio, the honorable sherrod brown. [ applause ] thank you to our ledge i have the leaders, john hudson, thank you. This has been a Long Time Coming since the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association sergeant at arms came to my Office Seeking recognition. Recognition the raiders never thought for themselves. Go back to spring, 1942. Americans were still reeling from pearl harbor. We had lost battle after battle in the pacific. To Many Americans allied forces seemed knob retreat across the globe. Across the ocean, japans arrogance had reached new heights. Japanese generals proclaimed that no one could launch an air attack against japan. Tojo boasted in all its 2,000 years of history japan had never lost a war. Then that spring 80 americans embarked on a mission many thought impossible. The airmen knew the dangers. They knew many of them would not come home but the rarders showed america and the world that, yes, japan could be invaded. That showed that, yes, the u. S. And allied forces could win the war. After the war when the airmen returned, they talk little of their service. They went back to their daily lives in ohio and texas and kentucky and illinois and louisiana and 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 what we had in the war. We did what we had to do. Like my dad, the 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, oh, how they earned it. Thats why im so honored to play a role in the awarding of this medal today. To the raiders still living, dick coal, Staff Sergeant Dave Thatcher whose son Jeff Thatcher is here with us today a also to the 78 no longer with us, thank you for what you did to 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. Im proud to be here with you today and especially as someone who represents part of the city of new orleans where we host the National World war ii museum, where we 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 volunteered from a mission that they knew very well may be their last. These 80 men, the doolittle tokyo raiders believed our freedom, liberties and defense of our nation, our american way of life, in fact, were worth flying into the own known and 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 demoralized and wounded. Lieutenant colonel James Doolittle and his mens heroic raid over tokyo turned the tide in our favor and telegraph add message to the rest of the world that america will not back down and, in fact, america will fight and will win. Today as members of the house and Senate Leadership but more importantly as americans its our honor and privilege to present this congressional gold medal to the doolittle tokyo raiders in recognition of their bravery, their valor, sacrifice 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. [ applause ] good afternoon. Senator brown, representative olson, thank you for giving us this opportunity today. Its an honor to be here with all of you. Lieutenant general john hudson, thank you for your leadership. Just looking at the program and all of these names listed here, what a heavy list of honor and valor and courage. How wonderful that we are honoring them today. Its fitting that we come together today in emancipation hall because today marks the 150th anniversary of the death of president abraham lincoln, 7 22 a. M. This morning. As we gather to pay tribute of the impossible, incredible bravery of the doolittle raiders, president lincolns words on the battlefield of gettysburg ring true as ever. The world will not long remember what we say here but it can never forget what they did. [ applause ] as a representative of san francisco, i take special pride because it was less than four months after earl harbor on april 2, 1942, that the uss hornet steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge and out of service bay on her deck, 16 b25 medium bombers, planes never intended to take off from an Aircraft Carrier, planes that could never return to the hornet once launched. The crews volunteered when they knew nothing more than the missions importance would be matched only by its perils. Their training and preparation for an unprecedented action has been compressed into a scant few months still, at every chance to back out these 80 men kept stepping forward to see the raid through. And so days later, hundreds of miles short of the planned launch point, 80 men and 16 planes vaulted into the sky racing toward their targets in the enemy homeland, placing their hopes in a successful crash landing on the chinese coast. Reeling from the surprise attack on pearl harbor with the forces of democracy being driven back in every theater, our nation needed a reason to believe. The doolittle raid was just that. In a letter to captain ted law son after the war, the Commanding Officer of the uss hornet during the mission wrote to americans grimly facing reverses on every front, it brought an electric shock of hope. As general Jimmy Doolittle himself wrote years later, our country, faced with the greatest adversity we had ever experienced had fought back. Some were killed or executed, some were previously wounded, some faced harrowing years of captivity. But the doolittle raiders pierced the invulnerability of the axis war machines. They had given a rattled america a reason to believe victory was within reach. For all of those men who made it through raid in one piece, the war was only just the beginning. With many more Dangerous Missions ahead, more raiders would give their lives before the final victory was won. Toujur au danger, was their motto. And every into danger it was. I want to Say Something to every member of the air force now its the airplane. As i travel in europe, north africa, my colleagues can attest to this, we always visit the american cemeteries there. And what is always remarkable to me is as we look across at all the tombstones and how proud and how brave they were and how proud we are of every one, we have to usually go to the wall to see the names of those who were in the air force. Because thats the way it is. No remains. And i know that that is another gift the families give us, not just the courage of their family members but to have not ever to be able to come home. But nonetheless to be recognized forever more on those walls. And its not any surprise that when we go to those walls we are escorted usually by the air force, everyone is in tears because of that freedom that give have given us with their lives, with their entire being so i thank you, families of the air force, for that history, those gifts to our country. [ applause ] now, after the raid, as before, these men believed they had a job to do and they meant to see it through. No matter how long or how hard it would be. 7 decades later, we are still awed by the sheer audacity of the doolittle raid and the incredible men whose grit and bravery made it possible. Were honored by their courage, humbled by their humility and their effectiveness and their strength. Though time has thinned their ranks, it will never dim the daring of their deeds. For their service, for their valor, for their awakening of the spirit of our nation in the darkest our 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 democratic leader of the United States senate, the honorable nick durban. [ applause ] good afternoon. Think back for a moment. Where were you . Where were you september 11, 2001 . We all have that memory, dont we . Its something you never forget as long as you live. 60 years before there was another day just like that in american history, december 7, 1941, a message which electrified america. Wed been attacked at pearl harbor. Brave men and women had died, and a war was declared just hours after in the hall of the u. S. House of representatives when president Franklin Delano roosevelt came and described that day that would live in infamy. Then 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 and meet with him at the white house. Two weeks after pearl harbor, franklin roosevelt, the commanderinchief, sent the order to the military, attack japan. He knew he had to make the point that they were not invulnerable and we 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. Were going to fly bombers off a carrier . Were not going to have fighter escorts . Were going to have to give up our armament on these bombers because of these 400 pound bombs that we have to transport such great distance . Were going to find ourselves out in the ocean, as congressman olson said earlier, spotted by the japanese and we have to leave earlier now, a greater distance and were going to have to ditch these planes after its over . Perhaps in china. Perhaps in russia. Perhaps in the ocean. These 80 men stepped forward and said well 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 like to recognize major griffith paul williams, a raider from my home state of illinois. During the doolittle raid, major williams copiloted the 15th b25 bomber. It was a flight that almost didnt happen. One of the engines on the plane wasnt working. They couldnt get it running and they told him that if they couldnt get that plane up and running in time they were going to have to push it overboard when the other bombers launched. Thats when Lieutenant Colonel Edward Saylor, the cruise engineer, said were in this mission to stay. Remarkably, he took the engine off the aircraft and rebuilt it and put it back on the plane. When they asked him do you think its going to work . He said a line we can all relate to. Well, there arent any parts left over. [ laughter ] the engine worked, the mission was successful. Unfortunately, Edward Saylor couldnt be here today. He passed away just a few months ago. But before he died they asked him how it felt to be a hero and he said theres no way you can call yourself a hero. Thats for someone else to say. Well 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 freedomloving people in the United States and everywhere we say thank you for your service and a Job Well Done [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, 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 balmy aroma of strong elixir, in chairs beside them, reminders of what they had worked together to accomplish. In empty spaces near them, reminders of what theyd since lost. And then at the end of each ceremony, a roll call. Heroes saluted, fallen comrades remembered and with swills of brandy, a toast from the doolittle raiders, a toast to a Fateful Mission across the pacific that helped change the course of war and with it history. The success of their raid launched april 18, 1942 did, indeed, same improbable. But Jimmy Doolittles volunteers flew anyway. There were five extra crews and everyone wanted to go. One raider remembered. One individual offered a thousand dollars to anybody willing to give up his seat but there were no takers. 80 raiders took off that morning and just over a year ago at the National Museum of the u. S. Air force three surviving raiders met to commemorate it. The raiders may have been few that day but they werent 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 there for each of them to see. So a few weeks later when the raiders met to clink goblets one last time it would have been easy to think of so many empty cups with sorrow. But i hope they remembered all that had been gained instead. Morale for a nation, achieved through their bravery, freedom for millions, secured with victories of free people and bonds of enduring friendship strong as the brandy used to toast it. And theres something else, too. The gratitude of a nation that hasnt forgotten. A nation that wont forget. Lieutenant colonel dick coal and Staff Sergeant David Thatcher saw it that day outside the air force museum. And this saturday, on the 73rd anniversary of the raid, these survivors will see another reminder when they present the medal we bestow today to the very same museum. Today we hope these veterans and the family of every raider veteran will see it here, too. So let me invite general hudson to join us on the stage come on up, general. It is now 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, assistant democratic leader durbin, leader pelosi, House Majority whip scalise, 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 and having the chance to say a few words on their behalf. The 08 doolittle raiders led by then Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, were 100 volunteers. Almost none of them knew the details of the mission until the Carrier Task Force headed into the continental United States. The advance ages preclude their attendance here today. If here, though, the raiders would tell you they want to help out with our nations war effort. That they volunteered for what was described as a difficult and dangerous mission. The raiders would tell you that they were in our nations army, and it was their Army Air Forces teammates, crew chiefs, weaponeers, field specialists and more who helped them train and prepare the airplanes for the mission. Their professionalism, innovation and ingenuity continues today in our nations air force just as it did in our army air force. The raiders would also tell you our nations navy transported the raiders and their aircraft to the launch point with a task force which included the uss hornet, the carrier which held the 16 b25 bombers, that it was Navy Captain Francis lowe who came up with the idea for the mission, that this was tear teammates who helped them train and prepare for the mission. The raiders would also tell you that north american aviation, part of our nations arsenal of democracy, designed and built the b25 bomber that was capable of taking off from an Aircraft Carrier and delivering the blow which helped turn the 125 t. J. I can strategic tide from world war ii. The doolittle raiders serve as a model. The joint tame which accomplished that Daring Mission which an inspiration for all of todays military and for america, all of america. The raiders with the help and support of our army, navy, and american industry achieved the unimaginable. In accordance with public law and consistent with the wishes of the doolittle raiders, our nations National Museum of the United States air force located at Wright Patterson air force base in dayton, ohio, will place there a congressional gold medal on permanent display within the doolittle raider exhibit in our world war ii gallery. It will be next to the display case continue containing the 80 silver gop let, one for each raider, donated by the city of tucson to the raiders in 1959. The medal goes on display this weekend to begin its Twofold Mission of helping to inform and educate the American Public about the doolittle raid and our military history and heritage and, secondly, to inspire and motivate current and future generations of American Youth toward grateness. At our National Museum of the United States air force, we keep this story alive and prominent. More than one million visitors annually will see the medal and read about in the person and another more than four million visitors will see High Definition photography of the medal and read about its story online. In just a minute, you will hear a prerecorded video statement from Lieutenant Colonel retired dick cole, the senior of the two surviving doolittle raiders. Dick cole was then Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittles copilot on the mission which took place 73 years ago this coming saturday, 18 april. Jimmy doolittle, dick cole and their other three crew members were in 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 for the next 15 airplanes. Lieutenant colonel dick cole turns 100 years young this september. He and then Sergeant David thatcher, now 93, are the two surviving doolittle raiders of the 80 who flew the mission on 18 april, 1942. You can be assured that the doolittle raiders, those two who still survive and all the others who have passed on are extremely grateful for this most prestigious honor, the congressional gold medal, bestowed on the doolittle raiders by our United States congress. Thank you very much, and now lets play the video. My name is lieutenant richard e. Cole and along with Sergeant David m. Thatcher we are today the only surviving doolittle tokyo raiders. We want to thank congress for enacting and presenting the congressional gold medal to the tokyo raiders this day, or april 15, 2015. On behalf of our 78 fallen raiders, who proudly served with honor in this famous raid, we are honored to accept this prestigious and most appreciated award. We have asked the National Museum of the United States air force 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. Oh beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain for purple mountains majesties above the fruited plain america, america, god shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea oh, beautiful for america, america, god shed his grace on thee crown thy good in brotherhood from sea to shining sea america, america [ 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 and yet it is during wartime that the greatness of human spirit is so often 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 a 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