United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding, and I thank everyone who has had a hand in taking time to create this bill, to create this Congressional Gold Medal, to recognize the limited number of World War II Army Rangers that we have still alive with us today, and, frankly, to honor the service of each and every one of them.

The heroism and legacy of the Army Rangers go back to the Revolutionary War. Since we have fought, we have recognized the Ranger tactics and Ranger units that inspired the creation of the Rangers in World War II. So it is an incredible honor to have gotten the chance to complete the school and to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

After the Civil War, more than half a century passed without formal Ranger units in America. Mr. Hill just highlighted the history of how that was created, but from their very first engagements in North Africa, it was clear the difference that they could make on the battlefield.

The 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions were trained in Africa by Darby. It is hard to think that such a young man who lost his life, gave his life in battle for our country, created such a legacy that has continued today. They began a tradition of wearing the scroll at that time, and it has officially been adopted by today's Ranger battalions.

The Second and Fifth Ranger Battalions participated in the D-day landings on Omaha Beach, Normandy, at Pointe du Hoc, and that is where the motto formally was coined: ``Rangers Lead the Way.''

They conducted missions, to include scaling cliffs there, overlooking Omaha Beach. They destroyed German gun emplacements, and they trained fires on the beachhead.

The 6th Ranger Battalion operated in the Philippines. Our colleague already highlighted their famed largest rescue of more than 500 POWs in that battle.

The 75th Ranger Regiment owes its heritage to the China-Burma-India theater as Task Force Galahad on October 3, 1943. It was during the campaigns in the China-Burma-India theater that the regiment became known as Merrill's Marauders after its commander, Major General Frank Merrill.

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Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, the Ranger battalions were deactivated at the end of World War II, and we know of all their achievements since then. But it is fitting that we take this Gold Medal as an opportunity to honor the service of our World War II Army Rangers.

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