Recognizing Noncommissioned Officers Of The U.S. Army

Floor Speech

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Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself so much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 44, honoring the noncommissioned officers in the United States Army. I thank Congressman Ike Skelton, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, for introducing this legislation.

No one has better expressed the reason for this resolution than the current Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth Preston. In his view, ``Today's NCO Corps is a standard bearer of one of the Army's greatest success stories, the All-Volunteer Force, and serves as a role model for armies of the world to emulate.''

I fully agree with the Sergeant Major's statement. Along with my colleague, Mr. Marshall of Georgia, I, too, am an Army veteran, and in my own 31-year experience in the Army National Guard and Reserve, noncommissioned officers were indispensable to the accomplishment of the missions we undertook. This is true of NCOs across all branches of the military.

One of my four sons serving today in the military, a Navy doctor, has been so impressed by the leadership and professionalism exhibited by the NCOs with whom he serves that he recommended that I invite one of their children to work as an intern in our office, who is present with us today. Todd O'Brien is the son of Master Chief Petty Officer Tadeo O'Brien. Master Chief O'Brien supports the U.S. Navy SEALs as an independent duty corpsman in the Naval Special Warfare Logistical Support Medical Group 2 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.

While he serves in a different military branch, he shares the values of service, honor, integrity, and courage common to all professional noncommissioned officers.

The Army is adaptable and successful on the battlefield because the corporals and sergeants have the training, education, professionalism, and operational and strategic awareness to interpret and issue orders as necessary within their duties and in the absence of commissioned officers.

The all-volunteer Army has been able to sustain itself through 8 years of war in two fronts because of corporals and sergeants who have made great personal sacrifices in the global war against terrorism.

Moreover, the noncommissioned officers of the Army have not only trained future leaders, both officer and enlisted, but they have also gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the welfare of junior enlisted personnel and their families.

In recognition of the current and historical contributions, sacrifices, leadership, and professionalism of its noncommissioned officers, the Army has designated 2009 as the ``Year of the NCO.'' This resolution is part of that effort to honor the corporals and sergeants who are the backbone of the Army.

I would urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this resolution as one way of expressing their deepest appreciation for the NCOs who are serving and have served.

I would also urge that each one of us, as we go home to our districts and meet with our constituents, take the time to explain what a magnificent Army this Nation has, especially because of the men and women who call themselves NCOs.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, it is an honor for me to be on the floor today with Congressman Marshall, with Delegate Faleomavaega, two veterans themselves who could tell firsthand heartfelt indication of their appreciation of NCOs.

I come from the State of South Carolina. The State flag of South Carolina is a recognition of the significance of the NCOs to our independence and freedom. This flag of South Carolina has a palmetto tree on the flag. It recognizes the Battle of Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. The British fleet attacked the fort. The soft palmetto logs, the cannonballs hit the logs and bounced off or absorbed. At the same time, they did knock down the American flag. And at that time Sergeant William Jasper had the courage to raise the flag back up, indicating to the British that they were not going to be successful. The British fleet withdrew.

The flag of South Carolina has a palmetto tree. It also has a crescent. The crescent indicated the rank of a sergeant during the American Revolution on the helmet. So we, the State of South Carolina, are forever grateful for what NCOs have meant, and forever in perpetuity we appreciate what H.J. Res. 44 means.

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