Bordallo Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq with Congressional Delegation Spends Part of the Easter Recess with Guam Troops in Baghdad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—April 15, 2006—Washington, D.C.—

While other Members of Congress headed home last week for the Easter recess, Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo spent the days leading up to Easter making a surprise visit to troops in Iraq.  Traveling with a Congressional delegation led by Congressman John McHugh (NY), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee, that included Congressman John Carter (TX) and Congressman Mike Conaway (TX), the Congresswoman made her seventh visit to Iraq in conjunction with the Easter holiday.  For security reasons, the Congressional Delegation did not announce its visit to the media in advance and the news of the visit was authorized only after the delegation departed Iraq.

“It is important for the Armed Services Committee to see what is happening in Iraq first hand and to ensure our troops are receiving everything they need to carry out their mission safely and successfully,” Bordallo said.  “Anytime there is a holiday being celebrated back home, we make an extra effort to thank the troops who are serving our nation for their selfless sacrifices.  We know that they would rather be home with their loved ones, especially during Easter if they have small children, but not one of them ever complains,” Bordallo added.

Bordallo brought Guam cookies, guguria and Guam playing cards as gifts for the troops.  While in Iraq, Bordallo met with soldiers from the 909^th Quartermaster Detachment of the Guam National Guard, a unit currently serving at Camp Anaconda where they provide logistical support to forward deployed units.  In addition to spreading Easter cheer, sharing stories from home and thanking the soldiers, Bordallo took the opportunity to field concerns from the Soldiers about military healthcare, pay and benefits, issues over which the House Armed Services Committee, on which Bordallo sits, has oversight.

The Guam servicemembers took the opportunity to also surprise the Congresswoman.  Having learned of her impending visit from their chain of command, the soldiers took the opportunity to each sign a Guam flag they had with them in Iraq and to present it to the Congresswoman.

“This was my seventh visit to Iraq, and on this visit we stayed overnight in Baghdad.  We also went up to Balad Air Base north of Baghdad.  I brought the message that our people are very proud of our men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and in other places.  I gratefully accepted the Guam flag presented by the troops and I will display it prominently in Washington,” said Bordallo.

While in Iraq, the delegation also visited members of the 10^th Mountain Division, the 4^th Infantry Division and the 101^st Airborne Division.  The delegation also visited members of U.S. special operations forces and wounded soldiers in field hospitals in Iraq.  Office visits were made with General George W. Casey, Commander, Multinational Forces-Iraq (MNF-I); Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey, Commander, Multinational Security Transition Command (MNSTC-I/NTM-I); and Lieutenant General Peter W. Chiarelli, Commander, Multinational Corps-Iraq (MNC-I).

Congressional Delegations to the Middle East serve to permit Members of Congress to review first hand the progress and situation in Iraq as part of their oversight duties in Congress. Congresswoman Bordallo was last in the Middle East during the Christmas holidays with Congressman Jon C. Porter (NV) and the “Second Amendments,” a rock band comprised of Members of Congress. 

Photo attached: Soldiers of the 909^th Quartermaster Detachment (WP), Guam Army National Guard, present Congresswoman Bordallo with a Guam Flag in Balad, Iraq on April 12, 2006.

###

Contact:  Alicia Chon in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-1188 or Joseph E. Duenas at (671) 477-4272/4.

www.house.gov/bordallo

Close Window