Volume
4, Issue 21,
January 3, 2003 |
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"After I’m sworn in on Tuesday to begin my second term as your Representative, I will be in Arkansas for the rest of January traveling throughout our district to meet with community and business leaders, members of the agriculture community, and local citizens to discuss issues of importance to our area. "I am pleased to have completed a successful first term in office. I fought hard to improve education for our children, to protect Social Security and modernize Medicare to include medicine for our seniors, to support tax relief for hard-working Arkansas families, to provide much needed assistance to our farmers through a new Farm Bill, to protect important industries like our catfish farmers and timber producers from the unfair dumping of Vietnamese so-called catfish and Canadian softwood lumber, to create new jobs and revitalize our economy, and to make sure our President and our military have the resources they need to defend our country against the evils of terrorism. "As we begin the 108th Congress, I will continue to fight for these priorities, and I am looking forward to addressing the challenges facing our area and our nation. "I hope to get to visit with many of you in the coming days as I make stops in communities throughout the Fourth District. I’d also like to take a moment to welcome Polk, Scott, and Logan counties to our district, which now includes 29 counties. If I can ever be of service to you, I hope that you will free to contact me by calling 1-800-223-2220, or visit one of my district offices in Prescott, Hot Springs, El Dorado, and Pine Bluff." |
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Ross welcomes Polk, Scott, and Logan Counties to 4th District “I have spent a lot of time getting to know this new area,” Ross said, “and I am pleased to assume the responsibility of representing you in our nation’s capital. I will work hard to address your needs, and will continue to fight for new jobs and to revitalize our economy, to protect Social Security and Medicare and ensure prescription drug coverage for our seniors, to support our farm families and hard-working families throughout Arkansas, and to protect the small town family values that we were raised on and that we all respect.” “This is quite a substantial increase in my district’s geographical size, and I have recently taken steps to meet this new need by adding more staff members in my Hot Springs office, the closest office to this new area. I invite my new constituents to drop by for a visit, and feel free to contact me with your concerns over how I may best serve you as your United States Representative. I will be hosting office hours and a number of public meetings in each of our new counties later this month, and I look forward to visiting with you.” Hot Springs District Office
Washington, DC Office
www.house.gov/ross
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“Fred Randle’s story is quite inspiring,” Ross said. “As a young soldier, he volunteered for the risky missions assigned to the Merrill’s Marauders, and survived unbelievable challenges. I think it is very noble of him to tell his story so eagerly, and I thank him for it. The efforts of veterans like Fred Randle, their sacrifices and contributions are a significant part of who we are. I encourage young people to talk to veterans and hear their stories. It is important for younger generations to know and understand our history, and to cherish it.” Ross presented Randle with a copy of the following statement, which he will enter into the Congressional Record for the 108th Congress: I rise today to pay tribute to an individual from my district who has lived an extraordinary life, and is now working to share the stories of his incredible experiences during the Second World War. Growing up on his family’s small Missouri farm during the Depression, Fred Randle become well acquainted with hardship and adversity. One of the first members of his family to graduate high school, Fred was looking forward to earning a steady living and beginning a new life with his new bride when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The young man immediately enlisted in the United States Army, unaware of the unique role he would play in determining the outcome of World War II. During the Quebec Conference of 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of England, and other allied leaders conceived the idea of having an American ground unit spearhead the Chinese Army with a Long Range Penetration Mission behind enemy lines in Burma. Its goal would be the destruction of Japanese communications and supply lines and generally to play havoc with enemy forces while an attempt was made to reopen the Burma Road. A Presidential call for volunteers for "A Dangerous and Hazardous Mission" was issued, and approximately 2,900 American soldiers responded to the call, including Fred Randle. The unit later became popularly known as Merrill’s Marauders, named after its leader, Brigadier General Frank Merrill. Shortly after completing basic training at the age of 21, Randle and the Marauders embarked on their mission. During a rendezvous with other ships in the Mediterranean, about 30 German bombers attacked the convoy without success. Fifteen minutes later, a smaller group of planes arrived and one released a guided missile that struck the side of the HMT Rohna. Witnesses watched the total destruction of the boat with its 1,600 Americans aboard. Fewer than 600 survived. Fred Randle was among those 600 survivors, and despite the loss of his fellow soldiers, he continued on to ensure the success of the Marauders’ mission. I find Randle’s wartime experiences truly inspiring, and I salute him for his eagerness to share his story with younger generations so they may understand what it is like to fight for your country, even when faced with unbelievable setbacks. Fred Randle is truly part of America’s greatest generation, and his sacrifices and contribution to our country are among the reasons we remain free today. |
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1-800-223-2220 or mike.ross@mail.house.gov |
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