Bill Owens

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Washington, Dec 1 - WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Owens spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday to urge support for his legislation (H. Res 1217) to honor the storied history of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division.  The resolution pays tribute to the troops and families that have made immeasurable sacrifices for the nation for more than 65 years.  H. Res 1217 passed the House floor today unanimously by a vote of 415-0.

Owens delivered the following remarks in support of his resolution yesterday:

“The United States Army’s 10th Mountain Division, stationed on Fort Drum, New York, has a long and storied history of defending the American way of life.  The 10th Mountain Division was first activated as the 10th Light Division on July 13, 1943 at Camp Hale, Colorado.  From there, the brave soldiers who made up the 10th Mountain Division’s first unit immediately began a rigorous training regimen designed to prepare for the imminent invasion of Axis-controlled Europe.  They first entered combat in January of 1945, as they were deployed to the North Apennine Mountains in Italy opposite battle-hardened German mountain troops, which marked the beginning of a relentless drive to liberate Italy from the clutches of the enemy. 

“As the nature of warfare has changed throughout the decades, the 10th Mountain Division has adapted to defend the nation against foreign threats.  From its work as a training division preparing soldiers for Cold War service, to deployments in West Germany, Somalia, Mogadishu, Haiti, and the current war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 10th Mountain Division has served to maintain both national and global stability.

“On February 13, 1985, the 10th Mountain Division was activated in the heart of the North Country at Fort Drum. Following the September 11 attacks, units of the 10th Mountain were first deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Since then, the unit has played a role in major offenses throughout the war on terror that have brought stability to embattled areas in the Middle East. For more than 65 years, the brave men and women and their families who make up the 10th Mountain Division have endured untold sacrifices to make the nation safer and more secure.

“Madame Speaker, I stand here today to recognize the achievements of the soldiers serving in the 10th Mountain Division, as well as citizen-soldiers of the Army Reserve and National Guard who have fought with the 10th Mountain Division during its 60-year history.  I would like to thank the family members of the 10th Mountain for their tireless service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States, and I commend the North Country community for their unwavering support of Fort Drum and the men and women serving in uniform.  Finally, I speak for the U.S. House of Representatives when I offer my condolences to the family and friends of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom.”