Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Colonel Marc E. Freitas on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Marine Corps. Colonel Freitas has honorably served our great Nation for more than 33 years.

A native of Oakland, California, Colonel Freitas first enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1971, earning the title of Marine at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, in San Diego California. Within a year, Colonel Freitas was selected to become a Marine Officer, and was subsequently commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Marines in June 1974. Following completion of The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, Colonel Freitas attended and completed Naval Flight Training at Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Flight Officer.

Colonel Freitas has served with distinction throughout his career. His unselfish sacrifice has taken him throughout the globe in the service of our Nation. He has flown RF-4B reconnaissance aircraft off the deck of the U.S.S. Midway during the Iranian Hostage crisis, flown missions from Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba, and served with the United States Air Force, flying reconnaissance aircraft at Shaw Air Force Base, in Sumter, South Carolina. He has also held several commands, to include a squadron detachment of Phantom aircraft deployed to the Republic of Korea, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Pt., North Carolina, and the Marine Aviation Detachment located at Naval Air Station, China Lake, California.

In 1992, Colonel Freitas deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, as the Plans Officer for the Joint Force Air Component Commander. His efforts there helped provide relief to millions of Somalis during Operation Restore Hope.

Perhaps Colonel Freitas' proudest accomplishments occurred while assigned as the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting. As the Task Force's Deputy Commander, his efforts were instrumental in resolving the fates of hundreds of American servicemen missing as a result of the war in Southeast Asia. Deploying to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, from the Task Force Headquarters in Hawaii, Colonel Freitas helped to provide answers to the families of these missing Americans, and in turn contributed to our national healing from this tumultuous period of history.

Colonel Freitas has completed Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Amphibious Warfare School, and the Armed Forces Staff College, and in 1993 he was selected to become the first Marine Corps Fellow at the RAND Corporation, where he worked to find solutions to the issues facing both the Marine Corps and the Nation in the decades ahead. Marc was promoted to the rank of Colonel in October 1996, and his personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

In October 2001, Colonel Freitas began his assignment as the Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. In the 3 years he served in this important position, his support to Members of Congress has played a vital role in allowing this body to readily address issues of national importance. Further, his complete grasp of all facets of naval warfare and his ability to provide this Congress with accurate and timely response to congressional inquiries has helped to ensure a bright future for our Marine Corps.

Throughout his career, Colonel Marc Freitas has demonstrated those values that we as a Nation expect from our Marines. His impeccable integrity, exceptional moral character, skilled leadership, and absolute professionalism have helped to make the Marine Corps the honorable institution it is today. On behalf of the Congress and the nation, I wish Marc, his wife Linda, and their children Jenny and Matthew, fair winds and following seas, as they enter this new chapter of their lives.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Madam Speaker, today is the third day of the Article 32 hearing for Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a Marine who I have talked about here on the floor at great length and who has served our Nation bravely in both gulf wars.

In an action of self-defense a year ago in Iraq, Lieutenant Pantano made a split-second, battlefield decision to shoot two Iraqi insurgents who refused to follow his orders to stop their movement towards him. Two and a half months later, a sergeant under his command, who never even saw the shooting and who was earlier demoted for his lack of leadership abilities, accused him of murder. Because of that, Lieutenant Pantano today continues to face an Article 32 hearing where a hearing officer will determine whether he will face a court martial for two counts of premeditated murder.

Last night I described how yesterday's hearing came to a halt when it became apparent that Lieutenant Pantano's accuser, Sergeant Coburn, had recently violated his superior's orders not to give an interview on this case. The defense showed that he was interviewed for various media outlets, including last week's New York Magazine cover story on the case.

In fact, Sergeant Coburn may now face charges for disobeying orders, and he left the stand yesterday after the hearing officer recommended he get an attorney.

Madam Speaker, it seems obvious that this man's testimony cannot be considered credible. How can these charges move forward when the primary witness is someone who did not actually see the shooting and who may now face charges for disobeying serious orders about the case?

Let me also quote from Navy Medical Corpsman George Gobles, the only other person present at the time of the shooting, and the prosecution's other main witness who took the stand yesterday. He called Pantano ``a damn good leader.'' He continued to testify: ``I felt the safest with, you know, this platoon because more than anything, because of Lieutenant Pantano, because of his leadership.''

Madam Speaker, as I have said many times before, Lieutenant Pantano is by all accounts an exceptional Marine. I hope that yesterday's proceedings have finally begun to bring out the truth in this case. I pray that the end is near so that Pantano's family can put this behind them and move forward with their lives. I hope that in the next day or two, as this hearing ends, the hearing officer comes to the same conclusion that I and many like me have come to, that Lieutenant Pantano should never have been charged in the first place, and that all charges against him are dropped. I hope and I pray that the truth will prevail.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I continue to ask my colleagues to research the case and consider supporting House Resolution 167, my bill to help support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces this battle. I encourage them to visit his mother's Web site at www.defendthedefenders.org and learn more about this fine young Marine, and I would be proud to call him my son or my son-in-law.

I close by asking the good Lord in heaven to please bless Lieutenant Pantano and his family, and by asking the good Lord in heaven to please continue to bless our men and women in uniform, and I ask the good Lord in heaven to continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take this time for my Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, today is the second day of the Article 32 hearing for Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a marine who I have talked about at great length who has served our Nation bravely in both Gulf Wars.

In an action of self-defense a year ago, Lieutenant Pantano made a split-second battlefield decision to shoot two Iraqi insurgents who refused to follow his orders to stop their movement towards him. Two and one-half months later, a sergeant under his command, who never even saw the shooting and who was earlier demoted for his lack of leadership abilities, accused him of murder. Because of that, Lieutenant Pantano today continues to face an Article 32 hearing where a hearing officer will determine whether he will face a court-martial for two counts of premeditated murder.

Mr. Speaker, today's hearing came to a halt when it became apparent that Lieutenant Pantano's accuser, Sergeant Coburn, had recently violated his superior's orders not to give interviews on this case. The defense showed that he has interviewed with many media outlets. Just last week, New York Magazine ran a cover story on this case with multiple quotes from Sergeant Coburn. It is clear that his testimony cannot be considered credible.

What is happening to this young man is an injustice. I see absolutely no way these charges can move forward any further when the accuser and key witness in this case is an individual who did not see the incident, has continually disobeyed orders, and who has clearly made it his mission to defame the character and integrity of a superior who demoted him for poor performance.

Lieutenant Pantano has served this Nation in great honor. My personal experience with him and his family convinced me that he is a dedicated family man who loves his Corps and his country. By all accounts, he was an exceptional marine.

I hope that in the next day or two as these hearings end, the hearing officer comes to the same conclusion that I and many like me have come to, that Lieutenant Pantano should never have been charged in the first place, and that all charges against him are dropped. I hope and pray that the truth will prevail.

Mr. Speaker, I have put in a resolution, House Resolution 167, to support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces trial. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take some time to read my resolution and look into this situation for themselves. But, most of all, I hope it is not necessary for us to discuss this further after this week.

I close with a quote from a witness in today's trial, Navy Corpsman George ``Doc'' Gobles, who was present during the shooting, but did not actually see anything. He did, however, testify to the character and leadership of Lieutenant Pantano. When he was asked about Lieutenant Pantano on the stand earlier today, he said, ``I just felt a sense of security when a situation arose, I knew he would be able to take care of it. I felt the safest with this platoon, more than any other platoon in our company, more than anything because of Lieutenant Pantano and his leadership.''

Mr. Speaker, as I close I want to mention that his mother, who is a wonderful lady from New York whom I have had the pleasure of talking to on several occasions, has set up an Internet Web site. It is www.defendthedefenders.org, and I would ask my colleagues to please look into this and join me on House Resolution 167. I ask the good Lord in heaven to please bless Lieutenant Pantano and his family, and I ask the good Lord to please bless all of our men and women in uniform and their families, and I ask God to please bless America.

Mr. Speaker, today is the Article 32 hearing for Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a Marine who I have talked about at great length and who has served our Nation bravely in both gulf wars.

In an action of self-defense a year ago in Iraq, Lt. Pantano made a split-second, battlefield decision to shoot two Iraqi insurgents who refused to follow his orders to stop their movement towards him. Two- and-a-half months later, a sergeant under his command who never even saw the shooting and who was earlier demoted for his lack of leadership abilities, accused him of murder. Because of that, Lt. Pantano today faces an Article 32 hearing where a hearing officer will determine whether he will face a court marshal for two counts of premeditated murder.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening to this young man is unfair and an injustice. Lt. Pantano has served this Nation with great honor. My personal experiences with him and his family convince me that he is a dedicated family man who loves his corps and his country.

Mona Charen, a well-known journalist, puts it best when she writes: ``Pantano was in the middle of a war zone, not a vacation on the Riviera. He had been dodging ambushes and booby traps for weeks. He had seen his comrades killed and maimed. Perhaps he acted too hastily in shooting those Iraqis. But a murder charge? Has the

Marine Corps gone PC,'' politically correct?

I have received letters and e-mails from Vietnam veterans who sympathize with him and ask that I do something to help him. They know what it is like to be in a battle with an unconventional enemy. One second can make the difference between life and death.

I have also read excerpts from his combat fitness report in which superiors praise his leadership and talent and even call for his promotion.

Mr. Speaker, Lt. Pantano was by all accounts an exceptional Marine. I hope that in the next day or two, as these hearings end, the hearing officer comes to the same conclusion that I and many like myself have come to, that Lt. Pantano should never have been charged in the first place and that all charges against him are dropped.

Mr. Speaker, I put in a resolution, H. Res. 167, to support Lt. Pantano as he faces trial. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take some time to read my resolution and look into this situation for themselves. But, most of all, I hope it is not necessary for us to discuss this further after this week.

I close with another quote from Mona Charen that I believe summarizes this situation: ``Obviously, the United States cannot turn a blind eye to war crimes. If a soldier lines up civilians in front of a pit, My Lai style, and massacres them, he would richly deserve, and every self- respecting American would demand, a court marshal. But good Lord, by what possible standards can this be called murder?''

Mr. Speaker, as I close, I ask God to please bless Lt. Pantano and his family, and I ask the good Lord to please bless all of our men and women in uniform.

I close by asking God to please continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 6, the Clerk be authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross-references and to make such other technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to reflect the actions of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken at length on the floor about Second Lt. Ilario Pantano, a Marine who served this Nation bravely in both gulf wars.

During his service in Iraq last year, Lt. Pantano was faced with a very difficult decision that caused him to make a split-second decision to defend his life. He felt threatened by the actions of two insurgents under his watch, and in an act of self-defense he had to resort to force. Two and a half months later, a sergeant under his command who never even saw the shooting accused him of murder. Lt. Pantano now faces two counts of murder.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening to this young man is an injustice. Lt. Pantano has served this Nation in great honor. My personal experiences with him and his family convince me that he is a dedicated family man and a man who loves his corps and his country; but I am not the only one who believes he is innocent.

I have read excerpts of pieces from the Washington Times and respected journalist Mona Charen defending Lt. Pantano. I have received letters and e-mails from Vietnam veterans who sympathize with him and ask that I do something to help him. They know what it is like to be in a battle with an unconventional enemy. One second can make the difference between life and death.

I have read excerpts from his fitness report in which his superiors praise his leadership and talent. In that report, his superior officer evaluated ``accomplished infantry leader. His actions during the fighting in Fallujah and Al Zaidon highlighted a solid understanding of tactics and ability to anticipate the enemy. Leads from the front always and balances his aggressive style with true concern for the welfare of his Marines. Exceptional communication skills for a Second Lt. Organized, aggressive, focused and driven. Ready for increased responsibility. Retain, promote, and assign to challenging assignments.''

Mr. Speaker, that came 2 months after the sergeant reported him for murder.

Mr. Speaker, Lt. Pantano by all accounts is an exceptional Marine. On Monday, April 25, there will be an Article 32 hearing to determine whether or not Lt. Pantano will face a court-marshal for a murder trial. If convicted by a court-marshal, Lt. Pantano can be subject to the death penalty for an action he took in self-defense on the battlefield.

I hope and pray, Mr. Speaker, that on Monday Lt. Pantano will be cleared of all charges because I am confident that he did his duty as any Marine officer should when faced with the enemy.

Mr. Speaker, I have introduced House Resolution 167 to support Lt. Pantano as he faces trial. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take some time to read my resolution and look into this situation for themselves. Lt. Pantano's mother, a wonderful lady whom I have spoken to by telephone on several occasions, also has a Web site that I encourage people to visit. The address is www.defendthedefenders.org. Mr. Speaker, I close by asking the Good Lord to please bless our men and women in uniform and their families and to please be with Lt. Pantano on Monday, April 25 and may he be exonerated of these charges for doing his duty to protect America. God bless him and God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order now.

Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight to once again ask for my colleagues to support Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a Marine who has served our Nation bravely in both Gulf Wars and who now stands accused of murder for defending himself and his country.

During his service in Iraq last year, Lieutenant Pantano was faced with a very difficult situation that caused him to make a split-second decision to defend his life. He felt threatened by the actions of two insurgents under his watch; and in an act of self-defense, he had to resort to force.

Two and a half months later, a sergeant under his command who never even saw the shooting accused him of murder. Mr. Speaker, next month, April 25, there will be an Article 32 hearing to determine whether or not Lieutenant Pantano will face a court martial for murder. If convicted by a court martial, Lieutenant Pantano can be subject to the death penalty for an action that he took in self-defense on the battlefield.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening to this young man is an injustice. Over the past couple of weeks I have stood here in this very spot quoting those who support him and his fight for justice.

In his fitness report months after the alleged crime took place, his superiors praised his leadership and talents and even suggested that he was worthy of promotion.

Respected journalists, from Mona Charen to the Washington Times editorial board, have defended him as an upstanding citizen and Marine. Veterans and fellow Marines from across this Nation have heard his story and have been outraged by the charge against him. They believe, as I do, that to put doubt in the minds of our soldiers is to condemn them to death.

Mr. Speaker, I have put in a resolution, House Resolution 167, to support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces these allegations. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take the time to read my resolution and look into this situation for themselves.

Lieutenant Pantano's mother has a Web site that I also encouraged people to visit. The address is defendthedefenders.org. I hope and pray that when Lieutenant Pantano faces his Article 32 hearing next Monday, he will be exonerated of all charges.

Our Marines, soldiers, airmen and sailors risk their lives to protect our freedoms. Having them second-guess their actions in war is dangerous for their safety and for our national security.

Lieutenant Pantano stood by his corps and his country through two wars. He left a loving family and a 6-figure salary to reenlist after September the 11th. I ask that we now stand by him as he faces this battle for his life.

Mr. Speaker, with that I will close by saying, may God please bless our men and women in uniform and their families. And please, God, be with Lieutenant Pantano and his family. And I ask God to please bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken several times about Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a Marine who served our Nation bravely in both Gulf Wars and who now stands accused of murder for defending himself and this country.

During his service in Iraq last year, Lieutenant Pantano was faced with a very difficult situation that caused him to make a split-second decision to defend his life. He felt threatened by the actions of two insurgents under his watch; and in an act of self-defense, he had to resort to force; 2\1/2\ months later, a sergeant under his command, who never saw the shooting, accused him of murder. Lieutenant Pantano now faces two counts of murder.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening to this young man is an injustice. Lieutenant Pantano has served this Nation with great honor. My personal experiences with him and his family convince me that he is a dedicated family man and a man who loves his corps and his country.

But I am not the only one who believes he is innocent. Yesterday, I read excerpts of pieces from the Washington Times and respected journalist Mona Charen defending Lieutenant Pantano.

I have received letters and e-mails from Vietnam veterans who sympathize with him and ask that I do something to help him. They know what it is like to be in battle with an unconventional enemy. One second can make the difference between life and death.

I have read excerpts from his combat fitness report in which his superiors praised his leadership and talent, even recommended him for promotion.

Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant Pantano was, by all accounts, an exceptional Marine.

Yesterday, Lieutenant Pantano and his attorneys waived his right to have an article 32 hearing and had decided that they want to go straight to trial. They are so convinced that he will be proven innocent that they want to speed the process along.

In a letter yesterday, Lieutenant Pantano's mother wrote: ``My son, our family, and millions of concerned citizens, Marines and soldiers were assured that the article 32 pretrial hearing would bring everything out in the wash, and we have been patient with a process that has been grueling for my son's family. The problem is that if the government is the machine and my son is the laundry, they are not adding any water.''

Thus far, the prosecution has not presented the witnesses and the evidence that they claim to have, and Lieutenant Pantano had no reason to believe that they would do so at the hearing. No such evidence appears to exist.

Mr. Speaker, I have put in a resolution, House Resolution 167, to support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces trial. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take some time to read my resolution, look into this situation for themselves. Lieutenant Pantano's mother also has a Web site that I encourage people to visit. The address is www.defendthedefenders.org. Mr. Speaker, as I close, I ask the good Lord in heaven to please bless our men and women in uniform whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, to bless them and their families across this country, and also I ask the good Lord to please be with the family of Lieutenant Pantano and that I believe he will be exonerated, and he is a great man, a great Marine; and God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke last night about a marine that I have in my prayers each and every night, Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano. Lieutenant Pantano has served this Nation in great honor in both the first and second Gulf wars. From my personal experience with him, I know that he is a dedicated family man and a man who loves the Corps.

During his service in Iraq last year, Lieutenant Pantano was faced with a very difficult situation that caused him to make a split-second decision to defend his life. He felt threatened by the actions of two insurgents under his watch and, in an act of self-defense, he had to resort to force.

Two and one half months later, a sergeant under his command, who never saw the shooting, accused him of murder. Lieutenant Pantano now faces charges of two counts of murder.

Mr. Speaker, what is happening to this young man is an injustice. In a combat fitness report, his superiors praised his leadership and talent, and he was by all accounts an exceptional marine.

Mona Charen, a respected Washington journalist, wrote the following about this case: ``Obviously, the United States cannot turn a blind eye to war crimes. If a soldier lines up civilians in front of a pit, My Lai style, and massacres them, he would richly deserve, and every self- respecting American would demand, a court martial.'' She further states, ``But, good Lord, by what possible standard can this be called murder? Pantano was in the middle of a war zone, not a vacation on the Riviera. He had been dodging ambushes and booby traps for weeks. He had seen his comrades killed and maimed. Perhaps,'' according to Ms. Charen, ``he acted too hastily in shooting those Iraqis. But a murder charge? Has the Marine Corps gone PC,'' politically correct?

The Washington Times even wrote an editorial on Lieutenant Pantano. They said: ``Lieutenant Pantano is straight out of some romanticized war story. The 33-year-old Hell's Kitchen native left a six-figure salary in New York City to serve his country. His mother says of him, `If he has a fault, it is that he is too idealistic and puts moral responsibility and duty to his country and his men before anything else.' For that,'' further quoting, ``Lieutenant Pantano faces criminal charges that could result in death.

``At a time when the military is being stretched, the Pantano case sends all the wrong signals to servicemen. Finding a few good men will only get harder and harder if overzealous lawyers are permitted to intimidate the troops. In an army, that is a losing formula.''

That a quote from the Washington Times.

Mr. Speaker, I have put in a resolution, House Resolution 167, to support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces these allegations. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take some time to read my resolution and look into this situation for themselves. Lieutenant Pantano's mother has a Web site that I am encouraging people to visit. The address is www.defendthedefenders.org. Mr. Speaker, I hope and pray that when Lieutenant Pantano faces his Article 32 hearing on April 25, he will be exonerated for all the charges. Because, Mr. Speaker, to put doubt in the minds of our soldiers is to condemn them to death.

Mr. Speaker, I close by asking the good Lord to please bless our men and women in uniform, to please bless their families, to bless the families who have given a child dying for freedom, and I ask the good Lord to please help Lieutenant Pantano as he faces these charges.

I have written the President of the United States and asked him to please look into this matter. I did get a courtesy response back, but no more than that.

I do say as I close, please, God, continue to bless our men and women in uniform.

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday I spoke about Marine 2nd Lieutenant Ilario Pantano and his struggle to defend his actions in battle.

April of 2004 was a time of widespread violence from Iraqi insurgents. It was the deadliest month of the war.

On April 15, 2004, Lieutenant Pantano was faced with a very difficult decision. Just 3 days after he had witnessed a deadly ambush, his unit received a tip about a weapons stockpile. Leery of the tip, he led a unit of 40 men to the area and immediately noticed two Iraqis in a vehicle who appeared to be escaping the area.

After stopping the vehicle, he ordered the two Iraqis to search the vehicle themselves so as to avoid a booby trap for himself or the others under his command. Suddenly, he said, the two insurgents pivoted towards him after disobeying his command to stop, and in a split-second decision Lieutenant Pantano decided he had to fire his weapon to protect himself and his men.

It was not until 2\1/2\ months later that his radio operator mentioned the incident to another Marine, who then accused Lieutenant Pantano of murder. He now is facing charges of two counts of murder.

Mr. Speaker, I have met Lieutenant Pantano and his family. I have watched again and again the ``Dateline'' interview Stone Phillips conducted with Lieutenant Pantano, and I have researched this situation at length. I believe Lieutenant Pantano is truthful in his recounts of the events of April of 2004 and he was justified in his action while having to make a split-second battlefield decision.

I question why the radio operator would wait 2\1/2\ months to tell his report of the events if he really believed murder had taken place. Furthermore, as is noted in the ``Dateline'' video, the sergeant was never even present for the actual shooting. How can he make a

judgment call on something he did not see?

Mr. Speaker, I have put in a resolution, H. Res. 167, to support Lieutenant Pantano as he faces yet another difficult fight for his life. I hope that my colleagues in the House will take some time to read my resolution and look into this situation for themselves. I believe a great unfairness has occurred here; and as the United States House of Representatives, we stand by our brave men and women in uniform as they protect and serve our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, before closing, I would like to say that there is a Web site that his mother has established. It is called defendthedefenders.org, and may God continue to bless our men and women in uniform and bless America.

Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II.

However, I thank God for blessing us with the gift of such an incredible world leader. He was a wonderful moral and political leader for Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and I know he will be dearly missed by millions of Americans and billions of others around the world. He was a man of great faith and conviction, and his legacy as a servant to the Lord is sure to carry on for many years to come.

I consider him a personal role model for his courage in the face of adversity, his unwavering devotion to his beliefs and values, and his piety in everyday life.

I stand here today in support of House Resolution 190, honoring the life and achievements of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. No one person has touched as many lives as he, and no one has been more loved. May he rest in peace with his Lord and Savior, and may we continue to be inspired by his grace and humility.