[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S9090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM POWELL

 Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise today full of sadness. 
Mr. William Powell of Bella Vista, AR, has recently passed away.
  I came to know Mr. Powell as 1 of the 82 American airmen that were 
held prisoner of war at the Buchenwald concentration camp during World 
War II. During my tenure in Congress, I have introduced two resolutions 
that would have given appropriate and well-deserved recognition to this 
group of World War II prisoners.
  These brave airmen were different from other allied prisoners, 
because they were held at Buchenwald--a Nazi concentration camp--and 
therefore not subject to the protections of the Geneva Convention.
  Tragically, Mr. President, the United States has never formally 
recognized the service, sacrifice, and bravery of these American airmen 
while they were held as political prisoners. Even more tragically, the 
United States and this Congress will never have the opportunity to 
express our admiration to Mr. Powell.
  When I introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 in this Congress, 
on Thursday, June 12, I contacted Mr. Powell. He responded by saying, 
and I quote:

       The recognition is long overdue. For decades, the 
     Department of Defense and the International Red Cross have 
     stated that there were no military personnel in Buchenwald. 
     Yet as someone who was imprisoned there for 4 months, I know 
     of at least 55 other American soldiers who endured the 
     hardships of this camp. Two men even lost their lives there. 
     And nearly all suffered diseases later in life because of the 
     treatment they received while in Buchenwald.
       In the late 70s, early 80s, I joined with the other 
     survivors of Buchenwald to push this government to recognize 
     our service. We never wanted any money, we just wanted the 
     United States Government to say, ``Yes you were there, and we 
     appreciate what you went through.''

  Mr. William Powell was a good man, a true patriot, and while this 
resolution that I spoke of earlier, Senate Concurrent Resolution 32, 
has yet to pass this body, I urge my colleagues to join with me in 
passing it, in honor of Mr. William Powell.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

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