Max Baucus: “When speaking of the Royal Air Force before Parliament, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: ``Never in the…”

“When speaking of the Royal Air Force before Parliament, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: ``Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.'' Churchill's words would ring true for the First Special Service Force as well. An elite and clandestine military unit during World War II, the Force was trained for the most difficult missions over the most arduous terrain. The Force pioneered many of the tactics used by today's Special Operations Forces. Their courage and audacity helped break through Nazi lines. Surprise night raids. Scaling cliffs. Traversing snowy mountain passes. The Force never faced a mission that was too difficult or too dangerous to accomplish. It is a great honor to introduce legislation today with my colleagues Senator Tester and Senator Burr bestowing the First Special Service Force with the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor the United States Congress can present. It is reserved for an individual--or group of individuals--who performs an outstanding act of service to the United States. I can think of no group of men more deserving of this high honor than the First Special Service Force. The Force was comprised of volunteers from 49 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada. These men trained at Fort Harrison, in Helena, MT.…”