Political Quotes

“Madam President, today I wish to honor and pay tribute to the late Army SGT Philip J. Iyotte, a hero from South Dakota who, after 66 years, has returned home. At a young age, Philip Iyotte, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, was given his Lakota name of Soldier Who Stands Alone. In 1950, Philip enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Army's 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. Shortly after, he was deployed to the Korean conflict. On September 2, 1950, Sergeant Iyotte was seriously injured from fragments from an enemy missile. Nineteen days later, he bravely returned to the battlefield. On February 9, 1951, 21-year-old Sergeant Iyotte was declared Missing in Action after being captured by Chinese forces during Operation Thunderbolt. When the war ended, several returning prisoners of war reported that Sergeant Iyotte passed away around September 10, 1951, and was buried at the main prisoner of war camp in Korea. Sixty-six years after being captured and killed, his remains have finally been returned to his family in White River, SD. For his bravery and service, Sergeant Iyotte was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal. I consider it an honor to pay tribute to SGT Philip J. Iyotte.…”