Thursday, 4:30 PM
Congressional testimony of Glenn Marshall
By Globe Staff
Glenn Marshall, the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag, testified at a congressional oversight hearing on March 31, 2004, speaking in support of tribe's request for federal recognition.
Marshall spoke on behalf of the tribe's 1,468 members "in order to share our story," according to a transcript of his testimony in the Federal Document Clearing House.
"We know ourselves to be a significant tribe tied to the long history of this nation, and we remain firm in our faith in its commitment to justice," Marshall said, according to the transcript. "The fight for freedom and development of democracy has been a tumultuous one, often calling for men and women to fight in order to secure liberty."
Marshall then described the tribe's history of fighting with the military for freedom, starting with Crispus Attucks, a member of the Mashpee, who he said was the first casualty of the Revolutionary War. Marshall concluded with himself.
"I am a survivor of the siege of Khe Sanh in Vietnam," he said, according to the transcript, evoking the name of a famous battle that lasted from January through April 1968.
However, the Cape Cod Times reported today that records show that when the battle took place Marshall was still a senior at Lawrence High School in Falmouth. Marshall didn't graduate until June 9, 1968, according to the Times.
The portion of Marshall's testimony in which he said he was at the siege of Khe Sanh follows in its entirety.
We are proud of our country. We have not always been treated with fairness and equality. But, we know ourselves to be a significant tribe tied to the long history of this nation, and we remain firm in our faith in its commitment to justice.The fight for freedom and development of democracy has been a tumultuous one, often calling for men and women to fight in order to secure liberty. The first casualty of the Revolutionary War, Crispus Attucks, was a member of the Mashpee. Another distinguished Mashpee, Massasoit, stands point on the state seal and flag of the Page 1 of 6 Commonwealth.
In fact, the Mashpee have consistently answered the call to arms, fighting in every American conflict beginning with the fight for independence from England: 21 in the Spanish American War, 145 in World War I, 5 in the Haitian Insurrection, 6 in the Philippine Insurrection, 80 in World War II (including 44 at D-Day), 61 in the Korean War, 30 during the Cuban blockade, 50 in the Vietnam War, 6 at Grenada, 11 in Panama, 13 in Desert Storm and 17 in Afghanistan and the War on Terror.
I am joined today by our Chief, Vernon Lopez, who was among the Mashpee fighting at D-Day; I am a survivor of the siege of Khe Sanh in Vietnam. Our ties to our community at home compliment our record of service and sacrifice to the country.
