[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       TRIBUTE TO THOMAS J. STACK

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 1994

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas J. Stack, a 
personal friend of mine, who lost a long battle with cancer on April 
16, 1994. This tribute is to memorialize his life of sacrifice, 
patriotism, and dedication to our country.
  No one has spoken or written more accurately or articulately about 
Tom, than Mr. Steve Neal, political editor and columnist of the Chicago 
Sun-Times. From this point on I quote the Neal column of April 18, 
1994.

       He was among the more decorated soldiers of the Vietnam 
     War. But Thomas J. Stack seldom talked about his combat 
     record.
       On his return from Vietnam, Stack had a reunion in his 
     basement with some of his pals from the Southwest Side. He 
     wanted to know how they were doing. Stack never talked about 
     himself much. But he helped a generation recover its lost 
     pride.
       Stack, 50, who died on Saturday after a 17-year bout with 
     cancer, was a sergeant in the 9th Infantry Division in 
     Vietnam who earned two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars for 
     valor and the Air Medal for taking part in more than 25 
     aerial missions over hostile territory.
       ``He was a hell of a man,'' said retired Gen. William C. 
     Westmoreland, who commanded U.S. forces in Vietnam from 1964 
     to 1968. ``Tom showed great bravery and valor on the 
     battlefield. He put his life on the line to protect his 
     men,'' Westmoreland said Tuesday. He recalled that Stack was 
     among the more selfless men that he had known.
       In Stack's final hours, his spirits brightened when he 
     received a phone call from Westmoreland at St. Francis 
     Hospital in Blue Island. Stack smiled when he got the call 
     from his wartime commander. ``I just told him how much he 
     meant to all of us and that we were pulling for him,'' said 
     Westmoreland, 80, who frequently corresponded with Stack. 
     ``He's going to be missed.''
       When he was under fire in Vietnam, Stack responded with 
     toughness and courage. In the face of enemy fire, he dove 
     into a stream, saved an American soldier from drowning and 
     also captured a Viet Cong officer. While serving as a platoon 
     leader, Sgt. Stack was under fire with his men behind a rice-
     paddy dike. Stack led a charge that wiped out five bunkers, 
     rescued wounded American soldiers, and took heavy Vietnamese 
     casualties. On another occasion when his platoon was under 
     heavy fire, Stack led an assault that knocked out enemy 
     snipers. Stack was a soldier's soldier.
       On coming home from the Vietnam War, Stack and other 
     veterans were greeted by protesters who called them names. It 
     bothered him that Vietnam veterans weren't treated fairly. 
     Stack was in Washington, D.C. in 1982 for the dedication of 
     the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was deeply moved by the 
     Wall and visited it often.
       As part of the healing process from the Vietnam era, Stack 
     organized the 1986 Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Parade that 
     brought more than 250,000 Vietnam veterans to Chicago. It was 
     an extraordinary event. Westmoreland said Tuesday that Stack 
     played an important role in the process of national 
     reconciliation. ``That cracked the ice. Vietnam was an 
     unpopular war, and that rubbed off on veterans,'' said 
     Westmoreland. ``But the Chicago parade cracked the ice on the 
     country's attitude toward the Vietnam veteran and the 
     veteran's attitude about himself. Other cities began honoring 
     their veterans. Tom Stack started it all.''
       Stack received thousands of letters from parents and 
     children of soldiers who had died in Vietnam, from veterans 
     and families of surviving veterans that thanked him for 
     honoring the courage and sacrifice of American soldiers.
       He was among the more heroic figures of his generation.

  Tom was a life-long contributor to the Chicagoland community. He grew 
up on the Chicago's south side and served as a Chicago police officer 
for 9 years after he returned from Vietnam. Tom was a professor of 
criminal justice at Daley College and was active in a number of 
veterans organizations. Tom was also my personal advisor on all 
veterans issues. He is survived by his two daughters, Kristine and 
Kathryn, and his son, William.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize this honarable man who made 
these tremendous contributions to our community and our country. I hope 
my colleagues will join me in memorializing his many years of 
dedication to his fellow veterans and our country. I will personally 
miss him a great deal.

                          ____________________