[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 82 (Friday, June 24, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      HONORING GENERAL KICKLIGHTER

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, as our great country and the remainder of 
the free world remembers the historic 50th anniversary of the Normandy 
invasion, I rise today to honor and salute Lt. Gen. Claude Kicklighter 
on his outstanding job organizing the commemoration of the 50th 
anniversary of D-day.
  Lt. Gen. Claude Kicklighter assumed the duties of special assistant 
to the Secretary of the Army and executive director of the Department 
of Defense 50th anniversary of World War II Commemoration Committee on 
August 7, 1991. He was directly responsible for managing a program 
designed to assist the Nation in thanking and honoring the veterans of 
World War II, their families, and those who served on the homefront. In 
addition, he developed programs and materials that provided a greater 
understanding of the lessons and history of World War II. It was 
evident from the very beginning that General Kicklighter's top priority 
was honoring the 8.2 million surviving World War II veterans. When 
describing his job, he reflects that ``It's been a labor of love.''
  Over the past few weeks, I have received hundreds of letters from 
World War II veterans who attended the Normandy anniversary and from 
those who watched the ceremonies on television. It is overwhelmingly 
clear that the 50th anniversary of D-day has rekindled the spirit of 
patriotism all over America and has touched each of us in some way. The 
success of this moving and emotional anniversary could not have been 
achieved without the dedication and professional effort of General 
Kicklighter.
  General Kicklighter has a distinguished record of service to his 
country at numerous locations in the United States and overseas. His 
assignments included duty with three Army Schools and service in 
Vietnam, Iran, Europe, Washington DC, and at numerous posts in the 
United States, including ROTC duty at Wofford College in South 
Carolina.
  General Kicklighter has commanded at every level, from company 
through division, having commanded the 25th Infantry Division (Light) 
at Schofield Barracks from June 1984 until September 1986. He commanded 
the U.S. Army Security Assistance Center, Alexandria, VA, and served in 
staff assignments from battalion to Department of the Army, the Joint 
Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He served as 
Director of the Army Staff from May 1987 to July 1989.
  General Kicklighter's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal 
with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense superior service medal, the 
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, the 
Meritorious service medal with oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation 
Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Secretary of Defense 
identification badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff identification badge, 
the Army general staff identification badge, Order of Aaron and Hur, 
the Argentina Order of May, the French Order National Du Merite, and 
the Korean Order of National Security Gugseon Medal. And finally, 
General Kicklighter received the Eisenhower liberation medal, presented 
by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, on April 6, 1994.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in commending the 
accomplishments of General Claude Kicklighter. It is my sincere hope 
that future generations will have a full comprehension of the magnitude 
of the sacrifice that those in the military took on June 6, 1994. 
Thanks to General Kicklighter, I do not think we have to be concerned 
about our Nation forgetting this most profound day in our Nation's 
history and the world's history as well.
  Again, I thank and applaud General Kicklighter for his outstanding 
dedication to all war veterans as our grateful Nation remembers.

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