[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 126 (Monday, September 12, 1994)] [Senate] [Page S] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: September 12, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO ADM. GEORGE E.R. ``GUS'' KINNEAR II, U.S. NAVY, RETIRED Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary individual who has had a remarkable career in service to his country--Adm. George E.R. ``Gus'' Kinnear, USN, retired. ``Gus'' as his friends call him, has spent almost half a century either serving on active duty, or working on behalf of the U.S. Armed Forces. Born in Mounds, OK, and raised in Brooksville, FL, Gus is now a distinguished citizen of the great State of New Hampshire. He entered the Navy as an enlisted man in 1945, was selected for pilot training, and became a naval aviator in 1948. As with many fine young men of his generation, he participated in the Korean conflict, flying combat missions from the decks of U.S. aircraft carriers. Following the war, Gus successfully completed studies leading to the receipt of his bachelor's and master's degrees. But the call of his first love, naval aviation, led him back to the air in 1961, and he served in various squadron positions until 1963, when he earned his first combat command as ``C.O.'' of Attack Squadron 106. In 1966, with 3 years of operational command under his belt, Gus once again took a brief hiatus to attend Stanford University, where he earned a master of science degree in industrial engineering and a doctoral degree in engineering management. Mr. President, following completion of his doctoral work, Gus again assumed command positions involving greater and greater responsibility. He was given command of a carrier air wing during the Vietnam war, and later, as a flag officer, he commanded a carrier group. Units under his command saw action in the Sea of Japan during the Pueblo incident and in the Tonkin Gulf. He personally flew over 100 combat missions during Vietnam, and to his credit Gus holds the unique distinction among naval aviators of flying more different types of jet aircraft than any other naval aviator, having logged more than 5,000 flying hours and having made more than 950 arrested carrier landings. The years 1968 to 1971 were also exciting and challenging ones for Gus, but in a different way. As Special Assistant to the Director of Navy Program Planning, and then as a Special Assistant to the Navy Comptroller, he honed his management skills in the business side of the Navy. Again, Gus served with distinction and developed skills that were to serve him well throughout his career. Upon leaving Washington, Gus assumed command of LSD 32, the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove, followed in quick succession by his assignment as commander of one of the Navy's premier naval aviation installations, Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, CA. His stay at Miramar was, however, brief. Following his promotion to rear admiral, it was back to Washington. Predictably, Gus was again assigned to billets involving ever-increasing responsibility; first as the Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and then as Chief of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. In 1978, he was designated a vice admiral, and assigned as the commander for naval air forces, Atlantic fleet. Finally, in 1981, Gus was promoted to admiral and assumed the prestigious and challenging position of U.S. military representative to the NATO military community, a position he held until his retirement. Those who know Gus recognize that he is not a person who can sit idle for long. Following his retirement he went to work for the Grumman Corp., where he advanced to the position of senior vice president for Washington operations. He left Grumman in 1988 to serve as executive vice president and then president of the University of New Hampshire, a position he held until 1992. In October 1992, following 4 years of service as a member of the board of directors of the Retired Officers Association [TROA], he was unanimously selected as TROA's chairman of the board, a position from which he is now retiring. Mr. President, through Gus' stewardship, the Retired Officers Association continues to play a vital role as a staunch advocate of legislative initiatives to maintain readiness and improve the quality of life for all members of the military community--active, reserve, and retired, plus their families and survivors. I will not describe all of his many accomplishments at TROA, but I would like to focus briefly on a few that illustrate the breadth of his concern for our Nation's military people. As chairman, he led the fight for continued access to the military health care system for retirees and directed TROA's efforts to maintain the viability of the commissary system. Taken together, these comprise two of the most important institutional benefits provided as inducements for a career in service. Under his direction, TROA spearheaded a bipartisan initiative to provide military retirees the same cost-of-living adjustment [COLA] as Federal civilian retirees will receive. His zeal in fighting to compel Congress and the administration to honor past commitments to our service personnel and their families is legendary. On a national scope, Gus has been a vocal and effective champion of a reasoned, judicious approach to the downsizing of our Armed Forces. As Gus has so appropriately emphasized, if implemented haphazardly, the drawdown will undermine our national security and produce a ``hollow'' military force. No one in this Nation can speak with greater knowledge and experience on this issue than Gus Kinnear, and his observations are right on the mark. Mr. President, my closing observation, which I am sure is shared by all my colleagues, is that Admiral Kinnear has been an outstanding leader, in the military, TROA, and on behalf of the entire retired community. His distinguished military service and his unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom throughout the world are an inspiration for those who have followed and will continue to follow in his footsteps. Our wishes go with him for a long life of health, happiness, and continued success. As a former sailor myself, and in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy, I join with his many friends in wishing Gus ``fair winds and a following sea.'' ____________________