[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 194 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2317-E2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WALTER H. DETTINGER

                                 ______


                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 1995

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a truly 
dedicated American, Mr. Walter H. Dettinger, who passed away on 
November 21, 1995.
  In 1936 at the age of 17, Walt embarked upon several years of 
selfless service to our country when he enlisted in the Ohio National 
Guard. Upon his discharge in 1939, he joined the Naval Communications 
Reserve and was called to active duty the following year. His area of 
expertise, radio communications, led him to service aboard the USS 
Worden in Pearl Harbor, HI. Walt was among the thousands of servicemen 
there on the morning of 

[[Page E 2318]]
December 7, 1941, when the Japanese launched their unannounced 
offensive. As a survivor of the attack, he went on to defend our Nation 
in the Battle of the Midway and Guadalcanal. In January 1943 while 
aboard the USS Worden in Amchitka, AK, his ship fell victim to an enemy 
suicide attack. Once again surviving, he served the rest of World War 
II in the Pacific on the USS Murray.
  In October 1945 he was discharged and returned to civilian life. Five 
years later, he married Betty, with whom he shared a 45-year marriage 
and two children. In early 1952, Walt was again called upon to serve 
his country in the Korean war. He served faithfully and diligently on 
the USS Fred T. Berry until his discharge in November 1952.
  Ambition and drive followed Walt into civilian life as well. As a 
civilian, he left his mark upon the Toledo broadcasting community in 
several ways. He helped put an AM radio station, WTOD, on the air, as 
well as a television station, WTOL-TV 11, from which he retired in 
1981. He was a lifelong amateur radio broadcaster, member of the 
Quarter Century Wireless Association and the American Radio Relay 
League.
  Walt was also a proud member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors 
Association--charter member, past president of Ohio Chapter 3 and past 
Ohio State Chairman, the Toledo Post #335, American Legion, past 
commander, and life member of Sylvania Post #3717, Veterans of Foreign 
Wars. It is through this association that Walt provided me with 
invaluable assistance in 1991.
  Together, we worked to give Pearl Harbor survivors from my district 
the Pearl Harbor Veterans Award during a moving ceremony 50 years after 
that long-ago day. Walt's assistance in organizing this commemoration 
was invaluable to me, and appreciated beyond words by the veterans we 
honored.
  A kind and gentle man who sought neither recognition nor accolades 
and held his achievements privately, Walt was a truly dedicated 
American. His advice, counsel, and friendship will be missed. He served 
America and the cause of freedom with selfless devotion. He left our 
world a finer place.