[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 36 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO GEORGE WHITTINGTON

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
civic leader, decorated veteran, adventurer, and extraordinary 
Kentuckian. George P. Whittington, who passed away January 27, was all 
of these things, and more.
  Mr. Whittington, born October 5, 1913, served his country in both 
World War II and the Korean war. A graduate of the New Mexico Military 
Institute, Whittington was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and 
Purple Heart for service in both the Army and the Marine Corps. During 
the D-day invasion on June 6, 1944, Whittington commanded Company B of 
the Fifth Ranger Battalion which landed on Omaha Beach. According to an 
account of the attack, Whittington led a detachment that punched 
through obstacles on the beach, scaled a 100-foot cliff and then 
crawled under machinegun fire to destroy an enemy position. For his 
leadership, Mr. Whittington was awarded the Distinguished Service 
Cross.
  After the war, Whittington earned a bachelor's degree in journalism 
from the University of Missouri. He then returned to active duty to 
serve as a major and battalion commander in the Army during the Korean 
war. After military service, Whittington returned to Kentucky where he 
served for more than 25 years on the Henderson City-County Air Board 
and was a member of the Henderson Community College Foundation board. 
During the 1970's and 1980's Whittington owned a 1,000-acre cattle 
ranch in Costa Rica. He also hunted big game in Africa and was an avid 
private pilot.
  Walt Dear, president of the Gleaner-Journal Publishing Co., said 
Whittington ``was an absolute original. George Whittington was the kind 
of guy you meet once in a lifetime. He was definitely interesting--a 
great conversationalist and a great reader.''
  Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Agnes; two daughters, Janet 
and Elizabeth Whittington; two sons, Charles and Richard Whittington; 
and two grandsons. I would ask that my colleagues join me in honoring 
this heroic and extraordinary Kentuckian.

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