[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 65 (Friday, May 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H4881-H4882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH FOR WILLIAM E. COLBY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, all of Washington and the Nation watched over 
some 7 days as America wondered what happened to the former Director of 
the CIA, William Colby. William Colby served his country in war and in 
peace. He served it with integrity and with commitment.

                              {time}  1415

  Tragically, his body was found 7 days after his canoe was discovered. 
He had drowned.
  I had the opportunity of talking to his widow, Sally Shelton Colby, 
and when I talked to her, she was thankful for the volunteers and paid 
personnel of so many agencies who had throughout her vigil exercised 
their skill and their judgment in the search for an answer to why he 
was missing.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of more 
than 100 individuals, both paid and volunteer, who spent many hours in 
the cold waters and on the shoreline of the Wicomico River searching 
for the late William Colby.
  The search ended early Monday morning after his body was discovered 
near the shoreline, ending, Mr. Speaker, an intense search that began 
on the 28th of April. There were many agencies and organizations 
involved in the search, as is always the case when neighbors get in 
trouble. That search was headed by the Maryland Department of Natural 
Resources Police. They did an outstanding job, and I want to recognize 
not only them but all the participants in this search, including the 
sheriff of Charles County, MD, Fred Davis, and the men and women of the 
Charles County Sheriff's Department who handled press inquiries, 
protected the Colby residence, and facilitated in the search.
  The search involved countless volunteer hours and assistance from the 
Maryland State Police, aviation division; the Charles County dive team, 
who were the first divers in the search; the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire 
Department and emergency medical team; the 7th District Volunteer Fire 
Department, Boat 5 from the home county of myself, St. Mary's County; 
the Marbury Volunteer Fire Department, using their rescue boat and dive 
team; the Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department; the St. Mary's County 
Sheriff's Department dive team, led by Sheriff Voorhaar; the Calvert 
County dive team; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Prince George's County dive 
team, Companies

[[Page H4882]]

22, 49, and 56; the LaPlata Volunteer Fire Department; the Sardom 
search and rescue dogs; the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department 
Ladies Auxiliary.
  Let me stop at the Cobb Island Ladies Auxiliary. I had the 
opportunity to talk to Gilda Farrell Wednesday night. Talked to her 
about the efforts of herself and the members of the auxiliary, and told 
her that Sally Shelton Colby expressed to me how persons who did not 
know her or her family were so warm in a time of crisis, were so 
uplifting at a time of tragedy, and how they had related to the entire 
Colby family at this time and given them comfort as well as aid.

  In addition, the Charles County Communications Department; the 
Virginia State Marine Police; the Naval Surface Warfare Center EOD dive 
team and the rescue squad dive team from Dahlgren, VA; and numerous 
local citizens who volunteered in many, many different ways.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the efforts of 
the paid and volunteer members of this very special community. These 
individuals engage in hundreds of hours of specialized training and 
continuing education to enhance life-saving skills, just to be ready 
for emergency rescue calls and searches. Charles County and other 
communities across America benefit daily from the services of these 
dedicated professionals who are ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 
and they deserve our continued thanks.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that you share my pride at the efforts of the 
volunteer fire and rescue service personnel and other agencies involved 
in the intense search for Mr. Colby, which lasted more than 7 days.

                          ____________________