[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN JOHN WILLIAM KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 1996

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a brave 
Virginian and proud member of the U.S. Air Force, who gave his life in 
service to his country. Capt. John William Kennedy known to his family 
and friends as Jack will complete his long awaited journey home to be 
laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery, Friday August 2, 1996.
  Capt. John William Kennedy was lost while flying a visual 
reconnaissance mission in an O-2A over Quangtin Province of South 
Vietnam. Captain Kennedy was a forward air controller with the 20th 
Tactical Air Support Squadron based in Chu Lai, Vietnam in support of 
the 23d Infantry Division.
  On August 16, 1971, radio contact was lost with Captain Kennedy's 
plane during normal radio communication check-in. There were no radio 
calls, no crash site found, and no eye witnesses. However, there were 
reports of a North Vietnamese regiment operating in the area. Captain 
Kennedy was listed as ``Missing in Action'' a status he carried until 
July of 1978, when the Air Force re-evaluated his status to ``Presumed 
Killed in Action.'' In May of this year, Captain Kennedy's family was 
contacted by the U.S. Air Force with a positive identification of 
Captain Kennedy's remains.
  Born in Washington, DC, Captain Kennedy was raised in Arlington and 
graduated from Wakefield High School in 1965. He then went on to the 
prestigious Virginia Military Institute and graduated in 1969, with a 
degree in Civil Engineering. In 1969 he was named Southern Conference 
Wrestling Champion in the 160 pound weight class. He was cocaptain of 
the varsity wrestling and soccer teams, a member of the VMI Honor 
Court, inducted into the Who's Who in American Colleges and 
Universities and Kappa Alpha. In 1980, Captain Kennedy was inducted 
into the Virginia Military Institutes Sports Hall of Fame.
  Captain Kennedy's military awards include the Distinguished Flying 
Cross, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, 
National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the 
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
  Captain Kennedy is survived by his mother Sally Chewning Kennedy of 
Lake Ridge, VA and his brother Daniel E. Kennedy, Jr. of Dumfries, VA.
  I offer the heartfelt appreciation of all Americans to Captain 
Kennedy's family and hope that they find solace in knowing America 
appreciates the profound loss they have experienced and the turmoil 
they have been through in bringing Captain Kennedy home.

                          ____________________