[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         EXPRESSION OF ADMIRATION FOR LT. GOV. JOSEPH E. KERNAN

  (Ms. CARSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a brief moment to share my 
pride and admiration for our Indiana Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan.
  Today, May 7, marks the 25th anniversary when Joe Kernan was shot 
down by the enemy over North Vietnam and held a prisoner of war for the 
succeeding 11 months.
  Joe Kernan, a 1968 graduate of Notre Dame, was sent to Vietnam in 
1972 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, never set foot in Vietnam until his 
plane, where he was a navigator, was shot down and he was taken a 
prisoner of war. He was a prisoner of war for 11 months, he was 
repatriated in 1973 and continued on active duty with the Navy until 
1974, December. The Combat Action Ribbon, two Purple Heart medals and 
the Distinguished Flying Cross are among the military awards that the 
Lieutenant Governor has received.
  Mr. Speaker, he is an ordinary man. He worked for Procter and Gamble 
in Cincinnati. He moved to South Bend where he became mayor and the 
city's controller. He was elected mayor in 1987, served there 9 years, 
longer than any other mayor in South Bend's history, and in 1996 he and 
Gov. Frank O'Bannon were elected to the top posts in Indiana's 
government. Joe and his wife are natives of South Bend.
  I just wanted to say today that Joe Kernan exemplifies what the court 
envisioned in that he is at the home of the brave at the land of the 
free.

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