[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO GEN. WILLIAM W. ``BUFFALO BILL'' QUINN

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I call to the attention of the Senate the 
fact that in a few days one of our Nation's most distinguished military 
officers, a veteran of World War II and of the Korean conflict, will 
celebrate his 90th birthday.
  Lt. Gen. William W. ``Buffalo Bill'' Quinn, a 1933 graduate of the 
U.S. Military Academy at West Point, completed Command and General 
Staff School the day before Pearl Harbor.
  He had served as G-2 of the 7th Army, responsible for the 
intelligence on which the August 1944 allied landing in southern France 
was based when the 19th German Army was routed.
  The following year he helped to liberate the survivors of the Nazi 
death camp at Dachau. What he saw there so horrified him that he said 
he would never let the world forget, so that nothing similar could 
happen again.
  After the war, General Quinn became director of the Strategic Service 
Unit that was formerly known as the Office of Strategic Services. Later 
he was assigned to Korea where he boosted regimental morale by setting 
up a system for sending word of the accomplishments of individual 
soldiers to their hometown papers. He also served as G-2 for the daring 
and historic landing at Inchon.
  His duties as a combat commander began when he was assigned to 
command the 17th Regiment in Korea, which was known as the 
``Buffaloes.''
  On a cold winter day in 1951, ending a report on his regiment, he 
said, ``Tell the old man''--and he meant by that Maj. Gen. Claude 
Ferenbaugh, commanding general of the 7th Division--``that Bill of the 
Buffaloes said everything will be all right.''
  From then on, Bill Quinn became known as Buffalo Bill.
  After Korea, he served for 2 years as an adviser to the Greek Army. 
Later he assumed command of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, 
WA, and then returned to the Pentagon as the first Deputy Assistant 
Chief for Intelligence of the Army. In 1959, he became the Army's Chief 
of Public Information.
  Assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as Deputy Director in 
1961, he was then promoted to lieutenant general. In 1964, General 
Quinn was appointed the 18th commanding general of the 7th Army in 
Germany. He retired 2 years later.
  I met General Quinn when I went to visit Senator Barry Goldwater once 
over on the Chesapeake. He is a great individual, Mr. President. 
General Quinn's distinguished military career provides a picture of a 
great man. Those of us who are fortunate enough to call him a friend 
know that he has many more dimensions. He is a fine writer, who has 
contributed to many periodicals. He wrote a successful television 
series on our American infantrymen. General Quinn is an ardent 
fisherman, an outdoorsman, a golfer. In his Academy days, he played end 
on the football team and attack on the lacrosse team.
  As a father and grandfather, he has a family which is extremely proud 
of him. His list of citations, decorations, and civic activities and 
many accomplishments would be a long one and still would not tell the 
story of the whole man. I know him as an almost professional Irishman. 
He knows more jokes about Irish people and can tell them at length. And 
he enjoys Irish whiskey, as a matter of fact.
  Mr. President, I ask the Senate to join me in honoring a great man, 
Gen. ``Buffalo Bill'' Quinn on his 90th birthday, which he will 
celebrate with his friends and family on November 1.
  I thank the Chair.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Roberts). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. D'AMATO. I ask unanimous consent that I might proceed for up to 
15 minutes as if in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. D'AMATO. I thank the Chair.

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