[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1093-E1094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    HONORING MAJOR GENERAL JAMES C. PENNINGTON, JR., U.S. ARMY (RET)

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 1998

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration but a heavy 
heart that I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding American and 
patriot, retired Major General James C. Pennington who passed away on 
June 5, 1998. General Pennington was the long-time president of the 
National Association for Uniformed Services. He died while carrying on 
the crusade which he had devoted much of his life--the crusade to save 
military health care benefits that were promised and dutifully earned 
by this country's veterans and military retirees.
  The military and veteran community has lost a great leader. His 
insightful, frank comments and tenacious determination to convince the 
country's leaders to honor the promises made to those who put their 
lives on the line were a rallying point and an inspiration to all.
  I got to know General Pennington well during the years we fought 
together to restore the full Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to our 
nation's military retirees. A tireless advocate, he traveled all across 
the country meeting with veterans and their families, senior government 
officials, the powerful and the disenfranchised in an unwavering effort 
to advance the cause. He paid particular attention to the ``old 
warriors,'' the group of veterans who fought and

[[Page E1094]]

won World War II. He was one of them, having joined the Army on D-Day 
1944 right out of high school. And while he fought for all veterans, 
his compassion for his WWII colleagues was legendary as he sought to 
take care of those most in need.
  A man of boundless energy, Jim Pennington was always ready to lead 
the charge. He never failed to point out that a promise made should be 
a promise kept; that our Government made a covenant with its veterans 
for lifelong health care in return for career service in defense of our 
country. Regrettably, that covenant has been broken for those military 
retirees passed the age of 65 who are denied access to the military 
health system. Each month 36,000 WWII veterans die. Of this amount, 
approximately 10% are military retirees. Current legislative proposals 
to study or demonstrate greater health care coverage for many of these 
veterans are simply too little, too late.
  General Pennington's valiant and unceasing efforts on behalf of all 
members of the military community set him apart. In a word, Jim 
Pennington was one of the few people in this word who made a 
difference. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the courageous men 
and women who have defended our nation. Jim Pennington never forgot 
that and he made sure that the people he met and spoke with never 
forgot it as well. There would be no better way to honor this great man 
than to make sure our military men and women receive the care they so 
rightfully have earned. Jim wouldn't want it any other way.

                          ____________________