[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S8163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAPTAIN CURTIS J. ZANE

 Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, on the occasion of his 80th 
birthday this coming 4th of July, I would like to join my Alaskan 
colleague in the other body in extending warm birthday wishes to 
Captain Curtis J. Zane, United States Navy Retired. ``Casey'' Zane, as 
he is affectionately known, is one of that generation of American 
heroes who rose to defend our nation and our freedom during the darkest 
days of WWII. He saw action over a wide area of the South Pacific 
during 1942, 1943 and 1944 including service with the fabled ``Black 
Cat'' PBY squadron 101. To this day he remembers dear friends who died 
in that conflict. In mid 1944 through the war's end Casey instructed 
young pilots in B-24s at Hutchinson Kansas.
  The balance of his 27 year career in Naval Aviation spanned the early 
years of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the transition to 
the Nuclear Navy. During that time Casey Zane served in the Guam, 
Tinian and Saipan areas of the post war Pacific. Later he was aboard 
ships of the fleet including the carrier USS Leyte and then took 
Command of anti-submarine warfare squadron VP 18. He served at the 
Command Post CinCLantFleet and as Commanding Officer U.S. Naval 
Communications Stations, Londonderry Northern Ireland and Thurso 
Scotland. He did his last tour at the Pentagon in Navy's Bureau of 
Personnel and retired as a Captain in November 1968.
  Among the several types of special schooling and training he 
received, Casey is a graduate of the Army's Command & General Staff 
College and the Naval War College. He holds the American Defense 
Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Air Medal; Asiatic-Pacific 
Campaign Medal (3 Stars); World War II Victory Medal; National Defense 
Service Medal (1 Star).
  After the Navy, Casey and his wife Dorothy started their second 
careers becoming successful real estate brokers and agents in the 
Northern Virginia area. Despite his tender age of 80, Casey continues 
to be an active and productive member of our society. He is a model for 
those who believe in being ``forever young,'' both in spirit and 
enthusiasm for living. I wish to extend a hearty ``many happy returns'' 
to a great American Veteran, Captain Curtis J. ``Casey'' Zane on his 
upcoming 80th birthday, July 4, 1999. Mr. President, as this Century 
closes it is indeed fitting that the advent of a National World War II 
Memorial is close at hand. As our numbers fade slowly and inexorably 
from our midst, perhaps the best birthday present we can give WWII 
Veterans like Casey Zane is the knowledge that our nation will never 
forget their sacrifice.

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