[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 131 (Wednesday, October 3, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER RONALD JAMES VAUK

 Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to a 
wonderful man, Lieutenant Commander Ronald James Vauk, whose life was 
cut short on September 11, 2001, while he was doing what he loved to 
do, serving his country. He was a Reservist on duty as Watch Commander 
at the Naval Command Center when terrorists attacked the Pentagon in 
Washington, D.C. This tragedy was not only a savage blow to the United 
States, but will forever be remembered in the hearts and minds of a 
loving family, a strong Idaho community, and many loyal friends.
  Ron was a devoted husband and good father who was born to Dorothy and 
Hubert Vauk and raised in Nampa, ID. He was the youngest of nine 
children and attended St. Paul's Catholic School and Nampa High School, 
graduating in 1982. I had the pleasure of recommending Ron for an 
appointment to the United States Naval Academy after he served a year 
as an enlisted sailor. He graduated the Naval Academy in 1987 and 
married an incredible young women by the name of Jennifer Mooney. Ron 
had an exemplary career as a Naval Officer and submariner, serving on 
both the USS Glenard P. Lipscomb and the USS Oklahoma City. His love 
for the Navy continued with his service as a Reservist and a project 
manager for the Delex Corporation and then as an assistant group 
supervisor in submarine technology for the Johns Hopkins University 
Applied Physics Laboratory. Ron's work at Johns Hopkins was extremely 
important, but he was always ready to serve our Nation as a Naval 
Reserve Officer whenever called upon. He was a quiet genius who wasn't 
afraid to work hard to get the job done. And, he was a very good man 
who loved his family and was devoted to his wife Jennifer and their 
pride and joy, Liam, who is almost four years old. The entire family is 
excited and looking forward to the upcoming birth of Ron and Jennifer's 
second child, expected in November.
  Ron will also be sorely missed by his parents, Dorothy and Hubert, 
and their eight other grown children. Ron's brothers and sisters all 
came together to be with Jennifer and son Liam at their home in Mt. 
Airy, MD. They are Charles Vauk, of Boise, Teri and Bill Masterson, 
Carson City, NV; Celia and Ken Shikuma, Huntington Beach, CA; David and 
Suzie Vauk, Nampa; Lynne and Alan Caba, Nampa; Gary and Julie Vauk, 
Grapevine, TX; Patricia Vauk and Paul Wilson, Minneapolis, MN; and 
Dennis and Donna Vauk, Houston, TX. Ron is also survived by his father 
and mother-in-law Patrick and Carol Mooney of Baltimore, and sister and 
brother-in-law Alissa and Chris DeBoy of Mt. Airy, MD, and 18 nieces 
and nephews. I know I speak for all my colleagues in the Senate in 
expressing my profound sorrow to the Vauk family for their loss.
  LCDR Ronald James Vauk was awarded the Purple Heart in the name of 
the United States President for his ultimate sacrifice. General George 
Washington, this Nation's Founding Father, established the Badge of 
Military Merit in 1782 as a means of recognizing courage and 
steadfastness in actual combat against the enemies of our Country. From 
the original three Badges of Military Merit awarded by General 
Washington, we now have the Purple Heart. LCDR Vauk was one of the 
first casualties of the War on Terrorism. Rest assured, this war will 
be won and the United States will continue to lead the world in 
protecting freedom. Ron was at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, 
because he was bravely doing what he believed in and what needed to be 
done. He was a thorough professional who believed in his country and 
his duties as a Naval Officer.
  On Monday I visited Jennifer, Liam and members of the Vauk family. 
Jennifer is a remarkable woman, who bears the burden of this tragedy 
with tremendous grace and dignity. I am very proud to recognize LDCR 
Ronald Vauk and tell him and his family, Thank you from a grateful 
Nation.

                          ____________________