[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CAPTAIN ROBERT E. DOLAN, U.S. NAVY

  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
the life of one of our servicemen who perished at the Pentagon during 
the horrific events of 11 September, Navy Captain Robert E. Dolan. 
During one of my many recent visits to the site where so many 
tragically lost their lives, I met Captain Dolan's widow, Mrs. Lisa 
Dolan. As we stood together on the southwest lawn of the Pentagon, we 
spoke of her husband and of his devotion to his family and the Navy in 
which he was so proud to serve. Mrs. Dolan then handed me a copy of a 
letter of tribute to her husband which she had written. While this 
letter was written to specifically honor Mrs. Dolan's husband, it could 
easily apply to many of those who paid the ultimate price on that 
terrible morning.
  Captain Bob Dolan, a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was 
first and foremost, a loving husband and devoted father to his two 
children. He was also a model Naval officer, having spent nearly half 
of his 20 year career on sea duty. Captain Dolan served on a variety of 
surface ships, ranging from the amphibious helicopter carrier, U.S.S. 
Inchon, LPH-12, to the state-of-the art Aegis cruiser, U.S.S. Thomas S. 
Gates, CG-51, and culminating in his superb command of the destroyer, 
U.S.S. John Hancock, DD-981, with its very appropriate motto, ``First 
for Freedom''. His shore tours included time on the staff of the 
Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff and his exceptional service was 
recognized with multiple awards, including the Defense Meritorious 
Service Medal.
  I ask unanimous consent that the letter of tribute which Mrs. Dolan 
wrote to the friends and family of her late husband be printed in the 
Record. I hope it will serve as a reminder to us all of the terrible 
losses inflicted on this Nation by an unseen and cowardly enemy.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

       My husband, Captain Robert E. Dolan, and the people who 
     perished along with him at the Pentagon, died as he lived: a 
     hero.
       He saw himself as an American with a simple life.
       He was a man who saw his duty clearly, and did it 
     unselfishly.
       He was a man who knew honor as a badge, and wore it 
     proudly.
       He was a man who viewed service as a privilege, and 
     performed it to the best of his ability.
       To him, that was a simple life. But Captain Robert E. Dolan 
     was anything but simple. He was a leader of men. He 
     influenced thousands of members of the military family as 
     Commander of the USS John Hancock, which has a motto of 
     ``First for Freedom.'' He influenced many more as a fellow 
     citizen, because Bob Dolan was every American. A quiet 
     patriot. A good neighbor. A friend and fellow citizen. You 
     see him every week coaching at Little League games and 
     chaperoning at school dances. You sit next to him in churches 
     and synagogues. You stand in line with him to vote.
       And he was so much more than just a military leader to 
     those who knew him best. He was:
       A loving father to his daughter, Rebecca, and son, Beau,
       A faithful and devoted husband,
       A dutiful and respectful son,
       A wonderful brother,
       A good and true friend.
       Bob Dolan was the best and the brightest this country had 
     to offer to the altar of freedom. That very freedom is an 
     ideal that the rest of the world can only wonder at, and 
     strive to comprehend the magnitude and glory of.
       The Americans--both civilian and military--killed and 
     wounded in the past few days under this unwarranted attack, 
     join the ranks of patriots fallen in other conflicts. They 
     are Americans all, and our duty is to remember them as 
     heroes. Let us record that as their tribute. Let history 
     record that as their legacy.
       Abraham Lincoln once said: ``there is a divinity that 
     shapes our ends.'' That divinity has now shaped Bob's 
     destiny. Like Lincoln, ``he belongs to the ages.''
       We pray that his rest is peaceful. Although ours cannot be, 
     we rest easy in the memories of an American hero, and many 
     more like him, so very much touched by the hand of God.
           Sincerely,
     Lisa Dolan

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