[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E38-E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REGARDING THE DEATH OF HELMUT ``BROWNIE'' BRAUNSTEINER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, December 29th, 
Pierce County,

[[Page E39]]

Washington State and our nation lost a true hero, Helmut ``Brownie'' 
Braunsteiner, due to complications surrounding his battle with cancer.
  It is difficult to describe Brownie's life without resorting to 
superlatives, but the evidence speaks for itself. From his birth in 
1926 to his escape from Nazi-controlled Austria to America in 1939, 
Brownie never failed to display his particular brand of zest for life 
that so characterized his 75 years with us.
  In 1944 Brownie began his decorated 27-year career in the United 
States Army, serving in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam 
War. Because of his fluency in German, he later served as an 
interpreter at the Nuremberg war crime trials.
  For thirty years, Brownie was a full-time volunteer for veterans 
organizations, coordinating Veterans of Foreign War volunteers for the 
VA Hospital and chairing the Pierce County Veterans Advisory Council. 
In 1987, he helped found Fife's Veterans Independent Enterprises of 
Washington to rehabilitate homeless drug- or alcohol-dependent vets and 
help them become self-sufficient.
  After he developed diabetes, Brownie dedicated countless hours to the 
Diabetes Association of Pierce County, conducting diabetes screenings 
without charge to residents of Pierce County. Brownie was known for 
both helping people detect their diabetes and begin to manage the 
condition. He would frequently go so far as to check in with people 
after their initial diagnosis to make sure they'd seen a doctor about 
their condition even three weeks after the test.
  But these jobs and titles don't begin to describe either who Brownie 
was or the depth of his commitment to life. A man with a big heart, 
Brownie fought for issues he believed in. After serving our nation with 
a decorated career in the Army, Brownie worked tirelessly for the 
rights of veterans. Brownie was a passionate, dedicated citizen. He was 
patient and kind in teaching me not just about veterans and military 
issues, but also a wide range of other concerns close to his heart.
  I was fortunate enough to work with Brownie on veterans issues 
ranging from concurrent receipt to VA health care to continuing 
education and reform of the Montgomery GI bill. It was always an honor 
to stand in the same room as him and I will always cherish the 
opportunity I had to call him both a colleague and a friend.
  Brownie's outstanding contributions, selfless volunteerism, 
patriotism, and endless devotion cannot be sufficiently acknowledged. 
Everyone in the veterans' community, every elected official, everyone 
in Pierce County knew him and admired him. His tireless work earned him 
not only the respect, but also the love of everyone he touched.
  Brownie Braunsteiner's passing is a loss to all who knew him and we 
extend our deepest sympathy to his family in their great loss. I will 
miss his friendship and his counsel.

                          ____________________