[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF CAPTAIN JOSEPH D. NOLAN

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise before you today to honor the 
life and decorated naval career of Captain Joseph D. Nolan, who passed 
away late last year. The journey that he and his wife Betty traveled 
through the U.S. Navy extended from Virginia to the shores of Korea and 
Vietnam, and it finally came to rest in the deserts of New Mexico. 
Throughout his 30 years of service Captain Nolan wore the uniform of 
the U.S. Navy with pride and honor, and his dedication was recognized 
by the Silver Star amongst many others. The quantity and quality of his 
service stand as a model for all Americans to emulate as this young 
nation enters its fourth century.
  Joseph Nolan's roots in my home State run deep. Joe graduated from 
Boston College then went on to receive his master's degree from Boston 
Teachers College, where his masters thesis focused on Oliver LaFarge's 
``Laughing Boy.'' After graduating from the Officer Candidate School in 
Newport, Rhode Island, Joe was commissioned in January 1952. His first 
tour of duty was as CIC officer on-board the USS Preston where he 
received the Naval Commendation Medal with Combat ``V'' for his combat 
action in Korea. He continued to serve in destroyer types as Operations 
Officer and Gunnery Officer of the USS Cross and matriculated into the 
Regular Navy in August 1955.
  Officer Nolan assumed the role of aide to the Shipyard Commander in 
his first tour of shore duty at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Here, 
he received orders to return to sea duty as Executive Officer of the 
USS Snyder based in New York. Following the decommissioning of the USS 
Snyder, Nolan reported to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Operational Control 
Center for 2\1/2\ years and attended the Air Command and Staff College 
at Maxwell AFB, Alabama throughout 1964 and 1965. Upon completion of 
the Air Command and Staff College, Nolan served as Senior Naval Advisor 
in the ``I'' Corps area of Vietnam and as Commander Task Group 115.1 in 
Operation Market Time. For his combat action Nolan was awarded the 
Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry and Legion of Merit with Combat ``V.'' 
Nolan assumed command of the USS New in December 1966 in Portsmouth, 
VA.
  After gaining the rank of captain, Captain Nolan was given command of 
the USS Halsey and later became the commanding officer of the Naval 
Destroyer School and then Surface Warfare Officer School, in Newport. 
In his final tour of duty Captain Nolan moved to Albuquerque, NM, to 
work for the Defense Nuclear Agency at Kirtland Air Force Base. In 1982 
Captain Nolan retired after 30 years of service with the United States 
Navy.
  Proud as he was of his professional military career, Joe Nolan's life 
encompassed much more than his service to country; he was a man of 
action who consumed the works of J. Frank Dobie and Eugene Manlove 
Rhodes and he came to love Western art. While I am saddened by his 
passing and the grief it visits upon his family and friends, I am proud 
to stand here today and share with the Nation my regard for the truly 
American life lived by Captain Joseph Nolan. We are humbled by his loss 
but we are better for his time here on earth.

                          ____________________