[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 97 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S8826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S8826]]
                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, let me add my voice to those of my 
colleagues who last evening and this morning have expressed sympathy to 
the families of Senator Strom Thurmond. I was privileged to serve in 
this Chamber for many years while Senator Strom Thurmond was a Senator. 
He was quite a remarkable American. He was a hero in many ways. His 
life was controversial in some ways.
  I talked to Strom Thurmond one day about the Second World War. 
Americans should know, when he was in his 40s, this man volunteered for 
service in the Second World War, volunteered to get in a glider to fly 
at night and crash-land behind enemy lines, behind German lines. All of 
the rest in that glider were young kids, 18, 19, 20-year-old GIs. This 
40-plus-year-old lawyer and judge who volunteered for service in the 
Second World War was in that glider that crash-landed behind enemy 
lines.
  He was quite a remarkable American and had a remarkable political 
career. In his later years as he suffered health challenges and 
difficulties, but he never complained, ever. He showed up for all of 
the votes in the Senate even at times when it appeared to us it was 
difficult for him to do so.
  The American people, I know, will thank Senator Strom Thurmond for 
the service he gave to his country. I wanted to add my voice to the 
many others in this Chamber who wish to remember the memory of this 
remarkable American.

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