[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 27 (Thursday, March 4, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN HENRY ``HANK'' W. PUTEK, SR., USNR

  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, today at Arlington National Cemetery we 
laid to rest a great patriot to whom I am proud to pay tribute. Captain 
Henry ``Hank'' W. Putek, Sr., USN, was a naval aviator whose lifelong 
love of flying led to a 27 year Navy career that spanned the cold war 
and included service in Korea and Vietnam. It is my solemn honor today 
to recall his selfless commitment to this great Nation.
  A pilot from the age of 14, Captain Putek obtained a commission in 
the U.S. Navy in 1953 through the Naval Aviation Cadet program. His 
distinguished career in naval aviation began with flight training in 
Pensacola, FL where he earned the coveted ``wings of gold'' of a naval 
aviator. He went on to fly combat jets in Korea and Vietnam, including 
the F-9 Fury, Douglas Skyraider, and F-4 Phantom. He served in numerous 
aircraft carriers with such storied names as Lexington, Wasp, Yorktown, 
Hornet, and Saratoga. In the race for space, Captain Putek was a 
project engineer for various research and development efforts and 
piloted tracking aircraft during the Gemini program. Captain Putek was 
a Navy test pilot who accumulated an astonishing 7,600 hours in 22 
types of military aircraft throughout his career.
  In 1977, Captain Putek retired from the United States Navy but 
continued to pursue his love for aviation as a training director with 
Piper Aircraft Corporation. He qualified in 22 Piper models and types. 
He was well known in his hometown as the owner of a bright orange 
``Davis'' single engine aircraft, his pride and joy, which he built by 
hand.
  Captain Putek is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Louis Putek, 
his sons, Hank and Jon, his daughters, Gwen and Janet, his sister, 
Dolores, and his brother, James. He was a loving husband and father, a 
passionate aviator, and a true gentleman.

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