[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING A GREAT AMERICAN--THOMAS WADSWORTH LITTLEFIELD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2006

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, a constituent and respected 
businessman, T. Jeffrey Littlefield, vice president of TRICARE North 
Region Operations for PGBA, LLC, will soon be joined by many members of 
his family in recognizing their patriarch, Thomas Wadsworth 
Littlefield, on the occasion of his 87th birthday, April 8.
  The quote that his son Jeff recalls hearing his father say often is 
``this too shall pass.'' In living by these words, Mr. Littlefield 
sought to give strength to his family when faced with challenges that 
seemed too great to bear. Like many of his generation, he knew 
firsthand the frequency and degree to which life could present great 
challenges.
  It is the sad horror of human existence that there will always be 
evil leaders who would deprive others of life and liberty to satisfy 
their own zealous quest for corrupt power. Never was this more evident 
than during World War II.
  Men such as Thomas Wadsworth Littlefield represent the very backbone 
of America--having sacrificed so much for the good of family, nation, 
and religious freedom--their collective actions singularly define them 
as our ``Greatest Generation.''
  When he joined battle and fought bravely in the last offensive 
against Japan while serving as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army's 
105th Infantry, H Company, at Okinawa, Japan, Mr. Littlefield faced 
threats and fears that most of us will, thankfully, never come to know. 
Like many American soldiers, his military service did not end there as 
he fought to defend liberty in numerous locations in and around Japan 
throughout World War II.
  In living commemoration of the great Victory over Japan, known 
commonly as ``VJ Day,'' he named his second daughter, Vicki Jane 
Littlefield (``V.J.'') born in August of 1945, soon after Japan 
surrendered.
  Not long after winning the peace, Mr. Littlefield returned to 
civilian life and worked to win the hearts and minds of faculty, 
parents and children as elementary school principal in the Weber County 
school district of Ogden, Utah. There, he labored for 30 years, laying 
the foundation for a new generation of American leaders; eventually 
retiring at age 65.
  Before the war, Mr. Littlefield attended Weber State College (now 
Weber State University) in Ogden, where he led them to numerous 
victories as their football quarterback. Later, he attended Utah State 
University in Logan, Utah, where he received his educator's degree.

  An avid sports fan, he always enjoyed snow skiing, tennis and 
exploring the trails of Mount Ogden on his dirt bike several times a 
year.
  Raised on a turkey farm in Morgan, Utah along with eight brothers and 
sisters, his mother, Kate Wadsworth Littlefield, helped to nurture 
leadership in their family by serving as an active Republican event 
organizer and as the first female United States Postmaster in Morgan 
County, Utah.
  A faithful follower of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day 
Saints, Mr. Littlefield was always active in church events and, 
together with his wife of 65 years this coming June, raised their 
family as Mormons. Thomas Wadsworth Littlefield and Myrtle Carrigan 
Littlefield have been blessed with nine grandchildren and nine great-
grandchildren. In August of this year, T. Jeffrey Littlefield and Tommy 
Starling will share another blessing, as this loving family will 
welcome grandchild number 10 into the world.
  Throughout his life, Mr. Littlefield's philosophy and outlook on life 
was to make sure that his children were raised with love and to instill 
in them the confidence, drive and an ambition to succeed. In so doing, 
it was his fervent hope to see his descendants achieve more than he 
could ever experience in his own life. A testament to his service, 
sacrifice and values, Mr. Littlefield will be joined by family members 
in presence and in spirit on April 8 to herald the celebration of his 
87th birthday.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize, individually, 
the names of those so dear to this great American: Thomas Wadsworth 
Littlefield, Father; Myrtle Carrigan Littlefield, Mother; Joseph 
Littlefield, Paternal Grandfather; Kathryn Wadsworth Littlefield, 
Paternal Grandmother; Irvin Carrigan, Maternal Grandfather; Catherine 
Jones Carrigan, Maternal Grandmother; Patti Ann Fowers, Daughter; 
Norman George Fowers, Son-In-Law; Holly Fowers, Granddaughter; Heather 
Fowers Smedley, Granddaughter; Daren Smedley, Heather's husband; Jonah 
Smedley, Great Grandson; Annabelle Smedley, Great Grandson; Nate 
Fowers, Grandson; Kaleb Fowers, Great Grandson; Mitch Fowers, Grandson; 
Vicki Jane Olson, Daughter; Brook Clyde Olson, Son-In-Law; Marci Olson 
Kiehl, Granddaughter; Sam Kiehl, Marci's husband; Jake Kiehl, Great 
Grandson; Spencer Kiehl, Great Grandson; Alli Kiehl, Great 
Granddaughter; Kami Olson Howe, Granddaughter; Chad Howe, Kami's 
husband; Conner Howe, Great Grandson; Hunter Howe, Great Grandson; 
Rylie Jo Howe, Great Granddaughter; Audri Ann Olson, Granddaughter; 
Jenni Olson, Granddaughter; Thomas Jeffrey Littlefield, Son; Thomas 
Brent Starling, Partner and future Son-In-Law; and Carrigan Shea 
Starling-Littlefield, if the latest addition to their family is a 
Granddaughter, or Hayden Thomas Starling-Littlefield, if the newborn is 
a Grandson.
  War veteran, educator, father and grandfather, athlete, and loving 
husband, his life and service to our nation helped to forge a nation 
and spread Democracy the world over.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating Mr. Thomas Wadsworth 
Littlefield and his extended family on the occasion of his 87th 
birthday.

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