[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. JOHN WITHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a 
venerable public servant and retired veteran, Dr. John L. Withers, born 
on September 18, 1916, in Greensboro, North Carolina and now living in 
my congressional district.
  Dr. Withers served as a first lieutenant during World War II, 
commanding a segregated African-American quartermaster company, and 
received an honorable discharge in 1947. Despite strict Army 
regulations and the difficulties imposed by segregation, Dr. Withers 
always performed bravely and with the highest moral and ethical 
standards. Indeed, during the war, Dr. Withers courageously rescued two 
Polish Jewish orphan boys from the Dachau concentration camp. Thanks to 
his heroic efforts, one of those boys became a successful businessman 
in Connecticut. Dr. Withers stayed in touch with that young man all of 
his life.
  After serving as a professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, 
Dr. Withers devoted his life to international development efforts. He 
was stationed in Laos, Thailand and Burma before serving with the 
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Seoul, 
Korea in 1960. Later, he worked as a USAID representative in India 
before becoming Director of USAID's regional services office in 
Nairobi, Kenya. His primary responsibility included supporting the 
operations of various USAID missions in nine African countries, 
including Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. His last duty before retiring 
was to serve as USAID Mission Director for Ethiopia.
  Dr. Withers recently celebrated his 90th birthday with his devoted 
wife Daisy and his sons John Jr. and Gregory. I urge my colleagues in 
the U.S. House of Representatives to join with me in honoring Dr. 
Withers on this wonderful occasion and to recognize him as a man of 
good deeds, a sharp wit, gentle sense of humor and outstanding 
accomplishments. I am delighted to wish Dr. Withers a year of good 
health and happiness and to thank him for his extraordinary 
contributions to our country.

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