[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H547-H548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN REMEMBRANCE OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL MILTON H. MEDENBACH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I wish to honor a proud 
American and because it is my sad duty to announce the loss of 
Lieutenant General Milton H. Medenbach, superintendent emeritus of 
Valley Forge Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, who died this morning, 
January 16, 2007.
  Lieutenant General Medenbach turned 99 on December 31, 2006, and had 
been a member of the Valley Forge Military Academy & College faculty 
and staff since the fall of 1932. General Medenbach is a 1929 graduate 
of the Johns Hopkins University, where he was commissioned a secretary 
lieutenant, infantry (TANKS).
  He also attended the University of Marburg in Germany and was a 
student of military government at the University of Virginia and Yale 
University during his active military service. He held a doctorate from 
Gettysburg College.
  Upon the completion of his fellowship at the School of Diplomatic 
Service of the Austrian Foreign Office in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, he 
came home and joined the Valley Forge faculty as an instructor in the 
Foreign Language Department and as a tactical officer in

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the Commandant of Cadets Department.
  On leave from Valley Forge during World War II, General Medenbach 
served as Secretary of the General staff of the Army Air Corps Tactical 
Training Command and the Air Corps Training Command and later, in North 
Africa, Italy, France, Germany and Austria as a military government 
planner and officer under Field Marshal Alexander and General 
Eisenhower.
  Following active duty, General Medenbach returned to Valley Forge and 
served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. His many decorations 
included the Legion of Merit, the European Service Ribbon with two 
battle stars, the American Defense Ribbon, the Meritorious Service Unit 
Award, and the Pennsylvania State Guard Reserve Distinguished Service 
Ribbon. He was also listed in Who's Who in America.
  During his Valley Forge service, General Medenbach served in or 
assisted in the establishment of practically every department of the 
institution as an associate of the founder, Lieutenant General Milton 
G. Baker. He held the post of adjutant and chief of staff, as well as 
deputy superintendent, and served for more than 30 years as the 
commandant of cadets.
  He became the president on the retirement of General Baker and 
retired as superintendent emeritus in 1971. More recently, he served 
the school as volunteer historian and archivist and as the vice 
president and secretary of the Chapel Foundation Board of Directors.
  During the many years of his long service, General Medenbach was the 
driving force in establishing the high standards of character, personal 
discipline, drill, ceremonies, and individual fitness that have been 
the hallmarks of military excellence at Valley Forge.
  It is with great sadness that we mourn his passing, and our thoughts 
and prayers go out to his family at this time, as we thank him for his 
service.

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