[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MORRIS HONICK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 12, 2009

  Mr. INSLEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of an American hero whose 
service began around the time of the fall of the Nazi Third Reich and 
lasted until the time that cracks began to appear in the Berlin Wall 
before it too, fell. That man is Mr. Morris Honick.
  Mr. Honick's military career began in a critical time in the history 
of the World War Two in the West, the Battle of the Atlantic, when the 
German submarine fleet threatened to strangle American efforts to keep 
England free. A member of the U.S. Army Air Forces, Mr. Honick served 
aboard a convoy bound for Liverpool from New York as U-boats stalked 
them throughout the 17-day crossing, losing 22 of 62 ships but 
maintaining the Atlantic Alliance.
  Mr. Honick continued to serve with the USAAF throughout the Second 
World War and later with the newly established U.S. Air Force in Korea 
as well.
  After successfully competing for a position at SHAPE, Supreme 
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Mr. Honick quickly stood out, being 
promoted to Chief of the Historical Section.
  The saying is that those who do not remember history are condemned to 
repeat it and nowhere is there more at stake in remembering history 
than in military affairs. Mr. Honick, through his writing helped make 
sure that history would not be forgotten, having written extensively on 
the history of SHAPE and on NATO-SHAPE affairs. Mr. Honick was also the 
Command Historian, a key policy function for the NATO Supreme 
Commander.
  Mr. Honick had the distinction of being, at the time of his 
retirement in 1989, the longest serving member of the staff of SHAPE.
  For his service, Mr. Honick was awarded the Efficiency, Honor, 
Fidelity Medal, with three clasps; the European-Africian-Middle Eastern 
Campaign Medal, with Anti-Submarine Campaign Battle Star; the World War 
II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.
  For his courage, for his long service to our nation and our 
alliances, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Morris Honick 
and all war heroes of the past, present, and future.

                          ____________________