[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING CAPTAIN WENDELL B. RIVERS

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to honor 
Navy CAPT Wendell B. Rivers, who passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009.
  Wendell ``Wendy'' Rivers was born in Seward, NE, on July 6, 1928. He 
graduated from Seward High School in 1946, where he was senior class 
president, an all-conference football and basketball player, and an 
880-yard track specialist. Upon graduation, Rivers enlisted in the U.S. 
Navy, receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948 and 
graduating in 1952, when he received his commission as an Ensign in the 
U.S. Navy. Following a brief tour on a destroyer during the Korean 
conflict, he entered flight training in 1953, receiving his wings in 
March 1954.
  Over the course of his career, Captain Rivers distinguished himself 
in many assignments as a naval aviator, missile project officer, flight 
deck officer, and squadron operations officer. Subsequent assignments 
were in naval aviation on the west coast at San Diego, Moffett Field, 
Monterey, Point Mugu, and Lemoore. During the Vietnam conflict, Captain 
Rivers deployed on his last cruise from Alameda, CA, aboard the USS 
Coral Sea, as a member of Air Wing 15, Attack Squadron 155. On February 
11, 1965, he flew the first of 96 combat missions over North Vietnam. 
Tragically, on his 96th mission, he was shot down and captured at Vinh, 
North Vietnam, where he was then held in captivity for 7\1/2\ years.
  While a prisoner of war, POW, Captain Rivers kept his faith in God, 
country, and Navy, despite all the hardships facing him and his fellow 
POWs. His steadfastness and devotion to others was an inspiration to 
those fellow POWs. In fact, shortly after he was freed, as the guest of 
honor at a celebration of America's independence in Nebraska's Fourth 
of July capital city, which was also coincidentally his hometown of 
Seward, Captain Rivers expressed that deep down he and his fellow POWs 
were always convinced they would one day come home.
  After the tremendous sacrifice he had already endured, Captain Rivers 
continued to serve the Navy until 1976. The end of his career included 
serving as the head of the Aircraft Survivability and Vulnerability 
Branch of the Naval Air Systems Command, for which VADM F.S. Petersen 
said, ``It was through Captain Rivers' personal forethought and 
initiative that this important aspect of Naval Aviation came to 
fruition.''
  CAPT Wendell B. Rivers passed away in his home on May 9, 2009, at the 
age of 80. Over the course of his career, Captain Rivers received 
numerous commendations, decorations, and medals, including the Silver 
Star, Legion of Merit with Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying 
Cross, Vietnam Service Medal with three Silver Stars, Navy Occupation 
Medal, World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal, United Nations 
Service Medal, and Korean Presidential Unit Citation. These awards 
reflect Captain Rivers' bravery and selfless service toward the 
security of our great country. The life and service of individuals such 
as Captain Rivers represents an example of patriotism we should all 
strive to emulate. I join all Nebraskans in mourning the loss of 
Captain Rivers and offer my deepest condolences to his family.

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