[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 4, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S8757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMENDING BILL ANTON

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a brave 
American, William Anton. As a man of remarkable courage, strength, and 
conviction, Bill is receiving an extraordinary honor in the U.S. Army 
Ranger community by being inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame. Bill 
will go down in the history books as the first Nevadan to ever receive 
this recognition.
  As the son of an Army officer, Bill found his choice to continue the 
family tradition quite natural, but fate was needed to further solidify 
his commitment.
  An ROTC scholarship to the University of Nebraska put Bill on the 
football team, but a football-ending knee injury put Bill right where 
he was supposed to be, as a fulltime Army cadet. Bill was soon promoted 
to cadet major general, making him the highest ranking ROTC cadet in 
the United States with over 20,000 cadets under his command.
  According to Bill, life has been a constant pursuit of challenging 
endeavors saying, ``In everything I've done, I always wanted to 
challenge myself to see if I could accomplish the most demanding tasks 
or courses--whether it was in the Army or in my academic pursuits.''
  And challenge himself he did. As a defender of our Nation's freedom 
in the Vietnam war, Bill guided the most decorated combat Ranger unit 
in Vietnam, Company H, Ranger, 75th Infantry, Airborne. While Vietnam 
was seen as a controversial war back home, Bill's role to defend 
freedom was never a doubt in his mind.
  Bill joined the Rangers because they are one of the toughest military 
organizations in our Nation's history, and as a member of the Ranger 
Hall of Fame, history will remember Bill as one of our greatest 
warriors. For it was the Rangers that accomplished some of the most 
demanding and impossible tasks, and as a member of this elite group of 
soldiers, Bill exemplified their requirements of high intellect, 
physical strength, stamina, and bravery.
  Bill's own words describe him the best: ``My entire career was full 
of fond memories. I sought demanding assignments to challenge myself. 
Serving my country as a professional soldier and Officer is the highest 
form of public service. It is full of selfless duty and devotion to our 
nation--defense of our people and the supreme document--the 
Constitution. When we take our oath, it is to the Constitution first, 
then the President, and then to the other officers appointed over us. 
This is not lost on any Officer or soldier.''
  When asked what Bill would like the world to remember about his 
fallen comrades, he had this to say: ``The American military fights 
only when diplomacy fails. We enforce the policies of our great nation. 
Our fallen comrades do not die in vain. They are remembered by their 
comrades, families, and most of the citizens of our great nation.''
  We all know that Bill Anton is an extraordinary soldier, but now 
America will know that above all else, he is an American that truly 
embodies the spirit and freedom of this great Nation.

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