[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING KENNETH LASITER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2010

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and 
congratulate Kenneth Lasiter upon being awarded with the ``Lifetime 
Achievement Award'' by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9896. Mr. 
Lasiter was honored on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in Chowchilla, 
California.
  Mr. Kenneth Lasiter was born in Merced, California in 1946. He 
graduated from Chowchilla High School, where he played on two 
championship football teams. Mr. Lasiter attended Fresno City College 
for 1 year and in 1966 he enlisted in the United States Army. He 
completed basic training at Fort Ord, California, where he fired 
``expert'' with the M-14 rifle. Mr. Lasiter went to Fort Rucker, 
Alabama for Aircraft Maintenance School; he completed training with a 
specialty in helicopter maintenance and repair. He also completed 
courses in the Code of Conduct and Military Justice.
  After completing stateside training, Mr. Lasiter was ordered to 
Vietnam in March 1967. He joined the 655th Transportation Detachment, 
12th Combat Aviation Brigade. The 12th Brigade had deployed to Vietnam 
in 1965 and consisted of 11,000 personnel and 34 aviation units. The 
Brigade was based at Long Binh in the III Military Region in Vietnam 
and was the largest unit of its type to serve in combat.
  Mr. Lasiter spent 12 months in Vietnam. During that time he flew 
combat missions as a door gunner on HU-1B and UH-1D ``Huey'' 
Helicopters. He was promoted to crew chief and was later selected to 
act as crew chief for the group commander. During this time there was 
increased hostility as regular North Vietnamese forces made their way 
down the Ho Chi Minh Trail through.Laos and Cambodia into South 
Vietnam. Mr. Lasiter's units flew assault, medical and supply missions 
to fire bases and in support of ground forces. Mr. Lasiter was part of 
the cadre that assisted the 1st Air Cavalry when it deployed from the 
states to Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
  Upon completing his 12-month tour in Vietnam, Mr. Lasiter returned to 
the United States. While on leave he married Carolyn. The newlyweds 
flew to Germany, where Mr. Lasiter assumed duties at the Wirtheim Army 
Airfield and was the acting crew chief with CH-23 units.
  Specialist 5 Lasiter was released from active duty in September 1969. 
For his service, Mr. Lasiter was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, 
the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the National Defense 
Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal 
with device, the Aircraft Crewman Badge and Expert Rifle and 
Sharpshooter Badges.
  Upon returning to civilian life, Mr. and Mrs. Lasiter made their home 
in Chowchilla, California. Mr. Lasiter attended Merced College. He then 
started a lifelong career in farming. Mr. Lasiter is a Life Member of 
Chowchilla Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9896 and is a member of the 
Cornerstone Community Church. Mr. and Mrs. Lasiter continue to live in 
Chowchilla. They have two children and three grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Kenneth 
Lasiter upon being named as a ``Distinguished Life Member'' by the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9896. I invite my colleagues to join me 
in wishing Mr. Lasiter many years of continued success.

                          ____________________