[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING COLONEL JACK POTTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a loyal friend, a 
brave hero, and a caring individual who recently turned 92 years young. 
Retired Colonel Jack Potter of San Rafael California, was born March 
20, 1919, served in the Army from World War II through 1974, and has 
consistently worked for the benefit of veterans since his retirement.
  It has been my privilege to work closely with Col. Potter for 18 
years. His friendship and assistance have been invaluable to me over 
those years. Through Jack, I learned about veterans' issues, from the 
importance of national legislation to ensure they get the benefits they 
deserve to some of the challenges faced by local vets in Marin County. 
On Memorial Day, 2008, we authored a column together in the local 
newspaper calling for better benefits and health treatment for our 
veterans.
  Jack was drafted into the Army in 1941. He was commissioned as an 
Infantry 2nd Lt. after Pearl Harbor and commanded an Infantry Rifle 
company seeing combat in the South Pacific. He remained in the Army 
after the war, serving in Europe, Korea, and South America, as well as 
in many positions stateside. He also attended The Industrial College of 
the Armed Forces and earned an MBA at George Washington University.
  During the Vietnam conflict, Jack was assigned as the Commander of 
the Vietnam Region Exchange which operated more than 150 exchange 
activities with a total of more than 10,000 personnel. He continued his 
service stateside, in California, where his assignment as Deputy Chief 
of Staff for Logistics for the Sixth U.S. Army brought him to the 
Presidio in the Bay Area. He retired on August 1, 1974, after serving 
33 years, 4 months, and 15 days on active duty. On the date of his 
retirement ceremonies, Jack was testifying in Nebraska in the federal 
trial of the American Indian Movement. At 12:01 a.m. on August 2, the 
U.S. Attorney General purchased Jack's first drink as a civilian.
  After 31 changes of station, Jack and his wife now live in Marin 
County, California where Jack became active in veteran's affairs. 
Serving in various positions in the Military Officers Association of 
America, and the Marin County United Veterans Council, Jack has been a 
whirlwind for veterans' causes--he advocated personally for a number of 
vets who needed help, organized Veterans and Memorial Day events and a 
Tricare information session with me, and still found time to regularly 
bring doughnuts to my office staff.
  One of Jack's most prominent roles was that of Master of Ceremonies 
at Marin County's Memorial Day celebrations. He last served that 
function in 2009, before retiring for health reasons. At that emotional 
event, 500 people honored Army Spc. Jake Velloza who had recently been 
killed in Iraq. Jake's name was added to a veteran's monument that had 
been built at Jack's urging. And Jack was thrilled to learn that 
recently the House of Representatives passed my bill to name the local 
post office in Inverness after Jake Velloza.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a privilege to work with and work for Col. 
Jack Potter. His quiet determination on behalf of all veterans is a 
reminder of the daily heroism and sacrifice of all our troops. Thank 
you, Jack, for all your efforts.

                          ____________________