[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 45 (Monday, March 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1789-S1790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO GEORGE R. WHITAKER

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam President, today I wish to 
recognize George R. Whitaker of Rapid City, SD, who is retiring from 
Federal service after a career spanning over 29 years.
  George served in the U.S. Army for nearly 2 years in the early 1960s 
with overseas tours in Germany and Vietnam as a combat military 
policeman. He then served over 18 years with the U.S. Air Force with 
tours in Alaska and Turkey as a law enforcement supervisor and 
personnel technician. He retired from Active Duty in September 1982.
  After his military service, George worked with Black Hills Workshop 
and South Dakota Department of Social Services. He also served as a 
vocational rehabilitation and addiction counselor with the Fort Meade 
VA hospital and for the past 7 years has served in various capacities 
at the Rapid City Vet Center, including readjustment counselor and team 
leader.

[[Page S1790]]

  I want to commend George Whitaker for his steadfast and tireless 
service to our Nation, first for his over 20 years of military service 
in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, and then for his service to 
veterans with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Vet Center. 
Countless veterans have benefitted from George's dedication and 
commitment. Through his own military experiences and combined with his 
counseling experiences, George has worked directly with veterans and 
servicemembers through parts of six decades. This timespan has produced 
many wars, conflicts, and military operations and with it, changes in 
health services, problems, and issues that affect our military soldiers 
and veterans. George has been able to share his own experiences and 
work with returning servicemembers as they deal with the physical and 
mental health impacts of their military experiences, as well as the 
impacts on their families and communities.
  George will now have more time in his retirement to enjoy hunting, 
fishing, leather crafts, and other pursuits. I commend George for his 
dedicated service to veterans and wish him and his wife Eddie all the 
best in his retirement.

                          ____________________