[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 113 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S5474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR L. BRUCE LAINGEN

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an accomplished 
diplomat and distinguished public servant, Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen. 
On August 6, Bruce will celebrate his 90th birthday. I want to take 
this momentous occasion to reflect on his contributions and efforts in 
support of our Nation. Despite the personal sacrifice, Bruce honorably 
served the United States with expert skill and dedication throughout 
his long career.
  Bruce was born and raised on a farm in southern Minnesota. He joined 
the U.S. Navy, and served our Nation during World War II. Bruce 
received his officer training at Wellesley College in 1943, and 
attended the University of Dubuque in Iowa for general Naval training. 
He was a commissioned officer in the Naval Supply Corps. Bruce served 
in the Pacific with amphibious forces in the Philippine campaigns. 
After World War II, Bruce graduated from St. Olaf College in Minnesota 
in 1947. He went on to further his education at the University of 
Minnesota, where he received a Master's degree in International 
Relations in 1949.
  As a result of his passion and interest in what was happening across 
the globe, Bruce dedicated 38 years to the Foreign Service. He joined 
the Foreign Service in 1949, and served this Nation across the world in 
Germany, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The United States was very 
fortunate to have Bruce serve as U.S. Ambassador to Malta from 1977 to 
1979.
  In June 1979, Bruce returned to Iran to serve as the U.S. Charge 
d'Affaires in the wake of the Iranian revolution. Within a few months 
of his arrival, a group of demonstrators took over the U.S. Embassy in 
Tehran. The students and militants were protesting the United States' 
relationship with the government of Iran and the Shah's entry into the 
United States on humanitarian grounds. On November 4, 1979, Bruce was 
taken hostage along with more than 60 other Americans. For a total of 
444 days, he and 51 other Americans were held hostage in Iran. 
Throughout the entire ordeal, he worked diligently to protect the 
hostages and resolve the crisis. He showed true professionalism and 
strength. In his book Yellow Ribbon: The Secret Journal of Bruce 
Laingen, Bruce describes his personal perspective and thoughts about 
the events that took place over those 444 days.
  Shortly after Bruce's capture, his wife Penelope ``Penne'' Laingen 
tied a yellow ribbon around an oak tree on their lawn in Maryland to 
symbolize her hope for a safe return for her husband and all of the 
hostages. Penne encouraged others to show their support and 
determination to be reunited with their loved ones through the use of 
yellow ribbons. The original yellow ribbon was later donated to the 
Library of Congress. It is because of her efforts that Penne is 
credited with founding the yellow ribbon campaign during the Iran 
hostage crisis.
  After his release, Bruce became the Vice President of the National 
Defense University until he retired from the Foreign Service in 1987. 
He went on to be the Executive Director of the National Commission on 
Public Service from 1987 until 1990. Between 1991 and 2006, Bruce was 
President of the American Academy of Diplomacy.
  Bruce continued to share his expertise and knowledge through his 
efforts on several distinguished Boards of Directors including No 
Greater Love, A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, the 
Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, and the National Defense 
University Foundation. I had the honor of working with Bruce on the 
Board of Directors of the Presidential Classroom. He has been a strong 
advocate for this wonderful program, which encourages students to learn 
about how their government works and aspire to leadership through 
public service.
  Bruce has received many honors as a result of his brave service to 
our Nation. He was awarded the Department of State's Award for Valor, 
the Department of Defense's Distinguished Public Service Medal, the 
Presidential Meritorious Award, and the Foreign Service Cup.
  I am grateful for his willingness to serve our Nation and provide 
strong leadership in implementing the foreign policy goals of the 
United States. Bruce, Penne, and their three sons Bill, Chip, and Jim 
have given so much to our Nation.

                          ____________________