[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1873-S1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 407--HONORING FORMER SENATOR AND REAR ADMIRAL 
                       JEREMIAH ANDREW DENTON, JR

  Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Reid of Nevada, Mr. 
McConnell, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. 
Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Booker, Mr. Boozman, 
Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Burr, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, 
Mr. Casey, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coats, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Coons, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cruz, Mr. 
Donnelly, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. 
Flake, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. 
Hagan, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Hel
ler, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. 
Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, 
Mr. Kirk, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Levin, 
Mr. Manchin, Mr. Markey, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Paul, Mr. Portman, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
Risch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Schatz, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, 
Mr. Thune, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Udall of

[[Page S1874]]

Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Warner, 
Ms. Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 407

       Whereas Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr. (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``Senator Denton'') was born in Mobile, Alabama, 
     on July 15, 1924, and graduated from the United States Naval 
     Academy in 1946;
       Whereas Senator Denton married Kathryn Jane Maury in 1946 
     and had 7 children with her before she passed away in 2007;
       Whereas Senator Denton is survived by his second wife, Mary 
     Belle Bordone, and his children, Jeremiah A. Denton III, 
     William C. Denton, Donald A. Denton, James S. Denton, Michael 
     C. Denton, Madeleine D. Doak, and Mary D. Lewis;
       Whereas Senator Denton had a distinguished military career 
     as a Naval Aviator--
       (1) receiving credit in 1957 as the architect of the 
     ``Haystack Concept'', which revolutionized the way in which 
     the Navy deployed ships to ensure that a single Russian 
     nuclear attack could not destroy an entire fleet;
       (2) serving in World War II, the Korean War, and the 
     Vietnam War;
       (3) providing significant support during the Cuban Missile 
     Crisis as the Commander of the Guantanamo Defense Force;
       (4) receiving awards that include the Navy Cross, the 
     Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished 
     Service Medal, 3 Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying 
     Cross, 5 Bronze Stars, 2 Air Medals, 2 Purple Hearts, and 
     numerous combat theater and campaign awards;
       (5) retiring in 1977 at the rank of Rear Admiral after 
     serving as Commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College; and
       (6) being inducted into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor 
     in 2003;

       Whereas Senator Denton was shot down on July 18, 1965, 
     while leading a squadron of 28 A-6 Intruders on his twelfth 
     mission over North Vietnam and spent the next 7 years and 7 
     months as a prisoner of war in North Vietnamese prison camps, 
     including the ``Hanoi Hilton'', where he suffered torture, 
     beatings, and starvation, and spent 4 years in solitary 
     confinement until his release in 1973;
       Whereas despite extreme hardship, Senator Denton was 
     revered by his fellow prisoners and maintained a chain of 
     command that lasted throughout his imprisonment and helped 
     prisoners of war stick together in resistance against abuse 
     from their captors;
       Whereas in a televised propaganda interview released by the 
     North Vietnamese in 1966, Senator Denton became a national 
     hero when he answered the questions of his interviewer and 
     simultaneously blinked the letters ``T-O-R-T-U-R-E'' in Morse 
     code, confirming to the world the harsh and inhumane 
     treatment of United States prisoners of war by the North 
     Vietnamese;
       Whereas after returning to the United States, Senator 
     Denton had a successful legislative career, becoming in 1980 
     the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since 
     the Reconstruction Era, maintaining a strong conservative 
     record, and working tirelessly with President Ronald Reagan 
     to combat the rise of Communism in Latin America;
       Whereas Senator Denton was particularly proud of the 
     ``Denton Program'', authorizing the United States military to 
     carry humanitarian aid on a space-available basis to 
     countries in need at no cost to the donor and providing 
     humanitarian aid for almost 30 years;
       Whereas in 2007, the National Archives designated Senator 
     Denton as 1 of the 25 most influential men in United States 
     history; and
       Whereas the life of service of Senator Denton should serve 
     as an example to all people of the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate--
       (A) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the 
     announcement of the death of the Honorable Jeremiah Andrew 
     Denton, Jr., former member of the Senate;
       (B) honors the legacy and service of the former Senator and 
     retired Rear Admiral, Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (referred to 
     in this resolution as ``Senator Denton''), for his life of 
     loyalty, duty, integrity, and moral sincerity;
       (C) extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the 
     family and friends of Senator Denton who have lost an 
     inspiring leader and confidant;
       (D) honors the dauntless valor of Senator Denton, beloved 
     son of Alabama, for his dedication and life of selfless 
     service to the people of the United States;
       (E) recognizes that Senator Denton was a champion for 
     humanitarian aid and international assistance programs 
     through his legislative work and initiatives;
       (F) reiterates the resolute character of Senator Denton as 
     a paragon of bravery who lived a life of honor guided by his 
     values and commitment to the defense of the United States;
       (G) expresses admiration and profound respect for the 
     legacy of Senator Denton as a truly courageous and 
     inspirational leader; and
       (H) directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate this 
     resolution to the House of Representatives and transmit an 
     enrolled copy thereof to the family of the deceased; and
       (2) when the Senate adjourns today, it will stand adjourned 
     as a further mark of respect for the memory of the Honorable 
     Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr.

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