[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E359-E360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN DON WILLIAMS, USN (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH J. HECK

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 22, 2016

  Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to 
memorialize the life and career of Captain Donald Edward Williams, 
United States Navy, Retired.
  Captain Williams, a resident of the Sun City Anthem community in my 
district, passed away on February 23, 2016 at the age of 74.
  His life and service to the United States was truly remarkable and 
worthy of our recognition in this House.
  After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue 
University, Captain Williams received a commission in the United States 
Navy through Purdue's NROTC program.
  He went to flight training in 1964 and earned his pilots wings in 
1966.
  Captain Williams made four combat deployments during Vietnam; two 
with Attack Squadron 113 and two with Attack Squadron 97, both aboard 
the USS Enterprise. In all, Don Williams flew 330 combat missions in 
Vietnam.
  For his service he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished 
Flying Cross, 2 Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V device, the 
Vietnam Service Medal, a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, and the Vietnam 
Campaign Medal.
  Following the war, Captain Williams continued his service as a Navy 
test pilot, logging more than 6,000 hours flying time, which includes 
5,700 hours in jets and 745 carrier landings.
  In 1978, Captain Williams was selected by NASA and one year later 
became an astronaut qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space 
shuttle flights.

[[Page E360]]

  Captain Williams made two space flights.
  His first was in 1985 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and his 
second was in 1989 aboard the shuttle Atlantis, where he served as 
spacecraft commander. Aboard the Atlantis, Captain Williams and his 
crew successfully deployed the Galileo spacecraft, starting its journey 
to explore Jupiter.
  During his time with NASA, Captain Williams was awarded the NASA 
Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Space Flight Medal, and NASA 
Exceptional Service Medal. In total he logged more than 287 hours in 
space and orbited Earth 188 times.
  I do not make such statements lightly, Mr. Speaker, but Captain 
Donald Williams was the epitome of an American hero. He served our 
country during war and peace and on behalf of a grateful nation, I 
thank him.

                          ____________________