[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 1, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING WILLIAM M. DETWEILER

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the life and 
legacy of William M. Detweiler who passed away on March 27, 2019, at 
age 79. Mr. Detweiler was a lifelong advocate for veterans and a former 
national commander of the American Legion. His commitment to our 
country stands as a shining example for every American. He leaves 
behind a legacy of compassion for his fellow servicemembers that 
touched everyone who knew him.
  Mr. Detweiler was born in New Orleans, LA, on January 28, 1940. He 
was a graduate of St. Aloysius High School and Loyola University, where 
he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees.
  Mr. Detweiler served as a captain in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps 
and, later, as assistant chief of staff for the U.S. Army Defense 
Center at Fort Bliss, TX. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserve and 
returned home to New Orleans to practice law.
  During his law career, Mr. Detweiler served on various local, State, 
and national veterans committees. In 1973, President Nixon appointed 
him to serve on the Veterans Administration's National Rehabilitation 
and Education Advisory Committee, which he later went on to chair.
  As a member of the American Legion, Mr. Detweiler served in a number 
of capacities including Department of Louisiana judge advocate, 
chairman of the National Public Relations Commission, chairman of the 
National Foreign Relations Commission, national vice commander, and 
national commander.
  While serving as national commander of the American Legion, he fought 
for the extension of service-connected disability benefits for Vietnam 
veterans exposed to Agent Orange. He was also involved in the planning 
and development of the National D-Day Museum in the heart of New 
Orleans, which later became the National WWII Museum.
  In his most recent leadership role with the American Legion, Mr. 
Detweiler served as the chairman of the organization's traumatic brain 
injury--TBI--and posttraumatic stress disorder-PTSD-committee. He was 
serving as chairman of that committee on March 27, 2019, when his final 
battle, with pancreatic cancer, came to an end.
  William M. Detweiler was a tireless advocate for the veterans 
community, and we thank him for his lifetime of service to our 
country.

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