[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 70 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E430-E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF CHARLES M. DUKE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH NORMAN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

  Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
service of Charles Moss Duke, Jr. and celebrate the 50th anniversary of 
Apollo 16's mission to the moon.
  Charlie was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 3, 1935, to 
Charles and Willie Duke. Raised in Lancaster, South Carolina, he 
attended Lancaster High School and later transferred and graduated as 
valedictorian and

[[Page E431]]

senior class president from the Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida. He 
then attended the Naval Academy where he played golf and received a 
Bachelor of Science degree.
  Upon graduation in June 1957, Charlie was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He served three years in 
Germany as a fighter interceptor pilot and logged over 4,000 hours of 
flying time. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
(MIT) where he received a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and 
astronautics.
  In April 1966, Charlie became one of 19 astronauts selected by the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He went on to 
serve five different Apollo missions to the moon. In addition to 
serving as a backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 13 and Apollo 17, 
Charlie served as the Capsule Communicator for Apollo 11, the first 
landing on the moon. He also served as the lunar module pilot on Apollo 
16, which was the first scientific expedition to inspect, survey, and 
sample materials from in the Descartes region. During this mission, 
Charlie became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the moon. 
Charlie ultimately logged over 265 hours in space. He retired from NASA 
in December 1975 and went on to enter the United States Air Force 
Reserves.
  After thousands of hours training to go to the moon and finally 
setting foot on it, Charlie came back to earth with a new goal. With a 
renewed focus on his family and faith, Charlie became a committed 
Christian in April of 1978. Shortly after, Charlie and his wife, Dotty, 
started the Duke Ministry for Christ.
  Charlie also became a successful businessman. He owned a thriving 
Coors Beer distributorship in Texas and later pursued real estate 
ventures. His subsequent business ventures include serving as the 
President of Orbit Corporations, working as a consultant for Lockheed 
Martin, serving as chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 
and much more.
  Charlie has exhibited determination, courage, and tenacity throughout 
his life. He has exceeded expectations in public service, highlighted 
by his receipt of numerous honors and accolades. For example, Charlie 
was named South Carolina Man of the Year and was inducted into the 
South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1973. He has also received numerous 
honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from both 
the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. Charlie was 
also inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997.
  On behalf of the 5th District of South Carolina, it is my most 
sincere pleasure to recognize Charlie for his extraordinary career. 
Charlie is a living legend and has made our state and Nation proud. I 
thank Charlie for his exceptional service.

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