[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        RECOGNIZING BILL HANEKE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2024

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize First District 
constituent and U.S. Army veteran, Bill Haneke upon his retirement from 
the Families of the Wounded Fund Board.
  A graduate of Hampton High School and a 1966 graduate of the United 
States Military Academy, Bill Haneke attended both the Army Ranger and 
Airborne Schools. After several Infantry assignments in the U.S. and 
Germany, he served as Commanding Officer of Camp Gates, Marktredwitz, 
West Germany. He then attended the Army Special Warfare School at Ft. 
Bragg, NC, where he was trained as an Advisor in preparation for a tour 
with Advisory Team 37 in Hoa Da District, Binh Thuan Province, South 
Vietnam in 1968.
  Captain Haneke was instrumental in establishing and directing this 
new Advisory Team with the Vietnamese Regional Forces/Popular Forces. 
He was awarded three Bronze Star Medals (one with ``V'' for Valor), a 
Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry for his service in Vietnam.
  On November 13, 1968, Bill suffered massive traumatic injuries when 
he was blown up by a Viet Cong Command Detonated Mine, causing multiple 
amputations, massive head injuries requiring five neurosurgical 
operations, severance of his carotid artery, and severe shrapnel wounds 
over 90 percent of his body. Following his extensive treatment and 
successful rehabilitation, he earned a master's degree in healthcare 
and business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He 
has worked for over thirty years managing organizations in all sectors 
of the Healthcare Field and is a true patient advocate.
  Haneke has been a member of MOAA, Blinded Veterans of America, the 
DAV, Vietnam Veterans of America, as well as continuously volunteering 
as a patient advocate and counselor for Amputees, Head Injured, and 
those with severe traumatic injuries. Bill was presented with the 
prestigious award of the National Veteran of the Year by the Daughters 
of the American Revolution and is currently serving on the Veterans 
Service Board of Virginia.
  Moreover, Bill is the Co-Founder and Board Member of The Families of 
the Wounded Fund, Inc., a charity gathering donated funds to provide 
assistance to family members and caregivers of combat wounded or 
injured military patients receiving treatment at McGuire Veterans 
Administration Medical Center, Ft. Belvoir Warrior Transition Medical 
Center, Walter Reed Medical Center, Hampton Road Medical Center and 
recently, combat wounded Special Immigration Visa holders from Iraq and 
Afghanistan service in supporting U.S. & Coalition forces. Under Bill's 
leadership, Families of the Wounded Fund has awarded 800 family 
caregiver grants totaling $5.2 million since 2005.
  Bill Haneke's memoirs were published with the title Trust Not which 
recounts the harrowing events in Vietnam where he was given up for 
dead, until he was miraculously saved by a caring Army medical staff 
and a voice from above to reassure him.
  I congratulate Bill on his recent retirement from the FOTWF Board 
after 18 years of service. Bill represents the best of Virginia, a 
Commonwealth made stronger through our ability to keep our promises to 
our veterans, our military families, and our allies. I thank Bill 
Haneke for his advocacy, his compassion, and his deep and abiding sense 
of service to our veterans, our country and our Commonwealth.

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