[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15359-15360]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING MR. JOHN M. McGEE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise today to pay proper tribute to Mr. 
John M. McGee, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather as well as a 
memorable American patriot. John was born in Brookhaven, MS on 
September 16, 1933, and in February 23, 2002, John passed away as a 
result of a sudden heart attack. In his high-school years, John was 
blessed with speed and athleticism that contributed to his becoming an 
extraordinary football player and an excellent athlete. John's 
athleticism led him to set the state record in the 100-yard dash. John 
attended my alma

[[Page 15360]]

mater, the University of Mississippi, where he played football for the 
Ole Miss Rebels. John's patriotism towards his country convinced him to 
interrupt his education at Ole Miss and enlist with the U.S. Navy where 
he served on the destroyer tender Shenandoah and the destroyer Willard 
Keith. During his duty in active service, John took part in the 
decisive Inchon invasion commanded by General Douglas McArthur.
  John went on to earn his bachelor's degree in engineering from the 
Armed Forces Institute. After an honorable discharge, he pursued his 
career in engineering until 1966 when he accepted a job with the 
Department of Defense where he conducted operations in Vietnam, 
Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand until 1969. During John's service in 
Vietnam, he discovered and exposed extensive corruption in American 
military operations. The Governmental Accounting Office confirmed these 
allegations, and John's discovery revealed the theft of 5.5 million 
gallons of fuel that had been originally intended for U.S. Military 
forces but had been penetrated and used by the enemy. John's inquiry 
helped save the lives of many Americans. His discovery ultimately led 
to a Senate Sub-Committee chaired by the Honorable Senator William 
Proxmire of Wisconsin to investigate the scandal. This incident is 
memorialized in the U.S. Congressional Record and in the books Report 
from Wasteland-America's Military Industrial Complex, by Senator 
William Proxmire and The Pentagonists, by A. Earnest Fitzgerald.
  Our hearts are saddened with the loss of such a precious man, but at 
the same time we are grateful for his contributions to our country, the 
state of Mississippi, and his family. I know my colleagues will join me 
in honoring and appreciating the remarkable life of Mr. John M. McGee.

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