[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15529]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS J. KILCLINE, SR.

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I pay tribute to an exceptional 
leader--Vice Admiral Tom Kilcline, Sr., in recognition of his 
remarkable career of service to our country. Tom served his country for 
over 50 years as a distinguished Naval Officer and as President of The 
Retired Officers Association, TROA. Having battled cancer for over 
three years, Tom passed away on July 11, surrounded by his family at 
the Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.
  In 1943, at the height of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy from 
Kokomo, IN and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1945. Tom 
enjoyed a distinguished career as a Naval Aviator; he flew in Korea, 
became an accomplished Test Pilot, commanded a tactical carrier based 
squadron during Vietnam, and flew actively, including tactical jets, 
until his retirement as Commander Naval Air Forces, US Atlantic Fleet 
in 1983.
  Admiral Kilcline was an incredible leader and tireless advocate for 
our Navy. During my tenure as the Secretary of the Navy, Tom headed the 
Office of Legislative Affairs and, while there, we worked closely 
together to push for legislative initiatives to improve readiness and 
to provide for much of the modern naval force you see today.
  Following his retirement, he served as National President of The 
Retired Officers Association where he continued to work with Congress 
on behalf of thousands of our retired service personnel for nearly 10 
years.
  Tom's greatest ally and strength was his devoted wife of 52 years, 
Dornell Thompson of Pensacola, FL. Dornell, a daughter of a naval 
aviator, was by his side through all his battles, from championing the 
cause of our country and our military families, to his fight with 
cancer.
  They have had four children: Rear Admiral Tom, Jr., on duty with the 
Naval Aviation Warfare Staff at the Pentagon; Lt. Patrick, lost in an 
F-14 accident; Lt. Kathleen, a Navy doctor killed in an auto accident; 
Mary, devoted daughter and navy wife of Captain Bob Novak; and seven 
loving grandchildren.
  Admiral Tom Kilcline will be greatly missed by his family, friends 
and this Nation, but his legacy of devotion to family and service to 
his country remain with us forever.

                          ____________________