[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17795-17796]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, it is a privilege today to pay tribute 
to the memory of the late Strom Thurmond. Often outspoken, sometimes 
controversial, but always passionate, Strom was an unparallel servant 
of the people. He always put his Nation first, whether in combat on the 
beaches of Normandy or here in the halls of the Senate.
  He made a career of giving back to his country. But he was also a 
wonderful human being.

[[Page 17796]]

  Strom often reminded me that Colonel William Barret Travis, who was 
in command at the Alamo, was from his home county in South Carolina. 
While Strom himself missed the Alamo by a few years, he demonstrated 
that he too embodies the spirit of the Alamo and the sense of duty and 
commitment to his country that we Texans associate with Colonel Travis.
  Strom's journey into the history books began back in the 1920s when 
he graduated from his beloved Clemson.
  He went on to become a teacher and athletic coach, county 
superintendent of education, town and county attorney, eleventh circuit 
judge, South Carolina governor, soldier, president of the Reserve 
Officers Association and finally, a U.S. Senator--a position he held 
for a remarkable 48 years. For many, that would be five lifetimes of 
careers. But not Strom. It was just enough to keep him busy for the 
century he was on this Earth.
  Strom lived every day of his life to the fullest.
  I'm still amazed that he volunteered to return to active duty 
military service, though he was way past the age of being drafted. At 
the age of 41 he flew onto the beaches of Normandy in a glider--staring 
death in the face, and smiling.
  He served in the Pacific and European theaters, earning 18 
decorations, medals and awards including the Legion of Merit, the 
Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star for Valor. He rose to the rank of 
Major General in the U.S. Army Reserves.
  In the Senate Strom focused particular attention on taking care of 
our men and women in the military.
  I served with Strom while he chaired the Armed Services committee and 
saw the reflection of his time in the service in everything he did. He 
worked for one purpose--to ensure our country's national defense 
remained strong. From military health care to quality of life for 
service members and their families, he knew that to recruit and retain 
our Nation's finest, we had to treat them well.
  The Capitol has not been the same since Strom left last year. The wit 
and wisdom he collected over a century of living made him one of the 
most entertaining and enlightening figures in modern politics. There 
will always be an empty place in the heart of the Senate created by his 
absence.
  The eulogies that came from both sides of the aisle at his memorial 
service last week were testament to the evolution Strom undertook 
during his time in the Senate. A career once marked by division ended 
in unity and with dignity.
  He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and his 
country. He began his career in public service as a coach--eight 
decades later he was a coach and teacher to us all to the very end.

                          ____________________