[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MR. WALTER HAMBLIN

 Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, I pay tribute today to the life 
of Mr. Walter ``Sam'' Hamblin of Demossville, KY.
  Sam served his country in the Army for 22 years. He enlisted as a 
private, but worked his way through Officer Candidate School before 
retiring with the rank of major. He served with distinction during the 
Vietnam war and provided important service both at his station in Texas 
and at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
  Sam chose to retire near his family's home in Kentucky, adopting the 
farm life and raising his children. Family and service were very 
important to Sam. Six generations earlier, Pierce Dant Hamblin crossed 
the Delaware River with General Washington during the Revolutionary 
War. His great grandfather, Henry Clay Hamblin, served in the Kentucky 
7th Regiment during the Civil War. And Sam's father, Walter Hamblin, 
served in the Navy during World War II. Through the years, the Hamblins 
have been known as defenders of the Commonwealth.
  During Sam's retirement--and in between attending local sporting 
events and taking care of his growing family--he continued to travel to 
Washington and lend his expertise to the American military. He was also 
the manager and owner of the Peaselburg Inn of Covington. And he still 
found time to write country music songs with his son, Samuel.
  Unforunately, Sam developed thyroid and throat cancer 5 years ago. 
After fighting hard against cancer, Sam died Friday, July 23, 2004 at 
his home.
  I am proud of Sam Hamblin's distinguished service. He honored the 
legacy and traditions of the Hamblin family and served our country 
well. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

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