[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CAPT RONALD H. HENDERSON

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to pay tribute to an 
impressive leader who has dedicated his life to the service of our 
Nation. CAPT Ronald H. Henderson, Jr. has served with great distinction 
as a fighter pilot in the United States Navy for over 27 years, and was 
recently nominated for promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral.
  During his career, Captain Henderson has served as a Strike 
Operations Officer and a Tactical Action Officer aboard the USS 
Enterprise; an F/A-18 Strike Fighter Pilot, a Department Head with 
Strike Fighter Squadron 25; and Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter 
Squadron 146, the ``Blue Diamonds,'' where his squadron was honored 
with the Estocin Award, as the best F/A-18 squadron in the entire U.S. 
Navy. The award is named for CAPT Michael J. Estocin, a fighter pilot 
in the Vietnam conflict who was posthumously awarded the Congressional 
Medal of Honor for remaining in the target area on a bombing mission 
even though his aircraft was badly damaged.
  Captain Henderson has had over 3,800 flying hours and over 600 
carrier landings, and has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, 
the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, 
the Air Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, and numerous unit and 
campaign awards.
  Captain Henderson has participated in Operation Desert Shield, 
Operation Southern Watch, Operation Allied Force, and most recently in 
Operation Enduring Freedom where he commanded the aircraft carrier 
named after my brother, the USS John F. Kennedy, CV-67.
  Captain Henderson brought the ship and crew back home safely in 
August 2002 and was greeted by 10,000 supporters for a well-deserved 
homecoming in Mayport, FL.
  Captain Henderson will soon turn over his command of the carrier to 
assume his new responsibilities. I am sure my brother would be proud of 
his leadership, and I wish him well in the years ahead as he continues 
his brilliant career in the Navy.

                          ____________________