[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18731-18732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING CLAUDE ``T'' MOORMAN

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today, Wednesday, July 22, Claude 
``T''

[[Page 18732]]

Moorman II is being put to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. ``T'' 
was a remarkable scholar, athlete and physician who served his Nation 
with honor during the Vietnam war.
  Born August 21, 1939, in Roanoke, VA, ``T'' grew up in Miami, FL, 
where he excelled in football, receiving both All State and All 
American honors while playing at Miami High School; ``T'' was a popular 
student who was elected student body president.
  ``T'' attended Duke University on a football scholarship. He served 
as a class officer and played football for legendary coach Bill Murray. 
``T'' caught the much celebrated game winning touchdown in the 1961 
Cotton Bowl, and he was elected to the All American Team. ``T'' Moorman 
is a member of Duke University's Athletic Hall of Fame, and in addition 
he was named one of Florida's All-Time Top 100 Football Players and 
Duke's Top 50 Athletes of the Century.
  But athletic prowess is not why we honor Claude ``T'' Moorman II 
today at Arlington National Cemetery and here in the Senate. It is, of 
course, for his service to our Nation that ``T'' warrants our praise 
and respect.
  After the cheers of Saturday college football games died down for 
``T,'' he continued his education at Duke University Medical School, 
completing his degree in 1966 and training under another Duke legend, 
Dr. Lenox Baker, this time in the field of Orthopedics. In 1970, he 
volunteered for medical service in Vietnam, caring for our wounded 
soldiers. Those who called ``T'' a friend know it was this experience 
that shaped the character of ``T'' Moorman, and it is this service that 
makes ``T'' the true all-American that he was and that we honor today. 
``T'' Moorman continued to serve with our military for 28 years.
  Upon his return from Vietnam, ``T'' finished anesthesiology training 
at Emory, followed by a law degree from William and Mary in 1979. He 
then served with the Army Department of Legal Medicine Armed Forces 
Institute of Pathology in Washington DC. Before retiring from the U.S. 
Army Reserves in 1998, Colonel Moorman commanded multiple U.S. Army 
Reserve units. Additionally, during this time he opened anesthesiology 
centers in Leesburg, VA, Stuart, FL, and Port St. Lucie, FL.
  During the last decade of ``T''s life he fulfilled a lifelong dream 
of farming in Washington County, NC.
  By making the choice to serve in the military during a time of war, a 
decision which demands and deserves our respect, those in the medical 
service make a choice to help their fellow man in the most difficult of 
situations--combat. ``T'' showed through action part of what comprised 
his character, morality, and strong passion for helping fellow 
Americans. Having been an All American Football player in college, 
``T'' could have played professional football had he chosen that route. 
Instead, ``T'' made the most of his college career to obtain not only 
his undergraduate degree but additionally two medical degrees and a law 
degree. I think that this is an exemplary model of what a college 
athlete might strive to become. America certainly benefitted from 
``T''s choices.
  COL Claude ``T'' Moorman II will be remembered and missed by so many 
of the soldiers that he mended and friends and family that he humored. 
He will be forever celebrated and his legacy will never be 
forgotten.

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