[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11647]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF SENATOR JEREMIAH DENTON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2014

  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life 
of a true American hero, Jeremiah Denton.
  Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr. was born in Mobile, Alabama, on July 15, 
1924. The oldest of three brothers, Denton attended Spring Hill College 
in Mobile before going on to attend the United States Naval Academy. 
After graduation, Denton began his 34-year naval career, where he 
eventually attained the rank of rear admiral.
  Mr. Speaker, Jeremiah Denton made countless sacrifices throughout his 
life and military career, but none is greater than his steadfast 
courage and heroic efforts during the Vietnam War. After less than a 
month of service in Southeast Asia, Denton's aircraft was shot down, 
and he was captured on July 18, 1965.
  Denton was held as a prisoner of war over the next seven years and 
seven months, spending time at various prisons across Vietnam, most 
notably the Hanoi Hilton. During his imprisonment, Denton was often 
held in solitary confinement, in dark, rodent infested rooms, where he 
was subjected to intense torture and starvation. Despite these 
excruciating conditions, Jeremiah Denton did not break.
  In fact, Denton inspired his fellow prisoners to not succumb to the 
Vietnamese torture, but to stand up to the enemy. That was a trademark 
of Jeremiah Denton--he never gave up the fight.
  In his most memorable moment, Denton blinked the words ``torture'' in 
Morse code during a televised propaganda interview. This was the first 
time Americans and the world learned the extent of torture that 
American POWs were experiencing. Jeremiah Denton's bold, steadfast 
courage in the face of constant torture embodies the American spirit of 
perseverance against all odds.
  Thankfully, Denton would later be released during diplomatic 
negotiations known as ``Operation Homecoming.'' Upon his return to 
American soil, Denton proudly declared: ``We are honored to have had 
the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We 
are profoundly grateful to our commander-in-chief and to our nation for 
this day. God bless America.''
  Denton went on to receive the Navy Cross, the Defense Distinguished 
Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three Silver 
Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and many other military honors.
  Later in life, Denton became the first Republican elected to the 
United States Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction. In the Senate, 
he worked to combat the spread of communism and strengthen our nation's 
defense. He was a strong advocate for family values and a voice of 
reason in the Senate.
  After his time in the Senate, Jeremiah Denton maintained a very 
modest life, offering counsel to others interested in public service, 
never wavering in his commitment to our great nation.
  On May 28, 2014, America lost one of our finest heroes as Jeremiah 
Denton passed away at the age of 89.
  Jeremiah Denton embodies what it means to be a public servant in 
every sense of the word. When his nation needed him, he always answered 
the call of duty and stood tall in the face of doubt and despair. He 
never once wavered in his commitment to serving our country, 
steadfastly enduring torture by the North Vietnamese.
  It is often said that the measure of a man is not what he takes with 
him when he dies, but rather what he leaves behind. Jeremiah Denton 
left behind a remarkable example for future generations of what it 
means to be a great and proud American. He left behind a legacy that 
can never be filled.
  We are proud to claim Jeremiah Denton as a native son of Mobile. I 
admire him for his passion for service, and I strive to emulate his 
example.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I honor the life of 
Senator Jeremiah Denton, not only today, but each and every day.

                          ____________________