[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS R. WESCHLER

 Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the service of a 
fellow Pennsylvanian, VADM Thomas R. Weschler, Retired, who served this 
country valiantly for 3\1/2\ decades. Vice Admiral Weschler is one of 
the highest ranking Naval officers to come from Erie, PA, and I am 
profoundly grateful for his service to our Nation.
  Admiral Weschler began his service in 1940, following his graduation 
from the United States Naval Academy in 1939. He served on the USS 
WASP, CV-7, in World War II, seeing combat in both the Mediterranean 
and the Pacific, including the invasion of Guadalcanal, and was onboard 
when the WASP was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.
  Admiral Weschler would then go on to command the USS CLARENCE K. 
BRONSON in action during the Korean war. During the Vietnam war, he 
commanded amphibious operations against Viet Cong forces in 1965 to 
1966, during which time he was awarded the Legion of Merit. In 1966, 
Admiral Weschler became Commander Naval Support Activity, Danang 
Republic of Vietnam, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. 
Following his service in Vietnam, he was awarded a Gold Star for his 
accomplishments in pioneering and developing the Spruance Class 
destroyer and the Virginia Class cruiser.
  In 1970, Vice Admiral Weschler assumed command of Cruiser-Destroyer 
Flotilla TWO, and in 1971 he became Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, 
U.S. Atlantic Fleet. For both of these tours he was awarded a Gold 
Star. In 1973, he was selected for promotion to vice admiral and 
reported to Washington for duty as Director for Logistics, Joint Staff, 
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Vice Admiral Weschler retired on 
June 30, 1975 as a three-star vice admiral following more than 34 years 
of service in the U.S. Navy.
  After his retirement from the Navy, he continued his service as a 
professor of Naval Operations at the United States War College, 
Newport, RI, for more than a decade.
  On August 28 and 29, 2015, Vice Admiral Weschler will be honored for 
his service at the opening of the Hagen History Center in Erie, PA, 
where the Military Gallery will also be dedicated in his honor. I am 
proud to share in the celebration of Vice Admiral Weschler's career, 
his meritorious conduct, his extraordinary leadership, and his 
distinguished and unwavering service to this great Nation. I extend my 
sincerest gratitude to Vice Admiral Weschler, a native son of Erie, PA, 
whom we are proud to call one of our own, and wish him and his family 
all the best in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________