    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [February 7, 1998]
    [Pages 195-196]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Accident Involving United States Aircraft in the
    Persian Gulf
    February 7, 1998

        Defending America's interests is difficult, dangerous work--and our
    men and women in uniform bear that burden every day. Nowhere is their
    service more important than in the Persian Gulf.
        I was saddened to learn that one of our Marine Corps F/A-18 pilots,
    Lieutenant Colonel Henry G. Van Winkle II, lost his life yesterday in the skies over the Persian
    Gulf. Lieutenant Colonel Van Winkle was there as part of America's
    commitment to back up our determined diplomacy with force as we work to
    prevent Saddam Hussein from threatening the
    world with weapons of mass destruction.

    [[Page 196]]

        Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones--and with all our
    men and women in uniform around the world as they serve and sacrifice
    every day to keep Americans safe and America strong.