December 9, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10827 Einar Dyhrkopp, business leader, ernor, but that primary had been raid- The next think I knew, Einar was on public servant, and patriot, was a 19- ed by the LaRouche party. He aban- the phone. We only chatted for a year-old Navy firefighter assigned to doned the Democratic Party ticket minute or two. We talked about the the bowels of the USS Aaron Ward after two disciples of the extremist great times we had together, about when the destroyer-minelayer was at- Lyndon LaRouche won slots on the that wonderful man, , who tacked by 25 kamikaze bombers in the Democratic slate in a disastrous pri- inspired us all to get involved in public battle for Okinawa. mary election. Mr. Stevenson said he life. In the years after World War II, Gen. could not in good conscience share a He said: I think this is the end for George C. Marshall was asked if Amer- ticket with people whose views he me. ica had any secret weapons to win that found so objectionable. State law re- I said: You have had a good run at it, conflict. General Marshall replied, yes, quired that the new Solidarity Einar. You have been with some great we do, ‘‘the best darn kids in the Party field a whole slate of statewide people, and you have been a great world.’’ Einar was just the kind of kid candidates, not just the gubernatorial friend. General Marshall was talking about. candidate. So Einar stepped up and Those were our last words. He died About 365 men were assigned to the agreed to be the new party’s nominee the following day. USS Aaron Ward; 42 of them burned to for U.S. Senate. I offer my sympathy to Mr. death or were lost overboard in the 52- What a crazy campaign. Mr. Dyhrkopp’s wife Frances, their family, minute battle on May 3, 1945. Einar was Dyhrkopp did not accept a single penny including their three grandchildren, one of the lucky ones: he survived the in campaign contributions. He did not and so many friends in southern Illi- attack, although his hair was burned spend a dollar or make one speech. He nois. Einar Dyhrkopp will be missed. to his scalp as he fought to douse the did not even vote for himself, announc- I yield the floor, and I suggest the ab- ship’s flames. ing he was going to cast his ballot for sence of a quorum. When the war ended, Einar came his friend, the incumbent, Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER. The home like so many World War II vets, Alan Dixon. As one political writer put clerk will call the roll. found new ways to serve his country. it, his strategy was ‘‘not to leave the The assistant legislative clerk pro- He married Frances, and they had a house until the election was over so he ceeded to call the roll. son. He was a banker, a business lead- wouldn’t draw attention or votes away Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent er, a livestock and grain farmer in from Senator . . . Dixon.’’ Despite his that the order for the quorum call be southern Illinois, and a great politi- best efforts to avoid the voters, Einar rescinded. cian. He was elected mayor of ended up with 15,000 votes. That is the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Shawneetown, IL, where he was born kind of man he was—hard not to like. SALAZAR). Without objection, it is so and lived his entire life. He was a self- As my friend Paul Simon said some ordered. described ‘‘dyed in the wool’’ Demo- years ago, ‘‘Einar Dyhrkopp represents f crat. He was respected and admired by responsible citizenship at its best. He TRIBUTE TO SENATORS people from both political parties. has aided his community and provided He was also a dedicated public serv- leadership on the State and national JOHN WARNER ant. In 1993, Einar Dyhrkopp was ap- scene. He has gone out of his way to Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, Today is a pointed by President Bill Clinton to help those who need assistance.’’ day I have dreaded. Today I say fare- the U.S. Postal Service Board of Gov- For years after the bombing of the well to my good friend and esteemed ernors and served two terms as the USS Aaron Ward, Einar did not talk colleague, Senator JOHN WARNER. Chairman. During his tenure, the Post- about the attack. He told a reporter, A few years ago, in an article for a al Service experienced an unprece- ‘‘When you go through something like Capitol Hill publication, Senator WAR- dented 5 straight years of positive net we went through together, almost ev- NER called attention to the courage of income. It also enhanced service and eryone wants to get it out of their America’s war veterans. He explained increased its ontime delivery rate for minds the first few years.’’ Later in that the men and women who serve in next-day delivery to 94 percent. He life, he changed his mind. He became our military are ‘‘heroes [who] share cared about the Postal Service’s bot- active in a group of survivors of the the timeless virtues of patriotism and tom line and its customers. He talked Aaron Ward attack. He was interviewed selfless devotion to duty in defending to me so many times about issues re- by Southern Illinois University’s pub- our country.’’ lated to the Postal Service. He cared lic broadcasting stations in conjunc- Mr. President, Senator WARNER is about the workers there too. He once tion with the broadcast of ‘‘The War,’’ one of my ‘‘heroes.’’ He is a man who invited picketing postal workers in for by Ken Burns, a documentary on World has always displayed ‘‘the timeless vir- coffee and cinnamon rolls and, after War II. He told a reporter that his tues of patriotism and selfless devotion talking with them, answered all of change of heart was simply because to duty in defending our country.’’ their questions. He visited countless ‘‘[w]e do not want the experience lost. Indeed, Senator WARNER has spent postal facilities, asking employees If you lose history, you’re destined to his life in service to our country. He what we can do to make their job bet- repeat it.’’ enlisted in the Navy at the tender age ter and make our services better in the America’s history might have taken of 17 in order to serve in World War II. Postal Service. In 2003, the post office a far different and darker course had A few years later, he joined the Ma- in his beloved Shawneetown was re- Einar Dyhrkopp and millions of others rines in order to serve in the Korean dedicated and renamed in his honor. of ‘‘the best darned kids in the world’’ conflict. From 1969 to 1972, he served as Einar had tears in his eyes as the trib- not sacrificed and served in that con- the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, utes were read. flict and had they not come back home and from 1972 to 1974, as Secretary of Mr. Dyhrkopp also served on several to serve their Nation in other ways for the Navy. Illinois State commissions and was a decades more. In 1978, he was elected to the U.S. member of the Regional Advisory He was a good man who gave much to Senate, and is now the second longest- Board of Southern Illinois University his community, much to my State of serving Senator in the history of his Public Policy Institute. Illinois, and much to America. Last beloved Commonwealth of Virginia. There was the one curious political Friday, at the urging of some friends His entire Senate career has been chapter in his life. In 1986, Einar who told me he was seriously ill, I marked by his dignity, style, grace, Dyhrkopp ran what he called a non- called his home. Frances answered the and integrity. He is one of those men campaign for the U.S. Senate. He ran phone, and I told her who I was. I said with whom one can disagree without on the Illinois Solidarity Party slate, a I thought I would say a word or two to rancor. I cannot recall ever hearing roster of statewide candidates put to- Einar if he can take the call. Well, she anyone speak ill of JOHN WARNER. gether by Adlai Stevenson III. Mr. Ste- said, I am not sure he can talk to you. A few years ago, on another occasion venson, son of the two-time Demo- I did not know how sick he was. And in which I paid tribute to my good cratic Presidential candidate, had won she leaned over, and I could overhear friend, I referred to him as ‘‘the the Democratic nomination for Gov- her saying: Einar, it is Senator DURBIN. classiest of class acts’’—and he is. We

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:07 Dec 10, 2008 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.016 S09DEPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with SENATE S10828 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 9, 2008 will miss his comity, his courtesy, and ing served with Senator DOMENICI on guration, the President-elect has prom- his refreshing bipartisan spirit always the Appropriations and Budget Com- ised he will continue to improve men- seeking consensus solutions for the mittees, I have come to know and re- tal health treatment for troops and good of the country. Whether in com- spect him not only as a dear friend and veterans suffering from combat-related mittee or on the Senate floor, he never colleague, but also as a formidable op- psychological injuries. succumbs to the bitter, destructive ponent. Senator DOMENICI and I have After his service as a military fellow, partisanship which has all too often clashed swords many times on the Sen- Major Venning was named the Deputy characterized this chamber in recent ate floor, and, believe me, when you Director of the Marine Corps Senate years. clashed with him, you would have the Liaison Office. It is no surprise that he Senator WARNER has spoken out fight of your life. He has one of the was as loved in that office as he was in against his own party when he felt that sharpest minds on Capitol Hill. He is mine. It was my pleasure to host his the wrong course was being pursued. one of the most knowledgeable people promotion to major, with his friends When the horrors of Abu Ghraib came on the budget on Capitol Hill. And he is and family in attendance, in my office to light, JOHN WARNER did not hesitate always prepared. in the Capitol. His commanding phys- to help write the legislation to restrict Oh, how I regret that he will be leav- ical presence is matched only by his the use of torture. ing us all too soon. But I would like to compassion and understanding of the Senator WARNER embodies the guid- use this opportunity to thank the sen- issues facing our returning service- ing principles set down by another of ior Senator from New Mexico for his members, which was never on better our country’s brave warriors, GEN wonderful service and to congratulate display than when he helped shepherd Douglas MacArthur, who proclaimed him on an outstanding career in the wounded veterans as my guests at the his leading lights to be, ‘‘Duty, honor, Senate. State of the Union. Major Ben Venning is a marine in the country.’’ Thank you, Senator DOMENICI, for all Mr. President, without qualification, your work for your State, and our best tradition of the Corps. His efforts have informed the Congress and have I can say that it has been an absolute country. And, thank you, PETE, for pleasure to have served with this dis- being a friend. represented the Corps’ values and capa- bilities. His performance here will tinguished and esteemed Virginia gen- f tleman, and I will miss him. leave a lasting mark on my office, the TRIBUTE TO MAJOR BENJAMIN U.S. Senate and the Marine Corps long CHUCK HAGEL Mr. President, I came to know Sen- VENNING after he has departed. Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is my ator HAGEL in 1997 when we worked to- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise pleasure today to congratulate and gether on the Byrd-Hagel Resolution today to honor Major Benjamin thank Major Benjamin Venning of the related to the Kyoto Protocol. We Venning, U.S. Marine Corps, for his 3 U.S. Marine Corps. This week, Major made a good team because our effort years of service to the U.S. Senate and Venning finishes up a highly successful was approved unanimously, by a vote for his continued service to our Nation and its Corps. assignment as Deputy Director of the of 95–0. Marine Corps Liaison Office to the U.S. In our work together, I made a new From December 2005 to December Senate, which is responsible for pro- friend because I found Senator HAGEL 2006, Major Venning served in my office viding information about the Corps to to be a likeable and cooperative person as a military fellow. He came to my of- this institution. He has served the Sen- as well as a knowledgeable and hard- fice soon after a tour in Fallujah, ate and the Marine Corps superbly, and working Senator. where his actions in service to the he is a credit to the entire Corps. My respect for this dynamic Senator earned him a Bronze Major Venning learned about the Star. Major Venning had experienced increased as I watched him become one Senate during a fellowship in 2006 with of the Senate’s most outspoken critics first-hand the rising violence in Iraq. Senator DURBIN of Illinois. He worked of Mr. Bush’s war in Iraq. Several of us His on-the-ground experience in Iraq on timely reserve pay and budget were already pointing to the disastrous gave him tremendous insight on issues issues, getting to know the ins-and- results of the Bush administration’s affecting servicemembers and veterans. outs of the often arcane appropriations flawed and failed Iraqi war policies. Many who served in Iraq and Afghan- process. Senator DURBIN, as I am, is a But Senator HAGEL’s opposition to the istan have returned with serious phys- member of the Senate’s Defense Appro- war carried very special impact. He is a ical injuries or have even paid the ulti- priations Subcommittee, which han- conservative, a member of the Presi- mate price. Others have returned with dles the Senate’s work in writing the dent’s own political party, and a mili- more invisible wounds, injuries that annual budget bill for the Department tary veteran. In fact, he still carries are not immediately apparent but that of Defense. That was an ideal perch for shrapnel in his chest and remnants of bring pain and suffering to a returning Major Venning to grasp the com- burns to his face from his service as an veteran and his or her family. Today, plicated but essential financing of our infantryman in Vietnam. Senator traumatic brain injury and post-trau- extensive national security operations. HAGEL now calls Mr. Bush’s war in Iraq matic stress syndrome are recognized In his next assignment, joining the ‘‘an absolute replay of Vietnam.’’ as signature injuries of the conflicts in Corps’ liaison office, he brought the I will miss my friend and colleague. Iraq and Afghanistan. While Major same sense of intelligence and integ- The Senate needs strong, independent Venning served on my staff he helped rity that he showed in that year with voices like Senator HAGEL—lawmakers draw attention to these invisible the senior Senator from Illinois. Major who are willing to put the best inter- wounds. With his relationships at Be- Venning was always prompt in answer- ests of our country and American peo- thesda Naval, he helped me understand ing questions about the Marine Corps, ple over partisan politics. the impact of traumatic brain injuries whether about plans for growth of the PETE DOMENICI on returning soldiers and marines. force or the minutia of a particular Mr. President, when the Senate con- With Major Venning on my team, I was program. He and the entire team in the venes next January, it is difficult to able to ask hard questions about how liaison office provided excellent sup- accept that Senator DOMENICI will not our government was responding to the port for Senate delegations traveling be here. growing number of veterans needing to foreign nations to meet with inter- This son of an Italian immigrant gro- help for these serious injuries. national leaders and to review foreign cer was elected to the Senate in 1972, In April 2006, I sent a letter that assistance programs. He ensured that making him the first Republican in Major Venning worked on, which was extensive itineraries unfolded smooth- nearly 40 years to be elected to the one of the first to ask the Department ly and productively. Senate from the great State of New of Veterans Affairs to closely review Major Venning is a marine through Mexico. He is now the longest serving its ability to provide proper mental and through, displaying great dedica- Senator in the history of New Mexico. health care to returning veterans. An- tion to and knowledge about the force. In the Senate, he established himself other Senator from the State of Illinois Staffing a recent mission overseas, for as an expert on fiscal policies and the signed that letter: . example, hewing to longstanding tradi- intricacies of the Federal budget. Hav- Today, as the world awaits his inau- tion, he made sure that the Corps’

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