AND HE DOES DO SUCH HONOR TO THIS BODY, AS HE HAS DONE TO HIS
           COUNTRY, ON GRACE UNDER PRESSURE. PERHAPS NOTHING MORE
           DISTINGUISHED HIM THAN THE LONG AND DIFFICULT TIME IN THE

           PHILADELPHIA NAVAL HOSPITAL, WHEN TO THE WITNESS OF MANY -- I
           GUESS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SON OF A MARINE COMMANDANT, WAS HE NOT?
           HE WROTE OF SENATOR KERRY, "HIS STOICISM, THOUGH UNNERVING, WAS
           A SOURCE OF AMAZEMENT TO ALL." IT CONTINUES SUCH. IT CONTINUES

           WITH AN EVENNESS THAT CAN BE EERIE AT THE SAME MOME IT IS
           INSPIRING. ROBERT NOVAK HAS RECENTLY WRITTEN THAT WHAT SETS
           SENATOR KERREY APART IS "HOW UNASHAMEDLY HE PREACHES LOVE OF
           AND SERVICE TO COUNTRY." AND SO, SIR, FROM ANOTHER GENERATION,
           A FAR DISTANT CONFLICT, THIS LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE SALUTES

           HIM AND WOULD HAVE THE SENATE KNOW -- THOSE WHO DON'T -- WHEN A
           MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER APPEARS ANYWHERE ON SHIP, THE ANSWER IS
           IS, "ATTENTION ALL HANDS." HE IS TO BE SALUTED ON ALL OCCASIONS
           AND HONORED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND IN THE EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY
           HE WILL ONE DAY LEAVE. I SALUTE YOU, SIR, AND I THANK THE CHAIR

           AND I YIELD THE FLOOR. MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM NEVADA IS
           RECOGNIZED.
           

           MR. REID: I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE JUNIOR SENATOR FROM
           VIRGINIA.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED
           FOR ONE MINUTE.
           

           MR. ROBB: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THANK MY FRIEND FROM
           NEVADA FOR YIELDING. I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. I HAPPENED TO BE
           SERVING IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AT THE TIME THAT THIS
           PARTICULAR ACT OF HEROISM WAS MADE. I AM MORE THAN A LITTLE
           FAMILIAR WITH THE CRITERIA FOR THE PARTICULAR AWARD THAT WAS
           GIVEN. ALMOST ANY MAJOR AWARD FOR LLANTRY IS SUBJECT TO SOME

           DEGREE OF SUBJECTIVITY. THIS IS THE ONE THAT IS CLEARLY PROVEN
           BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBT TO BE -- HAVE BEEN AWARDED
           MERITORIOUSLY UNDER ANY AND ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. I JOIN ALL OF MY
           COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE, INCLUDING THOSE VETERANS WHO SERVED
           WITH AND IN VIETNAM WITH OUR DISTINGUISHED SENATOR, AND I THANK
           MY COLLEAGUE FOR YIELDING. THIS IS ONE THAT MAKES ALL OF US
           PROUD. AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
           

           MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, GROUCH GROUCHO MARX USED TO SAY THAT
           HE WON'T BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HIM AS A MEMBER.
           I GET THAT AS A FEELING OF A VERY SMALL CLUB CONSISTING OF
           THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR.
           NOBODY ASKED TO JOIN. THE PRICE OF ADMISSION IS TOO HIGH.
           NOBODY APPLIES. THE RULES DON'T PERMIT APPLICATIONS. YOU GET IN
           THIS SELECT CLUB BY DOING SOMETHING THAT NO ONE WOULD DO, OR
           SHOULD I SAY RARELY DOES. AND MOST OF THE TIME YOU PASS THE

           TEST BY NOT SURVIVING IT. I DARE SAY THAT IF BOB KERREY HAD
           BEEN OFFERED MEMBERSHIP IN THIS CLUB AS A VOLUNTEER, HE WOULD
           HAVE DECLINED. BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, THE MEMBERSHIP ISN'T
           VOLUNTARY. ONCE YOU PERFORM THOSE ACTS OF OUTSTANDING COURAGE,
           OF VALOR, OF HEROISM ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, ONCE
           YOU'VE COME THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH INTO THE
           LIGHT LIGHT, ONCE YOU HAVE IN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF

           MILITARY COMBAT SAVED LIVES AND TAKEN LIVES, AND IN MOST
           INSTANCES GIVEN YOUR OWN LIFE TO QUALIFY FOR THE MEDAL, YOU'RE
           A MARKED MAN. BOB KERREY BEARS THAT MARK. THAT MARK SHOWS
           THROUGH HIS GRACE, HIS INTELLIGENCE, CONCENTRATION AND WIT,
           ASPECTS WITH WHICH I DARE SAY MANY IN OUR BODY ARE HANDSOMELY
           UNDOUD. THAT MARK SHINES ABOVE HIS HARD WORK, LOVE OF COUNTRY
           AND RESPECT FOR HIS FELLOW MEMBERS, QUALITIES MOST OF US HERE

           SHARE IN AMPLE QUANTITY. THAT MARK TRANSCENDS EVERY OTHER SKILL
           OR POINT OF CHARACTER WHICH MAKES US ALL UNIQUE HUMAN BEINGS.
           THE MARK BOB KERREY BEARS IS HIS HAVING GIVEN ONE OF HIS LIMBS
           FOR OUR COUNTRY. THE MARK BOB KERREY WEARS IS HIS UNIQUE
           COURAGE, HIS HONOR, HIS VALOR. HE SHOWS IT IN HIS DAILY LIFE,
           IN HIS POLITICAL DECISIONS AND HIS DEALINGS WITH THE WORLD. BOB

           KERREY, WHEN DEALING WITH ENTITLEMENTS, HE HAD INDICATION, IRAQ
           AND FARM ISSUES HAS SHOWN UNPARALLELED COURAGE. BUT TO ME, HE
           IS SIMPLY A GOOD FRIEND. 30 YEARS AGO ON AN ISLAND IN SOUTHEAST
           ASIA, 10,000 MILES FROM THIS SENATE CHAMBER, NAVY LIEUTENANT
           BOBKERREY DID SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. IF
           HE DID NOTHING ELSE WITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE, WE WOULD AS

           AMERICANS HONOR HIM FOR WHAT HE DID ON THAT ISLAND FAR AWAY. I
           SUSPECT, HOWEVER, WHEN THE TIME COMES, AS FOR ALL OF US IT
           MUST, TO SUMMARIZE THIS MAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS FRIENDS, HIS
           NATION, TO THE WORLD, THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR WILL BE
           CITED NOT AS AN AWARD WHICH SHAPED THE MAN, BUT RATHER AS JUST
           ONE EXAMPLE IN A LIFE AND LITANY OF COURAGE WHICH HAS KNOWN NO
           BOUND AND WHICH SERVES AS A PLA TONIC EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF

           US -- PLATONIC EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF US TO PURSUE BUT NEVER
           TO ACHIEVE. SO THANK YOU, SENATOR BOB KERREY, FOR SHARING WITH
           THE PEOPLE OF NEBRASKA AND EACH OF US WHO SERVE WITH YOU YOUR
           EXEMPLARY LIFE.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM ARIZONA
           IS RECOGNIZED.
           

           MR. MCCAIN: MR. PRESIDENT, IT WAS MY DUTY, SO DID MY FRIEND AND
           COLLEAGUE BOB KERREY RESPOND TO A QUESTION BY CBS'S BOB
           SCHIEFFER, WHY HE DID IT, WHY HE LED HIS ELITE SEAL TEAM UP A
           CLIFF AND DOWN INTO THE WADING ENEMY'S CAMP, SUFFERING
           LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES IN THE PROCESS BUT EFFECTIVELY
           COMMANDING HIS TEAM THROUGHOUT THEIR SUCCESSFUL MISSION. FOR
           THEN-LIEUTENANT J.G. KERREY, HIS DUTY WAS HIS HONOR AND HIS
           COUNTRY'S CAUSE WAS HIS HIGHEST CALLING. A YOUNG MAN FROM THE

           PLAINS OF NEBRASKA SHOWED -- QUOTE -- "CONSPICUOUS GALLANT TRY
           AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY IN
           VIETNAM. AS HIS MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION RECALLS, REMINDS US
           THAT EXCEPTIONAL HEROISM CAN SPRING FROM THE HUMBLEST OF
           ROOTS." IT WAS HIS DUTY, BOB SAYS, "NEAR THE VERY BEGINNING OF
           THE ASSAULT ON THE VIET CONG CAMP A GRENADE EXPLODED AT HIS
           FEET, INJURING HIM TERRIBLY AND THREATENING THE SUCCESS OF THE
           MISSION. IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES MANY MEN INCAPACITATED AND

           BLEEDING MIGHT HAVE GIVEN UP. NOT BOB. HIS SENSE OF DUTY DID
           NOT ALLOW IT. HIS SENSE OF DUTY COMPELLED HIM TO FIGHT ON,
           DESPITE THE TRAUMA OF SUSTAINING MULTIPLE INJURIES, INCLUDING
           ONE THAT WOULD TAKE HIS LEG. AND DESPITE THE CHAOS OF BATTLE
           WHICH WAS UNDONE -- WHICH HAS UNDONE OTHER GOOD MEN WHO HAVE
           FOUND THEMSELVES IN LESS DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES. BOB'S COURAGEOUS
           LEADERSHIP WON THAT BATTLE ON A VIETNAMESE ISLAND, NITRANG BAY

           BAY, 30 YEARS AGO. "I DON'T REMEMBER DOING ANYTHING ESPECIALLY
           HER -- HER WOKE" SAYS BOB KERREY. ALTHOUGH I DO NOT KNOW THE
           MEN BOB TRAINED ON THAT DAY, I KNOW THEIR TESTAMONIAL ENSURED
           THAT HISTORY RECORDED MY FRIEND'S SACRIFICE. THAT RECORD IN THE
           FORM OF BOB'S MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION INSPIRED COUNTLESS
           AMERICANS IN UNIFORM OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. AS MY COLLEAGUES
           KNOW, IT IS WITH REVERENCE AND AWE THAT UNIFORMED SERVICE
           MEMBERS AND VETERANS SPEAK OF AMERICA'S MEDAL OF HONOR

           RECIPIENTS. THEY ARE INDEED THE HEROES' HEROES. I MYSELF AM
           PRIVILEGED TO HAVE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AS DID MY
           FATHER AND GRANDFATHER BEFORE ME. THEY WOULD TELL YOU, AS I DO
           TODAY, HOW HONORED WE ALL SHOULD BE TO KNOW A MAN LIKE BOB
           KERREY, A MAN WHOSE FIGHTING SPIRIT EARNED HIM THE NATION'S
           HIGHEST AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL MILITARY SERVICE ABOVE AND BEYOND
           THE CALL OF DUTY. I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO SERVE IN THE SENATE
           WITH BOB. IRONICALLY HE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT HE

           FELT LITTLE CALLING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM
           VIETNAM. FOR HE CAME NOT ONLY WITH A BROKEN BODY, WITH AN
           UNDERSTANDABLE RESENTMENT ABOUT THE WAR AND TOWARDS THOSE
           POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON WHO CONDUCTED IT. BOB'S FAITH IN OUR
           NATION AND THE VALUES HE EMBODIES WAS REAFFIRMED BY HIS
           MILITARY SERVICE. IT'S AT GREAT COUNTRY THAT WILL FIGHT FOR
           OTHER PEOPLE'S FREEDOM, HE SAYS, BUT HIS FAITH IN THE
           GOVERNMENT WAS SHAKEN, AS WAS THAT OF MANY AMERICANS AFTER THE

           DIVISIVE EXPERIENCE OF VIETNAM. WHAT RESTORED BOB'S FAITH IN
           HIS GOVERNMENT?
           BY HIS RECOGNIZE CONGRESS, IT WAS THE PHILADELPHIA NAVAL
           HOSPITAL WHERE HE SPENT MONTHS IN SURGERY AND THERAPY. AS BOB
           HAS SAID, "THE FACT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD BUILD AND FUND A
           HOSPITAL FOR PEOPLE LIKE HIM, ANONYMOUS PEOPLE, WHO WOULD NEVER
           -- WHO NEVER CONTRIBUTEED TO A POLITICIAN'S CAMPAIGN AND
           PROVIDE THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEEDED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE
           WOUNDED AMERICANS WAS INSPIRATIONAL. SO WERE THE MEDICAL STAFF
           AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED HEAL HIS WOUNDS." FAITH RENEWED, BOB

           WENT ON TO BE GOVERNOR OF NEBRASKA AND A UNITED STATES SENATOR.
           HIS INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP ON SOME OF THE TOUGHEST ISSUES WE
           FACE TODAY, INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY, EDUCATION AND TAX
           REFORM, DEMOTRATES THAT THIS MAN, WHO GAVE SO MUCH FOR HIS
           COUNTRY AND MILITARY SERVICE -- IN MILITARY SERVICE MAKES AN
           IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICA'S GOVERNANCE IN PEACETIME. IN
           THE WORDS OF BOB'S MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION, LIEUTENANT J.G.
           KERREY'S COURAGEOUS AND INSPIRING LEADERSHIP, VALIANT FIGHTING

           SPIRIT AND TENACIOUS DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THE FACE OF ALMOST
           OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION SUSTAINED AND ENHANCED THE FININGEST
           TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. THAT LEADERSHIP AND SENSE
           OF DUTY CONTINUES TO MOTIVATE HIS PUBLIC SERVICE TODAY. BOB'S
           CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICA'S GOVERNANCE MAY GROW. ALTHOUGH HE WILL
           SIT OUT NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL RACE, HE MAY BE A CONTENDER IN
           THE FUTURE. IN THE MOON TIME, I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO
           WORK WITH -- IN THE MEANTIME I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO
           WORK WITH HIM IN THE SENATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUED SERVICE,

           BOB. MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR. A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE DISTINGUISHED DEMOCRATIC LEADER IS
           RECOGNIZED.
           

           MR. DASCHLE: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME COMMEND THE DISTINGUISHED
           SENATOR FROM ARIZONA FOR HIS ELOQUENCE, AS WELL AS THE SENATOR
           FROM NEVADA WHO I HEARD AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR
           FROM NORTH CAROLINA FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO ALLOW US THIS
           OPPORTUNITY ON THE FLOOR THIS MORNING. LAST WEEK WHEN JODY
           IMAGINE I DON'T SEE DIEDS -- WHEN IMAGINE IMAGINE -- WHEN JOE

           DIMAGGIO DIED, I HEARD MANY PEOPLE SAY HOW MUCH OF A SHAME IT
           IS THAT WE HAVE SO FEW HEROES LEFT AMONG US. TO ANYONE WHO
           BELIEVES THAT, I SAY, MEET MY FRIEND E FRIEND, BOB KERREY. --
           MEET MY FRIEND, BOB KERREY. TO ME AND TO MANY OTHERS, HE IS A
           GENUINE AMERICAN HERO. AS OTHERS HAVE NOTED, ON A MOONLESS
           BLACK NIGHT 30 YEARS AGO THIS PAST SUNDAY, LIEUTENANT J.G.
           KERREY, THEN A 25-YEAR-OLD NAVY SEAL COMMANDER, LED HIS SQUAD

           IN A SURPRISE ATTACK ON A NORTH VIETNAMESE GUERRILLA POST ON
           THE ISLAND OF HANGTRANG. AN ENEMY GRENADE EXPLODED ON THE
           GROUND BESIDE HIM. THE BLAST SHATTERED HIS RIGHT LEG BELOW THE
           KNEE AND PIERCED MUCH OF HIS BODY WITH SHRAPNEL. DESPITE THESE
           MASSIVE INJURIES, LIEUTENANT G.J. -- J.G. KERREY CONTINUED TO
           DIRECT HIS SQUAD UNTIL THE LAST MAN WAS SAFELY EVACUATED. DAYS
           LATER DOCTORS WERE FORCED TO AMPUTATE HIS INJURED LEG JUST

           BELOW THE KNEE. LIEUTENANT J.G. KERREY HAD BEEN IN VIETNAM ONLY
           THREE MONTHS. FOR HIS SACRIFICE, HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE
           STAR, THE PURPLE HEART AND THE HIGHEST AWARD OUR NATION BESTOWS
           FOR BRAVERY -- THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. BUT IT'S NOT
           ONLY WHAT OTHERS PINNED OVER HIS HEART THAT MAKES BOB KERREY A
           HERO. IT IS WHAT IS IN HIS HEART. JOSEPH ROBERT KERREY RETURNED
           FROM VIETNAM ANGRY AND DISILLUSIONED. WHAT HE ENDURED IN

           VIETNAM AND WHAT HE LATER SAW AT THE PHILADELPHIA NAVAL
           HOSPITAL WHERE HE SPENT NINE MONTHS LEARNG HOW TO WALK AGAIN
           SHOOK HIS FAITH BOTH IN THE WAR AND IN THE GOVERNMENT THAT HAD
           SENT HIM THERE. IT FORCED HIM TO REEXAMINE
{END: 1999/03/16 TIME: 11-15 , Tue.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}