Tom Harkin: “I just want to talk a little about my friend Bob Kerrey as he seeks to retire from the Senate to start a new career. Bob…”

“I just want to talk a little about my friend Bob Kerrey as he seeks to retire from the Senate to start a new career. Bob Kerrey is what I have often referred to as two dying breeds all rolled into one: He is a true American war hero, the likes of which this body hasn't seen for over a century, and he is a public servant who speaks his mind and the truth regardless of the political costs. Around here, that is refreshing, as we just heard. We all know that, as a young man, Bob volunteered for duty, was accepted into the elite Navy Seals--believe me, I was in the Navy, and that is tough duty. He served in Vietnam. Three months into his service, in a very daring night mission, a grenade exploded at his feet that was thrown by the enemy. He lost his right leg below the knee. Although he was in unbearable pain from that and from other wounds on other parts of his body--his arms and hands--barely conscious, he continued to direct his men until they were able to escape. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor--the highest American decoration--for his courage. He is the only current Member of Congress with this distinction and only the fifth Member of the Senate to win this medal. The other four won theirs during the Civil War.”