Chuck Hagel: “I rise to honor South Carolina's senior Senator Strom Thurmond. Senator Thurmond will turn 100 on December 5. Only 126…”

“I rise to honor South Carolina's senior Senator Strom Thurmond. Senator Thurmond will turn 100 on December 5. Only 126 years before Senator Thurmond's birth, the United States of America gained its independence; 37 years before Senator Thurmond was born, the Civil War ended; and when he was a year old, Wright brothers engineered the first flight from Kitty Hawk. Senator Thurmond made a commitment at an early age to serve the interests and needs of our Nation. His life is full of our country's history, and he has made our country his life. Since his days as a school teacher and athletic coach in the early 1920's Senator Thurmond has continued to be a leader and serve the interests of our country well above his own. Senator Thurmond served on active duty with the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a judge at that time, so he was exempt from military service. But Senator Thurmond volunteered, and as a 41-year-old Lt. Colonel, dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day in Normandy with the 82nd Airborne Division. During his 36 years of distinguished military service in the Active and Reserve Army, he was awarded five Battle Stars and 15 decorations, medals and other awards. Senator Thurmond carried his military experience to the Senate and quickly became a respected leader advocating a strong national defense for America.”