William Helms: “Throughout America's history, our Nation has been blessed with leaders of rare courage, character, and conviction. The…”

“Throughout America's history, our Nation has been blessed with leaders of rare courage, character, and conviction. The Senate for almost half a century has been fortunate to count among its members an especially remarkable individual, Senator Strom Thurmond. Earlier, I joined in paying tribute to Senator Thurmond's unparalleled record of public service both to his country and to his beloved citizens of South Carolina. His extraordinary record of service spans almost 80 years. We should also recall another aspect of service to his country-- Senator Thurmond's heroic and selfless record of military service. His distinguished military career spanned more than three decades, commencing shortly after his 21st birthday when he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. When he retired in 1965, Senator Thurmond had risen to the rank of Major General, the highest rank then available to a Reserve Officer. Inasmuch as he was serving as a South Carolina circuit judge at the outset of World War II, Mr. Thurmond was exempt from military service. But, then First Lieutenant Thurmond did not hesitate: he volunteered for duty the day the U.S. declared war against Germany, receiving a commission in the Active Army and becoming a member of the First U.S. Army. While serving in the European theater, Strom served in all battles of the First Army, fighting through France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, and Germany.”