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[Pages H4017-H4018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING MAJOR JOHN E. CLECKNER, SR.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
California (Mr. LaMalfa) for 5 minutes.
Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great
man and a great patriot from Redding, California, in my district. His
commitment to his fellow veterans is certainly unparalleled. Major John
Cleckner, Sr. passed away on May 11, but he leaves behind a tremendous
legacy of service.
During a 22-year military career that began in 1957 in the 82nd
Airborne Division and later the U.S. Army Special Forces, John received
far too many awards and honors to list in this time. During his time as
a veteran of the Vietnam war, he was wounded multiple times and
received three Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.
In 1969, he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group. Upon
arriving, he initiated a massive rebuilding of their camp's defenses
and intelligence gathering when he heard of increased activity by North
Vietnamese units in the area. Not long afterward, a North Vietnamese
heavy weapons regiment laid siege to their camp for 5 months, but,
thanks to John's efforts, the camp held.
After receiving his third Purple Heart, John was medically retired in
1979.
As impressive as his military service record is, it might even pale
in comparison to his 35 years of dedicated
[[Page H4018]]
service to his fellow veterans, both in northern California and across
the United States. Much like his military career, his accomplishments
as an advocate for veterans are too numerous to properly list in this
format.
He has worked closely with me and my office and others previous to me
over the years as an adviser on all things veterans related and as a
tireless partner and champion of programs and legislation that can make
a real impact to help our veterans thrive.
He was a leader in every sense of the word. John was instrumental in
getting a new VA clinic in Redding, whose groundbreaking will be very
soon, and started the quest for a veterans' cemetery in Shasta County,
both of which have now come to fruition, thanks to his relentless
efforts.
John even collaborated with country music legend Merle Haggard, who
is a Redding resident, to coordinate a national fishing tournament for
combat-disabled veterans to have a chance to get out and relax and
enjoy the outdoors with people who they can relate to. For him, it was
all part of making the lives of veterans better in any way that he
could.
When John discovered that many veterans struggled to obtain legal
help, he went back to college at the age of 62 to get a degree that
would allow him to serve as a legal assistant to in-need veterans at no
charge to the veteran. That is amazing service. That is the kind of
person John Cleckner was.
For his impressive track record, both on the battlefield and in
civilian life, the Special Operations Center of Excellence at the U.S.
Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School inducted John
into the Distinguished Members of Special Operations Regiment in 2010.
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I know this: Major John Cleckner was an American hero, on and off the
battlefield. He devoted his life to his country, and when he could no
longer serve his country, he devoted himself to improving the lives of
his fellow veterans.
I have seen it firsthand. I consider myself fortunate to have known
him as a friend, and I am grateful for the things he helped us--in my
office and others--do to accomplish things for veterans in northern
California.
John was tough, even a little scary, especially if he thought you
weren't being true to what you were saying you would do. But if you
were, you wouldn't have a stronger ally than Major John Cleckner in
what we pursue to help our veterans, to help our Nation be strong, to
be true.
His commitment has only strengthened my own resolve to further some
of the initiatives he started and we have helped with and to never stop
fighting for our veterans who deserve it.
I thank John for his service, his sacrifice, his dedication. We will
miss him in northern California but will ensure his legacy lives on
through our efforts--all of us--to help our veterans, to help our
Nation remain strong.
God bless Major John Cleckner, his faithful wife, Doris, his amazing
family, and all that he has ever had touch with during his life of
service to his nation and to his brothers.
____________________