2001 -- S 1039

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LC03679
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EXTENDING SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF CHARLES S. WHITEHOUSE

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

WHEREAS, It is with deep regret and sadness that we have learned of the passing of former United States Ambassador, Charles S. Whitehouse; and

WHEREAS, Former Ambassador to Laos and Thailand and father of Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, Charles S. Whitehouse was born in Paris. He attended Yale University but left to volunteer for military service during World War II. He attended the Navy's Pre-flight School and became a dive bomber pilot with the Marine Corps. A decorated member of the United States Military in the Pacific war zone, Mr. Whitehouse received 21 Air Medals and 7 Distinguished Flying Crosses; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Yale in 1947, Mr. Whitehouse joined the Central Intelligence Agency. He moved to the Department of State in 1956 to serve as Assistant to the Undersecretary for Economic Affairs. In 1959, he became a foreign service officer. He later became the State Department's Congo Desk Officer and on staff of the Department's Office of Personnel; and

WHEREAS, Ambassador Whitehouse graduated from the National War College in 1966 and became Deputy Chief of Mission in Conakry, Guinea until 1969; and

WHEREAS, Ambassador Whitehouse served two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his first tour, he was Deputy for Civil Operations and Rural Development Support. He returned to Washington in 1971 to become Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian Affairs and returned to Vietnam in 1972 as Deputy Ambassador. Later that year he became United States Ambassador to Laos and, in 1974, was named Ambassador to Thailand. He was part of the United States delegation on Vietnam Peace Talks in Paris; and

WHEREAS, Ambassador Whitehouse has been recognized numerous times for distinguished service to the United States. These awards include: the State Department's Superior Honor Award, the Agency for International Development Distinguished Honor Award, and the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award. He was a member of the French Legion of Honor; and

WHEREAS, After his retirement from the Foreign Service in August 1978, Ambassador Whitehouse served as President of the American Foreign Service Association and Chairman of Lycee Rochambeau of Bethesda, Maryland. He later became Chairman of the Piedmont Environmental Council in Warrenton, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Ambassador Whitehouse was an avid horseman and Joint Master, who enjoyed the sport of fox hunting with the Orange County Hunt; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Janet Whitehouse, and to all members of the Whitehouse and Grayson families, and that Ambassador Charles S. Whitehouse will forever be remembered by this entire membership for his outstanding commitment and absolute dedication to the United States of America; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Janet Whitehouse.