October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2201 

In early 1943, the U.S. Government offered 

draft eligible men the opportunity to enlist into 

the military and a way out of the camps. Mr. 

Haratani accepted this offer by pledging his 

loyalty to the U.S. Government and renounced 

loyalty to the Japanese emperor. After training, Mr. Haratani was assigned to the 442nd 

Regimental Combat Team and fought in the 

European theater. He was placed in a unit that 

consisted solely of Japanese-American soldiers fighting under Caucasian officers. This 

unit became the most decorated unit for its 

size in the history of the U.S. Army. The 

442nd fought along the Italian border then 

moved into France. In France, they helped to 

liberate the town of Bruyeres. Mr. Haratani escaped the war uninjured; he returned to Livingston, CA and resumed attending classes at 

Modesto Junior College. 

In 1946, Mr. Haratani met Amy and in October 1948, they were married. Shortly after 

their wedding, he was accepted into Stanford 

University and attended with full funding from 

the G.I. Bill. He graduated with a degree in 

civil engineering and earned a master’s degree for the University of California at Berkeley in sanitary engineering. After school, Mr. 

Haratani accepted a position with the California Department of Water Resources. Just 3 

years later he was approached by the U.S. 

Agency for International Development to assist 

with humanitarian services abroad. Mr. 

Haratani, his wife, and their 1-year-old son 

packed up and headed for Bolivia to work on 

improving local water sanitation. He worked in 

Bolivia (where their second son was born), in 

Nicaragua for 2 years and Vietnam. He was 

transferred to Vietnam in mid-1961. 

Upon arriving in Vietnam there were about 

55 Army advisors there, according to Mr. 

Haratani. Soon after he arrived, so did the 

troops; President John F. Kennedy made the 

decision to send 15,000 troops into Vietnam. 

Mr. Haratani maintained his position in Vietnam and avoided ground fire by flying to the 

rural provinces that he was assisting. His third 

son was born in Saigon. In 1963, Mr. Haratani 

was called back to the United States but soon 

joined the Peace Corps and was off again; 

this time he went alone. In the Peace Corps 

he joined the staff covering the western coast 

of South America. He was soon promoted to 

the director of the Ecuador operation. Two 

years after he joined the Peace Corps, they 

began allowing families with children to serve 

as volunteers. He resigned as country director 

and signed up his entire family for service. 

The Haratani family was assigned to the 

Galapagos Islands. He assisted in building a 

new water system and in expanding the area’s 

electrical capability. Mrs. Haratani taught 

English at a grammar school, worked as a librarian at Darwin Research Station, and assisted in family planning. After 2 years, the 

family’s assignment was complete. They returned to the U.S. and moved into a family 

hunting cabin in Columbia, CA. Mrs. Haratani 

began to work at Columbia College, and Mr. 

Haratani worked for the U.S. Forest Service 

from 1973 to 1978. In 1978, he was called 

back to USAID. He spent 4 years in the Middle East evaluating sanitary engineering 

projects. In 1983 Mr. Haratani retired, although 

he did remain a consultant for over 10 years. 

As a consultant he traveled to Yemen, Egypt, 

Chad, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, the Gaza 

Strip, Ethiopia, and Central America. Today, 

Mr. and Mrs. Haratani live in Sonora, CA. 

Their three sons and two grandchildren live 

throughout California. Mr. Haratani is living a 

peaceful and relaxing life for the first time 

ever. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and thank Joe Haratani for his commitment to this Nation. I invite my colleagues to 

join me in wishing Mr. Haratani many more 

happy years of retirement. 

f 

HONORING GAIGE HARRY POPE 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Gaige Harry Pope of Blue 

Springs, Missouri. Gaige is a very special 

young man who has exemplified the finest 

qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1603, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Gaige has been very active with his troop, 

participating in many Scout activities. Over the 

many years Gaige has been involved with 

Scouting, he has not only earned numerous 

merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. 

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join 

me in commending Gaige Harry Pope for his 

accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of 

America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout. 

f 

HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 

RABBI SOLOMON SCHIFF 

HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I 

would like to honor one of south Florida’s 

most distinguished residents, Rabbi Solomon 

Schiff. For more than 40 years, Rabbi Schiff 

has dedicated his efforts to increasing and 

strengthening interfaith cooperation in south 

Florida. 

Due to his service and his undying commitment to our community, he will be awarded 

the Papal Medal Benemerenti by Pope Benedict XVI. This prestigious award was instituted 

by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832. The medal is 

awarded to recognize those individuals who 

have helped foster outstanding interfaith collaboration with the Catholic church. 

Rabbi Schiff served as executive vice president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater 

Miami for 42 years before retiring in 2006. He 

has also worked as staff chaplain for patients 

of all faiths at Mount Sinai Medical Center in 

Miami Beach. His devotion to his work led him 

to serve as Chairman of the Dade County 

Community Relations Board and as President 

of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. 

Rabbi Schiff’s guidance and expertise on 

interfaith cooperation earned him appearances 

on CBS’s ‘‘60 Minutes’’ and NBC’s ‘‘Nightline’’ 

news magazine shows. His love for people of 

all faiths and his conviction that common 

ground can be found among all is an example 

for us all. I am blessed to have him represent 

my district, but even more grateful to call him 

a friend. 

f 

HONORING THE SERVICE AND 

RETIREMENT OF JIM WILSON 

HON. BART GORDON 

OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam 

Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service 

of a valued staff member—Dr. James Wilson—who will retire at the end of this year 

from the staff of the Committee on Science 

and Technology. As the staff director of the 

Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, Jim’s expertise and wisdom on issues 

of science and research policy and the federal 

role in science and math education are unmatched. 

Jim has served on the professional staff of 

the Committee since 1987. In his 21 years of 

service on the committee he has ably supported the oversight and authorization of the 

National Science Foundation; the U.S. Fire 

Administration; the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program; and K–12, undergraduate, and graduate science, mathematics, 

engineering, and technology education programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. He 

has also played key roles in the committee’s 

work on nanotechnology, high performance 

computing and communications, and information systems security. Moreover, Jim played a 

very important role in the formulation of the 

America COMPETES Act—an initiative enacted into law last year that will go a long way 

towards fostering increased investment in innovation and improve the competitiveness of 

the U.S. Jim’s contributions were instrumental 

in making it a good and effective piece of legislation. 

Before coming to the Hill, Jim, who has a 

Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from West Virginia University, managed research programs 

in fluid dynamics at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in Washington, DC, and 

served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force at 

the Flight Dynamics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 

Madam Speaker, Jim’s dry wit, thoughtful 

approach to policy, institutional knowledge, 

and general unflappability have made him a 

valued member of the committee staff. I know 

that all of the Science and Technology Committee’s Members and staff wish him and his 

wife Sandra well as he moves on to a well-deserved retirement. With his love of tennis, travel, driving his Porsche, and enjoyment of the 

area’s cultural offerings, I know that he will not 

be bored once he leaves the Hill. In closing, 

I just want to say thank you, Jim, for your 

many years of dedicated and loyal service. 

We will miss you. 


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