May 3, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 949

commander of the 7440th Combat Wing. The

General flew combat missions over Iraq in the

F4G Phanton II Advanced ‘‘Wild Weasel.’’

In his years in the Air Force, General

Peksens has a long history of command. He

served as commander of the joint U.S. Air

Force/U.S. Army in Europe Warrior Preparation Center, the largest computer war gaming

facility in the world. From July 1988 to July

1989, General Peksens commanded the 26th

Reconnaissance Wing in Zweibrucken, Germany. Under his command, the wing won the

annual world-wide reconnaissance competition. From July 1989 to July 1991, he commanded the 52nd Fighter Wing ‘‘Wild Weasels’’ at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

During this period, the 52nd Fighter Wing deployed early and contributed significant resources to our Nation’s combat operations in

the Persian Gulf war. From September 1992

to July 1994, General Peksens commanded

the 410th Bomb Wing at K.I. Sawyer Air Force

Base in my district in Northern Michigan. During that period of time, the wing won the U.S.

Strategic Command’s first Omaha Trophy as

the best flying unit in that command.

General Peksens currently serves as the director of Strategy, Policy and Plans for the

U.S. Southern Command in Panama. In this

capacity, he is responsible for formulating the

long range strategy for achieving U.S. military

objectives in Latin America.

General Peksens has been recognized repeatedly for his work and valor. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the

Bronze Star and the Air Medal with nine oak

leaf clusters.

I came to know General Peksens when he

served at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. As the

commander of K.I. Sawyer, General Peksens

presided over the base at the time that it was

announced for closure by the Base Closure

and Realignment Commission. Understandably, this was a painful, difficult time for the

residents of the Marquette area. Through

these rough times, General Peksens was always there for the community, to give his advise, time and assistance. To this day, people

in Marquette still speak of his commitment and

caring for the area and its residents. The General’s devotion and hard work earned him the

respect and genuine affection of virtually every

person in the Marquette/Gwinn area. He was

at all times, a caring and competent professional who personally and professionally reflected the highest standards and the greatest

credit on him and the U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Speaker, General Peksens is retiring

this year after nearly 30 years of distinguished

service to this Nation. Serving in our Nation’s

Armed Forces is not an easy vocation. It is difficult, dangerous work where one can be

called upon to work in an office one day, and

to risk your life in combat the next. The tremendous sacrifices of these military officers

and their families are inspiring. In peace and

war, General Peksens has given of himself for

the benefit of this country. I am proud to know

him, to call him a friend, to say that this Nation

owes him a debt of gratitude.

While we northern Michiganites will miss

General Peksens, we want to take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude for a job

well done and wish him and his wife, Ruthi,

well in all of their future endeavors.

TRIBUTE TO LAKEVIS COLEMAN: A

TRUE HERO

HON. CARRIE P. MEEK OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 3, 1995

Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want

to express my personal congratulations and

the thanks of our community to Lakevis Coleman of Miami, a young man who is a true

American hero.

In November 1993, Lakevis Coleman heard

someone crying and went to investigate. He

saw that a 5-year-old girl had been assaulted

and sprang into action, grabbed her attacker,

held him until the Metro-Dade police arrived

and then testified against him in court. Because of his efforts, a child molester was convicted of kidnapping and sexual battery and

sentenced to life in prison.

Our community is safer today because Mr.

Coleman—only 19 years of age—cared

enough and had the presence of mind to help

a defenseless child who was totally incapable

of helping herself. By doing so, Mr. Coleman

reaffirmed what is best in our community, and

I know that my colleagues join me in recognizing his extremely important contribution.

I want to share with my colleagues an article on Lakevis Coleman that appeared in the

Miami Herald.

HERO HELPS DELIVER JUSTICE

(By Manny Garcia)

Lakevis Coleman helped send a rapist to

prison this week. He is not a police officer or

a prosecutor, just a South Dade resident who

saw a child being assaulted, grabbed her

attacker, held him for police and then testified against him.

‘‘A real hero,’’ said Windy Johnston, chief

of the Dade state attorney’s office Sexual

Battery Unit.

Coleman was the only eyewitness who

could identify James Thomas as the man

who raped the child in a wooded area, after

luring her there with offers of candy. The 5-

year-old girl, an elementary school student

from Goulds, testified in court but could not

identify Thomas, even though he sat 20 feet

away.

Without Coleman, ‘‘it would have been

hard to win,’’ said Johnston, who prosecuted

the case with David Shapiro.

Coleman, 19, downplayed his role.

‘‘It could have been my little sister or

cousin,’’ he said. ‘‘If someone sees a crime,

they should get involved and offer a helping

hand.’’

It doesn’t always happen that way. Just

down the block from where the rape occurred, a Naples contractor was shot and

paralyzed during a robbery in broad daylight. Only one person initially came forward

to testify in that case, but she later backed

down. The case remains in limbo.

‘‘You have to get involved,’’ Coleman said.

‘‘It’s the only way to protect your community.’’

Coleman, who waxes cars for a living,

helped his community at about 9:30 a.m. on

Nov. 19, 1993.

‘‘I was laying on the sofa watching TV,’’

Coleman said. ‘‘I had a friend over and she

heard someone crying. I didn’t pay any attention.’’

But the crying did not stop, so Coleman

stood up and walked outside. He saw the victim’s 7-year-old sister running from the

bushes, pointing at the ground and screaming for help. Coleman saw Thomas trying to

pull up his pants.

‘‘What are you doing?’’ Coleman yelled,

fast-walking toward Thomas.

‘‘Nothing.’’ Thomas responded.

A few feet later, Coleman arrived: ‘‘I saw

the little girl. She didn’t have anything on

but a top.

‘‘I looked at him. He looked at me. He

tried to run. I grabbed him and threw him on

the ground.’’

‘‘I didn’t do anything,’’ Thomas insisted.

‘‘Then why is she crying?’’ asked Coleman.

Coleman told his friend to dial 911.

By then, word of the attack had spread

around the neighborhood and an angry crowd

surrounded Thomas. They wanted a piece of

him before police arrived.

‘‘They wanted to hurt him. I wanted to do

it myself,’’ said Coleman, who shielded

Thomas from the crowd, urging them to let

justice take its course.

Metro-Dade officers arrived two minutes

later and hauled Thomas away. Paramedics

took the girl to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s

Rape Treatment Center.

‘‘He cut me. He cut me,’’ she told doctors.

Her injuries required surgery.

On Thursday, Coleman told his story to a

four-woman, two-man jury. On Friday, the

jury ordered lunch and, between bites of

their sandwiches, convicted Thomas, 26, of

kidnapping and sexual battery on a child

under 12. Circuit Judge Fredericks Smith

sentenced him to life in prison.

‘‘He got what he deserved,’’ said Coleman,

who hopes to one day become a Dade County

corrections officer. ‘‘I wasn’t going to let

him get away.’’

REMEMBERING A HERO—MAJ.

GEN. GLENN A. PROFITT II

f

HON. HAROLD ROGERS OF KENTUCKY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 3, 1995

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, the people of

Kentucky and the Nation lost a war hero and

humble servant when Air Force Maj. Gen.

Glenn A. Profitt II died tragically in a plane

crash in Alabama on April 17.

A native of Corbin, KY, General Profitt was

director of plans and operations for the Air

Education and Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.

Profitt was in charge of jet pilot training, survival training and combat training for airlift,

fighter, tanker and special operations crews.

During his 31 years of service in the Air

Force, he served in Vietnam and Desert Storm

receiving numerous awards and decorations,

including the Distinguished Service Medal, the

Distinguished Flying Cross with six oak leaf

clusters, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf

clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal

with 29 oak leaf clusters and a bronze service

star, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and

the Combat Readiness Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

In Southeast Asia, General Profitt flew nearly 500 combat missions, serving almost 4

years in the region.

And, in Desert Storm, General Profitt was

commander of the 15th Air Division, where he

is credited with designing and implementing

the most destructive air strike in history. Shortly after his successful tour in Desert Storm, he

was promoted to Major General in 1992.
E 950 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 3, 1995

The general was commissioned through the

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Purdue University in 1964. He also received a masters degree from Webster University in Missouri and degrees from the

Armed Forces Staff College and the prestigious National War College in Washington,

DC.

General Profitt’s father, Glenn Profitt, served

as the city manager of Corbin in the 1970’s

and many of his relatives still live in our area.

I am proud of Maj. Gen. Glenn A. Profitt II.

He placed his life in harm’s way to protect and

defend his country. Then, he led a new generation into battle nearly two decades later. He

gave his career to the United States Air Force,

and his service must always be remembered.