[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       A TRIBUTE TO LARRY DIEMAND

                                 ______


                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 1994

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to recognize an 
extraordinary American. Larry Diemand, a father of two, manager of the 
Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and a member of the Air Force 
Reserves, seeing the atrocities in Bosnia, wanted to do something for 
the people of the war torn city of Sarajevo. This finalized into flying 
a C-130 cargo plane for a 16 day relief mission.
  Diemand, an Ohio University alumni, knew all his life that he wanted 
to fly. But just flying was not enough, he wanted to fly in the 
military. After taking the necessary written and physical exams Mr. 
Diemand was accepted into the military program and was shipped off to 
Alabama's Craig Air Force Base. After completing the required training, 
Diemand returned home to his job and family and simultaneously carried 
out both his civilian and military duties.
  After taking a brief hiatus from the reserves from 1979 to 1984, 
Diemand was back training to fly a new type of plane, the C-130 cargo 
plane. He continued to fly with the reserves, but it was not until this 
past year that Diemand saw an opportunity to utilize all of the skills 
and training that he had received the past 20 years. The opportunity 
was one of service to people in dire need of relief.
  Mr. Speaker, Larry Diemand's courage, and dedication to his country 
and the world community should be commended. Very few people would 
leave their comfortable lives and volunteer to fly in potentially 
dangerous situations to help the people of Bosnia. It is people like 
Larry who make me proud to be the representative of the fine people of 
Youngstown, OH. May God bless Mr. Diemand with health, happiness and 
continued success in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________