[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S8492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       TRIBUTE TO GEN. JOHN MICHAEL LOH, USAF, ON HIS RETIREMENT

  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, today I want to recognize Gen. John Michael 
Loh for his 39 years of distinguished service to our Nation. General 
Loh has displayed exceptional leadership in a wide-ranging Air Force 
career that culminated as commander of the Air Combat Command. As a 
Georgian, I am proud to note that General Loh is a native of Macon, GA.
  General Loh graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy as a 
distinguished graduate in 1960. Ultimately, he rose to command the 
250,000 men and women of Air Combat Command
  General Loh is a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam war. He flew 
over 200 combat missions in the F-4 at Da Nang Air Force Base, South 
Vietnam. Later, General Loh also served as a test pilot, helping usher 
in the technological improvements we see in today's advanced fighters. 
As the director of the F-16 System Program Office, he led the 
acquisition efforts that brought our country the world's best multirole 
fighter.
  His numerous military awards and decorations include the 
Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air 
Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters.
  General Loh has flown over 5,000 hours as a command pilot in the F-
16, A-7, F-4, and F-104 to mention just a few. He recently capped his 
career by flying our Nation's most sophisticated aircraft--the B-2 
bomber. Perhaps his greatest feat, however, was in leading the 
successful merger of Strategic and Tactical Air Commands into Air 
Combat Command. In fact, the Air Force Association awarded him its 
highest military honor, the Hap Arnold Award, for his leadership of Air 
Combat Command and his national reputation for quality improvement. 
Vice President Gore singled out Air Combat Command as a shining example 
of reinventing government.
  Despite the significant changes in the Air Force and our military 
structure as a whole, General Loh leaves a command that performed 
brilliantly during and after the gulf war, and more recently, has 
responded quickly and effectively to contingency operations around the 
world.
  The United States is indebted to General Loh for his selfless and 
distinguished service. I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation for a 
job well done and wish General Loh and his wife, Barbara, continued 
success in the future.


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