[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JAMES McDEVITT

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, today I want to recognize James A. 
McDevitt, who has just been promoted to brigadier general in the 
Washington Air National Guard. I take special pleasure in offering my 
congratulations because Jim is a friend and former colleague; for 5 
years, he worked for me in the State attorney general's office as 
assistant attorney general. He is also my frequent host when I go to 
Spokane to run in the wonderful Bloomsday race.
  Jim has served this country for three decades. He was trained as a 
navigator and bombardier, and went on to serve as a weapons systems 
officer and flight examiner in the late 1960's and early 1970's. His 
assignments took him to Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, Germany, and 
England.
  In January 1971, Jim joined the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 
Washington Air National Guard, as a radar intercept officer in the F-
101. When the unit converted to KC-135 Air Refueling aircraft, he 
became a navigator and has maintained that qualification since.
  At the time of the gulf war, Jim was the squadron commander of the 
116th Air Refueling Squadron. When hostilities broke out in August 
1990, Jim and a group of Washington flyers volunteered for 30-day 
active duty tours. As the Nation faced a new crisis in the Middle East, 
the Guard stepped up. At first, most of their duties involved ferrying 
material from one air base to another, within the United States. Our 
victory in the gulf was due in no small part to the magnificent logical 
prowess of the U.S. Armed Services, and Jim contributed to America's 
success.
  Throughout the months leading to actual combat, Jim continued 
volunteering for active duty work, making 2-week rotations all through 
September, October, and November. Jim's active duty call up came on 
December 20, 1990. Along with 325 brave men and women from the Spokane 
area, Jim deployed to the gulf region to be absorbed in the active duty 
Air Force. Half of Jim's squadron went to Cairo, Egypt. The other half, 
including Jim, flew to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to join with active duty 
components. It is important to note here the adaptability of our Guard 
forces. With superior training and total dedication, the Washington 
State Air National Guard linked with the regular Air Force to form an 
active duty squadron--the 1709th Air Refueling Squadron provisional. 
Jim not surprisingly, was second in command.
  With bankers, teachers, lawyers, housewives, contractors, judges, and 
active duty personnel, this squadron represented 50 airplanes, 80 
crews, and 320 crew members for 8 different States. Home based in 
Jeddah, from the December 31 to January 15, 1991, Jim and his team 
planned now they were going to wage a war. They planned well.
  As he tells it, the morning of January 16, 1991--the start of the 
war--was the most difficult day in Jim's life. Commanding officers were 
prohibited from flying in sorties during the first missions. So Jim had 
to wait and pray that his comrades, men and women he had flown with for 
25 years, would come back safely. Of course they all performed 
brilliantly, as did Jim, and this Nation is better off for their hard 
work and patriotism.

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