[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   A TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS E. DYER, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to Francis Dyer, a close friend and great man, who recently passed 
away.
  A longtime resident of Pennsylvania and the Seventh Congressional 
District, I have known Francis Dyer for many years and am proud to 
claim him as a friend. He was a true American hero, a World War II 
veteran, and a prisoner of war. I will miss him very much and I share 
the grief felt by his entire family, especially his loving wife, 
Teresa, his friends and all the people of Upper Darby.
  Francis E. Dyer, Sr. was born on September 29, 1922. The son of the 
late Francis W. and Frances P. McFate Dyer, Francis E. Dyer, Sr. 
graduated in 1940 from Darby High School and entered Temple University 
on a scholarship that same year. Two years later he enlisted in the 
Army and was stationed overseas in February 1944 with the 782d bomb 
squad, 465th bomb group of the 15th Air Force, based in Italy.
  When flying a mission to Freidrichshafen, Germany on August 3, 1944, 
his plane was one of eight from the 465th group that was shot down and 
Francis Dyer was only 1 of 3 survivors of the 10-man crew on his 
aircraft. He was captured the next day while trying to get to 
Switzerland and became a German prisoner of war. On February 6, 1945, 
when the Russian Army was approaching Stalag Luft IV, where he was 
imprisoned, the camp was evacuated and the prisoners began a march that 
lasted 86 days. Francis Dyer was liberated by the British Army on May 
2, 1945, 6 days before the war in Europe ended on May 8.
  Upon his return to the United States, Francis was married and 
subsequently discharged from the Army in October 1945. He returned to 
Temple University and was graduated in 1948. He never forgot his past, 
however, and became a great fighting force in veteran affairs. He was a 
life member and past commander of a number of notable veterans groups 
such as the Tri-State Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War, the 
Prisoner of War Memorial Post 5999, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 
Colonel A.J. Campbell Chapter 19, and the Disabled American Veterans. 
He also belonged to the Delaware County Veterans Council for 12 years 
and served a year as commander of that unit.
  Several generations have benefited from his undeniable spirit and 
compassion. My heart goes out to his 7 children, 2 stepchildren, 19 
grandchildren, and 2 stepgrandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise 
today to honor this great man. My district has lost a tremendous human 
being and a great contributor to veteran's affairs. His life was lived 
to its fullest and he will be remembered by all who were fortunate to 
have known him.

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