[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1210-H1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL PAUL G. UNDERWOOD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in honor of a great American, 
an American who has returned home to be buried in his beloved country. 
Colonel Paul G. Underwood was not only a great American, he was also a 
beloved son, a brother, a husband, father and friend, who served our 
Nation as a brave pilot and who ultimately made the supreme sacrifice 
in the name of freedom.
  Colonel Underwood began his military career by enlisting in the 
United States Marine Corps Reserve and then later transferring to the 
Air Corps. After attending school at Northrop Aeronautical School, he 
joined the Air Force where his flying duties led him to the F-105 
Thunderchief.
  Through the course of his distinguished military career, Colonel 
Underwood earned a number of awards; including the Distinguished Flying 
Cross, an Air Medal with four Oak Leaf

[[Page H1211]]

Clusters, a World War II Victory Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal and a 
Purple Heart.
  Prior to 1966, his war service to our Nation included World War II 
and Korea, with 201 combat missions. In January of that year, Colonel 
Underwood was deployed to Vietnam from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 
in eastern North Carolina. While there, he bravely and nobly performed 
22 combat missions.
  Unfortunately, on March 18th, 1966, Colonel Underwood's F-105 
Thunderchief was shot down. He was then listed MIA for 12 long years 
and was ultimately declared dead. The Underwood family was forced to 
suffer not only with a tremendous and almost unbearable loss, but also 
with a great deal of uncertainty. It was not until recently that 
Colonel Underwood's remains were recovered in North Vietnam.
  Yesterday, 32 years to the date of his death, I had the honor and 
privilege to have the humbling experience of attending Colonel 
Underwood's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Speaker, I 
cannot express in words what this experience meant to me. So many, far 
too many, young Americans have been seriously wounded and have even 
given their lives for this country. So many families have suffered.
  I would like to take this opportunity tonight to recognize and honor 
Colonel Underwood and his family and all those who have sacrificed and 
have either lost their own lives or lost a loved one in service to this 
Nation.

                              {time}  1845

  Ms. Gloria Underwood is a role model to us all. She is a remarkably 
strong person who, despite suffering through an almost unbelievable 
ordeal for 32 years now, managed to rise above many difficulties and to 
raise a fine family. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for 
including me in yesterday's very special service.
  I would like also to remind the Underwoods and all families who have 
faced similar tragedies that, as sorrowful and difficult as the loss of 
a loved one in service must be, it is not in vain; it is for America 
and for all her future generations. Brave soldiers like Colonel 
Underwood are the Nation's strength.
  The words are best expressed in the following lines written by Ralph 
Waldo Emerson in his poem, ``A Nation's Strength,'' and I quote,

       Not gold but only men can make a people great and strong; 
     men who for truth and honor's sake stand fast and suffer 
     long. Brave men who work while others sleep, who dare while 
     others fly, they build a nation's pillars deep and lift them 
     to the sky.

  Mr. Speaker, an American hero has returned home to his family and a 
grateful nation to take his place among the many war heroes that are 
buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He rose and fought and died for 
the many freedoms that we too many times take for granted.
  I salute Colonel Paul Underwood, a true American hero, and his family 
and all those who have fought and died and suffered loss in the name of 
freedom. The men like Colonel Underwood have truly given this Nation 
its strength. Let us never forget their sacrifices, Mr. Speaker. And 
God bless America.

                          ____________________