[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 125 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1757]]



                    NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 18, 1998

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call to the attention of my 
colleagues, the observance of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day. To 
commemorate this day, there will be an interservice flyover of the 
Pentagon & two of the four pilots hail from my state of North Dakota. 
Captain Jon Wutzke, and Major Michael Wobbema, will pilot two F-16s 
from the 199th Fighter Wing of the North Dakota Air National Guard.
  Otherwise known as the ``The Happy Hooligans'', this wing is one of 
the most proficient and decorated units in the U.S. military. It was 
the first Air National Guard Unit to fly in a NATO operation in 1986. 
In 1994 this group entered and won the William Tell Air Competition 
against fighter squadrons from around the world. Captain ``Moose'' 
Wutzke and Major ``Beamer`` Wobbema, will help focus the attention of 
our nation on the over 85,000 military personnel who have been taken 
Prisoner of War or became Missing in Action since the beginning of 
World War II. I've included their call names because this identifies 
them as more than just military personnel with a rank, but individuals 
with personalities.
  The flight formation used in this event is the ``Missing Man'' 
formation in which the number three position flown by our Major Wobbema 
draws attention to those who have not returned. Having said that, we 
must not forget those who cannot experience the things we take for 
granted every day, our lives, our homes, our families and our country. 
These pilots are trying to remind us of the risk all our military 
personnel take so that we may continue our daily lives with safety and 
without fear.

                          ____________________