[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATING CAPTAIN JOHN CHERREY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 31, 2000

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate U.S. Air Force 
Captain John A. Cherrey on being chosen for recognition by President 
Clinton at this year's State of the Union Address, Captain Cherrey, a 
New Jersey native, is one of the most courageous, honorable patriots in 
the United States military and is destined to become a top leader among 
the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend the 
precious freedoms of this great nation.
  In a wonderful tradition initiated by President Reagan in 1981, 
Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton have recognized one or more 
American heroes each year during their annual report to Congress.
  Captain Cherrey was chosen for that high honor this year because of 
the extraordinary bravery he exhibited after an F-117 Stealth fighter 
was shot down near Novi Sad, Serbia, last March and its American pilot 
was stranded in hostile Serbian territory. Captain Cherrey, flying a 
single-seat A-10 attack fighter as combat search and rescue mission 
commander, led five other pilots past Serbian ground missiles to locate 
the pilot, and protect him until helicopters could arrive and carry him 
to safety. During the mission, Captain Cherrey was repeatedly targeted 
by missile installations, threatened by enemy aircraft and had to 
purposely maneuver into range of the missiles in order to lead the 
enemy away from the downed pilot. Despite being critically low on fuel 
and in danger of being shot down himself, Captain Cherrey remained on 
the scene until the downed pilot was safe.
  Captain Cherrey's bravery in that incident won him the Silver Star, 
the nation's third-highest military honor. The captain ``distinguished 
himself by gallantry,'' his superiors said in the citation accompanying 
the medal. The 33-year-old father of two ``flew into the teeth of the 
Serbian air defenses * * * at extreme risk to his life * * * with 
impeccable courage. * * * By his gallantry and devotion to duty, 
Captain Cherrey has reflected great credit upon himself and the United 
States Air Force.''
  The Silver Star is the crowing achievement in an exemplary military 
career. Captain Cherrey received the Distinguished Flying Cross for 
stopping three convoys of armored vehicles while under fire in western 
Kosovo, also last year. He has also been awarded the Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Air Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Aerial 
Achievement Medal (nine oak leaf clusters), the Commendation Medal (one 
oak leaf cluster) and the Achievement Medal.
  As a senior pilot with more than 2,250 hours of fighter experience, 
he has flown more than 150 contingency sorties over Korea, Kuwait and 
Bosnia, and more than 30 combat sorties over Serbia and Kosovo. He has 
served as a flight instructor and test pilot and is currently assistant 
director of operations at the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air 
Base in Germany. As such, his duties include supervising the 
intelligence, weapons and tactics, and mission-planning activities of 
the Air Force's only A/OA-10 squadron in Europe.
  In recognition of his achievements, Captain Cherrey has been chosen 
for promotion to the rank of Major next month.
  Leaders such as Captain Cherrey are trained and nurtured by the 
military, but the basis of their leadership ability is rooted in their 
families and upbringing. Captain Cherrey is the son of James Cherrey, a 
teacher, and the Rev. Heather Cherrey, pastor of St. Paul's 
Congregational Church in Nutley. The Rev. Cherrey follows politics, 
especially foreign affairs, closely, and has written to me regularly on 
subjects such as deployment of U.S. troops to Bosnia and Haiti. The 
Cherrey's clearly instilled a sense of patriotism and courage in their 
son, whose military accomplishments have made them justly proud.
  Born in Englewood, Captain Cherrey was raised in Dumont and graduated 
from Dumont High School. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology on 
an ROTC scholarship, graduating with a bachelor's degree in engineering 
physics before starting active duty in 1989.
  Mr. Speaker, retention of the best and brightest has become a serious 
problem in the military. These highly trained, highly talented experts 
excel in their fields and often love their military jobs--yet they know 
they could provide a more prosperous, more stable life for their 
families in the private sector. National heroes like Captain Cherrey 
are no exception.
  While Captain Cherrey was in Washington for the State of the Union 
Address, his wife, Lisa, remained behind in Germany with their 4-year-
old son, Andrew, and 9-month-old daughter, Jenna. Like many members of 
the military, deployments and temporary duty assignments have caused 
Captain Cherrey to endure long separations from his family, a situation 
particularly painful for those with young children at home. While these 
separations are a fact of military life, we in Congress must do all we 
can to ensure that military families are provided with decent housing, 
schools, services, and other amenities that help in a small way to make 
up for the absence of their loved ones. As John Milton said, ``They 
also serve who * * * stand and wait.''
  Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the men and women of our armed forces 
and owe them our full support. I ask my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating Captain John Cherrey and 
in pledging him and his fellow airmen, sailors, soldiers and marines 
that support.

                          ____________________