[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E872-E873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING A FALLEN HERO, SLURRY BOMBER PILOT DONALD A. GOODMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, in July of 1976 a 900 acre wild fire ripped 
through the Battlement Creek area of Western Colorado. During the 
blaze, four brave forest service firefighters from different parts of 
the country were killed while trying to knock out one of the deadliest 
forest fires in recent memory. On July 21st of 2001, these four men 
will be honored at the opening of a memorial to be dedicated in their 
memory. I ask that Congress take a moment to honor these four men for 
giving their lives in the line of duty.
  The four-day blaze which claimed the lives of three hotshot 
firefighters and one pilot was started by lightning, and took nearly 
300 fire fighters to squelch the blaze. Fifty-nine year old Donald A. 
Goodman was born in Okangan, Washington and raised in McCall, Idaho. 
While he was in high school, he learned how to fly from Clare Hartnett. 
After he turned 23, Donald was drafted into the Army. While in the Army 
he served in the ski troops 10th Mountain Division, A CO 87th , E CO 
87th. Donald saw action in the Aleutians on Kiska and later in Italy. 
After he was discharged, Donald went to work for Johnson's Flying 
Service in Missoula, Montana prior to

[[Page E873]]

starting his own company. Donald owned 2 converted B-26 Bombers which 
he flew for the US Forest Service.
  On the Morning of July 16, 1976, Donald was on a slurry run when his 
B-26 struck a high mountain cliff near the fire as it was starting its 
sweep into the fire to drop a load of retardant. Donald was protecting 
Federal BLM lands at the time of his death.
  Mr. Speaker, four men gave their lives protecting Federal land during 
the Battlement Creek fire in July of 1976. Donald A. Goodman and his 
crew will be honored by the citizens of the Battlement Creek area for 
their courage and bravery. I would ask that Congress honor them and 
thank them for their work.
  Don's family should be proud of what he accomplished in his life and 
what he did for the people of Battlement Creek.

                          ____________________