[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 9 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E118-E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO COLONEL PETER T. BENTLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2002

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication to the community and to the overall well-
being of California's Inland Empire and the Nation is unparalleled--
Colonel Peter T. Bentley.
  Calvin Coolidge, America's 13th President, once said, ``Patriotism is 
easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by 
looking out for your country.'' On Saturday February 9th 2002, Colonel 
Bentley will be honored for over 30 years of distinguished military 
service in which he dedicated his career in protecting fellow 
Americans.
  Colonel Bentley is the outgoing commander of the Air Force Reserve 
Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve base in 
Riverside California. The wing is the Air Force Reserve's only unit-
equipped air mobility wing with 18 C-141Cs, 10 KC-135Rs and more than 
4,000 reservists.
  With true valor and love of country, Colonel Bentley voluntarily 
enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1970 through Officer 
Training School in Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He has served in a 
variety of flying, command and staff positions throughout his career in 
the Air Force and Air Force Reserve. He is a command pilot with more 
than 8,000 hours in air

[[Page E119]]

refueling, cargo and troop transport aircraft. Colonel Bentley is a 
veteran of the Southeast Asia conflict having flown 60 combat hours 
there,.
  Throughout his career, Colonel Bentley earned numerous medals some of 
which include the Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, 
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal with service star and the Vietnam Service Medal. 
His commitment to service and the protection of America and her 
citizens is an example of the greatness that exists within this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, in my district of Riverside, California we are fortunate 
to have dynamic and dedicated individuals who give unselfishly of their 
time, talents and their lives to ensure the well-being of our city, 
state, nation and in Colonel Peter T. Bentley's case--world.

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