[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING WAYNE AND JO HITCHCOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 2003

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two wonderful 
individuals who dedicated their lives to defending America and helping 
those who fought for our freedom.
  Wayne and Jo Hitchcock were long-time constituents and close friends 
of mine. Wayne was an Army Air Corps tail gunner who flew missions over 
Hungary during World War II. He was shot down during his 14th mission 
and subsequently spent 13 months as a prisoner-of-war in Stalag 17B, 
which was liberated by Patton's Third Army in May of 1945. Wayne 
received the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf, the European Campaign Medal 
with four stars, and the Prisoner of War Medal for his heroism.
  Wayne returned to his native Indiana after the war and became a 
homebuilder, land developer, and real estate broker. He also returned 
to government service and retired after serving as a postmaster for 23 
years. He then moved to Florida where he and Jo devoted themselves to 
helping ex-prisoners of war.
  I met Wayne and Jo before I was first elected to Congress. I am glad 
I did. They helped educate me about the many issues important to those 
who served our country in uniform, especially ex-prisoners of war. They 
brought to my attention an inequity which penalized the survivors of 
veterans who were completely disabled at the time of their deaths but 
whose deaths were not the result of their service-connected disability. 
To receive the benefits to which they were entitled, these widows had 
to meet requirements far above those of their counterparts whose 
husbands died as a result of their service-connected disability. I 
introduced legislation, which eventually became law, to fix this 
problem after Wayne and Jo brought it to my attention.
  Wayne and Jo were actively involved with the American Ex-Prisoners of 
War, serving on various committees and posts at the department. Wayne 
eventually served as the Senior Vice Commander and as the National 
Legislative Chairman and Legislative Reporter. He became National 
Commander in 1997. He also was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans.
  In addition to their work for ex-prisoners of war, Wayne and Jo also 
were very active in many volunteer and charitable organizations in the 
community. Wayne was a forty-year member of Lions International and was 
Boy Scout Master for more than 20 years. Jo spent her time running from 
meeting to meeting of the many charitable organizations to which she 
belonged. After Wayne's death in 1999, she also served as president of 
a local Ex-POW chapter until her death earlier this year.
  Mr. Speaker, Wayne and Jo Hitchcock were two outstanding individuals 
who loved their country and those who fought for it. They made this 
country better for ex-prisoners of war and for the many people with 
whom they came into contact. I miss them both, as do the many people 
who are forever indebted to them.

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