[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S324-S325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Smith):
  S. 2039. A bill to waive time limitations specified by law in order 
to allow the Medal of Honor to be awarded posthumously to Rex T. Barber 
of Terrebonne, Oregon, for acts of valor during World War II in 
attacking and shooting down the enemy aircraft transporting Japanese 
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senator Smith 
in introducing a bill to waive all statutory time limitations so that 
Colonel Rex T. Barber, of Terrebonne, OR may be posthumously awarded a 
Medal of Honor.
  Colonel Rex T. Barber was a World War II fighter pilot who risked his 
life to shoot down Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander in Chief of 
the Combined Japanese Fleet and architect of the attack on Pearl 
Harbor.
  Our bill not only waives the statutory time limitations applying to 
the Medal of Honor, but also requests that the President posthumously 
award the medal to this deserving man.
  On April 18, 1943, Barber, then a first lieutenant in the 399th 
Fighter Squadron of the South Pacific Air Forces, Army Air Corps, 
undertook a top secret mission to shoot down Yamamoto. Barber 
successfully attacked a bomber transporting Yamamoto despite heavy 
counterattacks by Japanese fighters escorting the admiral. Upon return 
to base, Barber found more than 100 holes in his aircraft. Admiral 
Yamamoto's plane crashed in flames, killing Yamamoto and his crew.
  This brave exploit of Colonel Barber is well-documented, and I look 
forward to working with my colleagues in the Oregon delegation, the 
Congress, and ultimately the President, to see that his bravery is 
formally recognized.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2039

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO REX 
                   T. BARBER FOR VALOR DURING WORLD WAR II.

       (a) Waiver of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding the time 
     limitations in section 3744 of title 10, United States Code, 
     or any other time limitation applicable with respect to the 
     awarding of certain medals to

[[Page S325]]

     persons who served in the Air Force, the President is 
     authorized and requested to award the Medal of Honor 
     posthumously under section 3741 of that title to Colonel 
     (retired) Rex T. Barber, United States Air Force, of 
     Terrebonne, Oregon, for the acts of valor referred to in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Action Described.--The acts of valor referred to in 
     subsection (a) are the conspicuous acts of gallantry and 
     intrepidity of Rex T. Barber at the risk of his life and 
     beyond the call of duty on April 18, 1943, while serving as a 
     first lieutenant in the 339th Fighter Squadron of the South 
     Pacific Air Forces, Army Air Corps, in successfully attacking 
     and shooting down the enemy bomber aircraft transporting 
     Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander in Chief of the 
     Combined Japanese Fleet and architect of Japan's attack on 
     Pearl Harbor.

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