[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 26 (Wednesday, March 3, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING COLONEL JESSE THOMAS, COMMANDER, 167TH AIRLIFT WING, WEST 
    VIRGINIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD, ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE MILITARY

  (Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Colonel Jesse A. 
Thomas, the Commander of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia 
Air National Guard based in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

                              {time}  1015

  Colonel Thomas is retiring after 33 years in our Armed Forces. 
Colonel Thomas began his military service as a T-37 instructor pilot in 
1971. He then joined the West Virginia Air National Guard when he 
became a C-130 aircraft commander. Colonel Thomas has logged 
approximately 11,000 flight hours as a command pilot, including 5,000 
hours as an instructor.
  During Operation Desert Shield, Thomas deployed to Europe as an 
aircrew member and unit commander. He also flew airdrop and air defense 
missions in Yugoslavia and Central America and Southwest Asia.
  Mr. Speaker, in our current war on terror, the National Guard has 
been called upon to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, and thousands of 
brave men and women have answered that call. I thank all of the men and 
women of the National Guard who give so much in service to our Nation. 
Colonel Jesse Thomas, who has dedicated 34 years to the defense of 
freedom, deserves the respect of all of us in the House, and I thank 
him for his devoted service to the people of West Virginia and his 
country.

                          ____________________