[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 62 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E780-E781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO COL. LORRIS WILLIAM MOOMAW

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today 
to pay tribute to the life and memory of Colonel Lorris ``Bill'' Moomaw 
who recently passed away. Bill was a true American hero and patriot, 
and a beloved friend and colleague to many in his community. In his 
years spent in the armed forces, Bill embodied the ideals of integrity

[[Page E781]]

and courage that we, as Americans, have come to expect from our 
military personnel. As his family and community mourn his passing, I 
believe it is appropriate to recognize the life of this exceptional 
man, and his many contributions to his community, state and country.
   Bill lived an immensely rich and full life, always holding firm to 
his beliefs in serving his community and country. In 1935, he graduated 
from flying school at Randolph Field, Texas, and began flying 
commercial flights until the onset of World War II. During the war, 
Bill flew numerous transport missions, serving as the Operations 
officer of the first regularly scheduled Military Air Transport runs. 
In 1945, he served as Operations officer for a dangerous and important 
transport operation between India and China known as ``The Hump,'' and 
his unit received over nine hundred citations, and became the only non-
combat unit to receive a Presidential unit citation. As the war ended, 
he was assigned to finding and removing American POW's from South East 
Asia, Singapore, and Indonesia, frequently flying into unsecured areas 
occupied with hostile forces.
   At the end of the war, Bill was offered and accepted a regular 
commission and was transferred to Washington where he served as 
military aide and pilot to the first two Secretaries of the Air Force. 
His flights included piloting such dignitaries as Presidents Roosevelt, 
Truman, Eisenhower and Johnson, and taking Bob Hope and other Hollywood 
celebrities on Christmas trips to entertain our troops.
   Mr. Speaker, we are all at a great loss because of Colonel Lorris 
Moomaw's passing, but can be comforted in knowing his service to our 
nation helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today. I am honored to pay 
tribute to the life and memory of Colonel Lorris William Moomaw before 
this body of Congress and this nation. My thoughts are with his loved 
ones during this difficult time of bereavement.

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