[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 123 (Monday, October 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PAYING TRIBUTE TO ERNESTO TAFOYA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 4, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to US Navy veteran 
Ernesto Tafoya. Ernesto, who held the rank of Senior Chief Petty 
Officer, bravely answered our Nation's call to duty during World War 
II. Following the war, he continued to serve our Nation in the Naval 
Reserve, retiring in 1983 after forty years of honorable service. I 
consider it a great honor to recognize the sacrifices Ernesto made for 
his Nation before this body of Congress today.
  Ernesto joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of seventeen. After 
months of training he became an engineman on an amphibious landing 
craft, and was later sent to the Pacific Theater. Ernesto's unit 
arrived in Hawaii in early 1945, sailed to the Marshall Islands, and 
eventually arrived at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. There his unit 
took part in liberating the Philippines from the Japanese. Following 
the Philippine campaign, Ernesto was sent to Japan as part of the 
allied occupation force where he again served honorably. Upon returning 
from overseas Ernesto continued his service in our Nations Naval 
Reserve.
  Ernesto comes from a family with a long tradition of defending our 
Nation's freedom. His maternal grandfather Sabino Lopez from Chiuaua, 
Mexico, gained his U.S. citizenship by fighting for the Union side in 
the Civil War. His older brother Dewey served in the European Theater 
with the US Army during World War II, and was killed during the 
infamous Battle of the Bulge. In addition, Ernesto's children have 
followed in their father's footsteps, both his son and his daughter are 
currently serving as members of our armed forces. His daughter, 
Michelle Tafoya, has served honorably in the US Air Force for sixteen 
years, and is today being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 
Ernesto's son, Carl, served in Vietnam and Desert Storm, and is 
currently deployed in Kuwait as an Army medivac helicopter pilot.
  Mr. Speaker, later today, I will have the distinct honor of 
recognizing Ernesto for his service during World War II by bestowing 
upon him the Philippine Liberation Medal. This is a long overdue 
tribute to the sacrifices Ernesto endured in the defense of freedom. 
Ernesto, your service is the embodiment of American heroism and we are 
very proud of you.

                          ____________________