[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MR. MEL KING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
patriotism and heroism of Mr. Mel King.
  Mr. King served with distinction in the Army Air Corp during the 
harrowing days of the Second World War. As a B-17 crew member in the 
815th Squadron of the 483 Bombardment Group, Mr. King and his fellow 
crew members played an integral role in the Allied defeat of Nazi 
Germany.
  The crew of the Good Deal formed in November 1943 with Mr. Melbourne 
King of Crook, CO as one of the thirteen member crew, which included 
Paul E. Ray, Warren O. Griffin, Carl B. Hardy, Gerald Kramer, Foster F. 
Knight, James I. Korshak, Walter J. Gladieux, August O. Bresciz, 
Theodore Engelun, Fred A. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Dalzin, and John M. 
Spear.
  On April 12, 1944 Mr. King and the crew of the Good Deal participated 
in their first mission to Split, Yugoslavia. In the following months, 
the crew of the Good Deal saw action over Toulon, Milan, Weiner 
Neustadt, Vienna, Budapest, Blechhammer, Ploesti, and Memmingen.
  Despite the fact that fourteen of twenty-six American B-17s were lost 
over the German town of Memmingen on July 18, 1944, Mr. King and his 
crewmates successfully downed seven German fighters.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of Mr. King's distinguished service and 
humbled by his courageous patriotism. The sacrifices he and the men of 
the Good Deal made to ensure the liberty and freedom of future 
generations will never be forgotten. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Mr. Melbourne D. Ring and the crew of the Good Deal.

                          ____________________