[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2186]]
             HONORING ROBERT ``BOB'' LAYHER OF HAYS, KANSAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my 
admiration of a Kansan's life--a life filled with honor and service to 
country, community and family. Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Layher of Hays, 
Kansas, a member of the Greatest Generation, lived life with integrity, 
passion and enthusiasm.
  Like so many young Americans of his generation, Bob put country 
before self and joined the U.S. military. Bob proudly fought for 
freedom during World War II, though he began serving prior to the start 
of the war. He was among those who resigned their U.S. military 
positions in order to volunteer for a covert operation with the Chinese 
Air Force before the U.S. entered the war. For his service in China as 
a member of The Flying Tigers, Bob was awarded the Distinguished Flying 
Cross.
  Bob's dedication to those he served with and his preservation of 
their memories was unsurpassed. While the history and service of The 
Flying Tigers is well known in China, few in our country know about the 
courage and heroism of these men. Bob took a lead role in making 
certain that his community knew about The Flying Tiger's mission of 
protecting China's important Burma Road from Japanese attacks.
  He was also involved in national education of The Flying Tigers. 
Appearing in stories and presenting at schools, he shared the history 
of this brave group of volunteers. During trips back to the area where 
they were stationed, members of The Flying Tigers found the need for 
education about their group was much less necessary in China. The idea 
that Americans would volunteer to defend another country all for the 
sake of freedom made a great impression on the Chinese.
  While Bob was born and raised outside of Kansas, our state was lucky 
to have him settle here and begin farming after his military service. 
Bob was born in Dallas, Oregon, on September 3, 1916. He graduated from 
the University of Colorado where he also met his wife, Marian. In 1941, 
4 days before he left for China, he and Marian were secretly married. 
This was also the same day as his birthday, so this way Bob would never 
forget their anniversary.
  A very involved member of his community, Bob participated in several 
civic groups. After he moved to Hays in 1952, Bob became a member of 
the First Presbyterian Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was 
also a member of the ISIS Shrine and the Masonic Lodge in Salina.
  Most important to Bob was his family. Over the course of their 65 
years of marriage, he and his wife were committed parents and 
grandparents. Bob's son, R.F. ``Bobby'' Layher Jr., followed in his 
father's footsteps and served as a pilot in Vietnam. Even though Bobby 
went on to be a civilian pilot, Bob and his son were still able to 
fulfill their dream of farming together.
  In the many important roles Bob filled in his life, he served out of 
a sense of duty and not out of selfish ambition. He helped make his 
community better and his nation safer. I join his many friends and 
admirers in paying tribute to a great man. My thoughts and prayers go 
out to Marian and her family during this time of loss.

                          ____________________