[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 72 (Thursday, May 3, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H4467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1545
      IN MEMORY OF TUSKEGEE AIRMAN 1ST LT. IRA O'NEAL, JR. (RET.)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to announce the passing of a great American, Ira O'Neal, Jr., who 
happened to be my cousin, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen recently 
honored with the Congressional Gold Medal here in the Capitol.
  Ira O'Neal was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 11, 1918. He was 
drafted into the 1st Army Corps in 1942, where he served in the 42nd 
Aviation Squadron as a first lieutenant.
  In 1948, President Truman issued his famous executive order that 
racially integrated the military. At the same time that Truman issued 
his order, the military was moving from a wartime to a peacetime 
footing. As a result of our Nation's reduced force structure, Ira was 
one of the many thousands of soldiers who was discharged.
  Although Ira had been discharged from the military, he was not 
deterred from serving his country. In 1949, Ira was able to reenlist in 
the U.S. Air Force. He proudly served his country until he retired in 
1972.
  After retiring, he started a security service that contracted with 
the Watergate apartments. He hired a young man by the name of Wills, 
who discovered the Watergate break-in. Ira was contacted, and his 
report started the Watergate episode.
  Ira has been a resident of the District of Columbia for 56 years and 
has always been active in his community. In 2004, he received the Roots 
in Scouting Award recognizing a lifetime of work with the Boy Scouts of 
America.
  I was honored to be with Ira at the Bolling Air Force Base Officers' 
Club on March 28 of this year when Kerwin Miller, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, presented him with a proclamation declaring Tuskegee 
Airmen Day in Washington D.C.
  During the same ceremony, a room at the Officers' Club, the Tuskegee 
room, was also dedicated. A day later, I was again honored to share 
with Ira that proud moment at the rotunda of the Capitol when he and 
the other Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal, the 
highest civilian award that Congress bestows.
  Mr. Speaker, for his dedicated military service, during and after 
World War II, and for his ongoing public service on behalf of the 
District of Columbia, I am proud to acknowledge and to salute First 
Lieutenant Ira O'Neal's service to his country, his community and 
family.
  May God bless him and rest his soul.

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