[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO DR. RUSSELL ARTHUR MATTHES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2007

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, the residents of Bay City, Texas lost a true 
friend when Dr. Russell Arthur Matthes passed away on November 27. A 
native of Bay City, Russell Matthes volunteered for the Naval Air Corps 
in 1942. Dr. Matthes served as a turret gunner on a flying gunship, 
participating in the Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, and Philippines 
campaigns. These where among the most decisive battles in the closing 
chapters of World War II.
  When Japan surrendered, Dr. Matthes's squadron was transferred to the 
USS Cumberland Sound and sent to Japan. His plane's crew flew across 
Japan, taking aerial photographs for intelligence purposes and also 
looking for prison camps. A camp at Kobe was found and the crew dropped 
all the canned food from the plane's galley.
  Following the war, Russell Matthes completed his education at Baylor 
University and Baylor Dental School, where he trained as an 
orthodontist. He then returned to Bay City to practice orthodontics. 
Dr. Matthes and his wife, Juniata LeTulle Matthes, raised two daughters 
and a son.
  In addition to serving the people of his community with his medical 
practice, Dr. Matthes was active in numerous civic and community 
groups. In order to maintain his links with his fellow veterans, Dr. 
Matthes was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2438. He 
was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star Jesters, the 
Shiners, and the Medical Benevolence Foundation.
  Dr. Matthes was particularly interested in helping the youth of his 
community. Thus, in addition to all his other civic activities and his 
full-time medical practice, Dr. Matthes was very active with the Boy 
Scouts. Through his activities with the scouts, as well as his other 
civic work, he helped improve the lives of thousands of young Texans.
  Residents of Bay City were not the only ones who benefited from Dr. 
Matthes commitment to service. As a member of the Episcopal Church, Dr. 
Matthes preformed church missionary work in around the world.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Matthes devotion to his community and his fellow 
human beings set an example we all should follow. I extend my deepest 
condolences to Dr. Matthes' family and friends.

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