[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 191 (Thursday, December 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING A TRUE PATRIOT HARRY E. McKILLOP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2007

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the President 
and the Department of Defense in honoring Harry E. McKillop of 
McKinney, Texas, for more than 40 years of unselfish service to 
Americans in need around the world. For his humanitarianism and 
patriotic service, Mr. McKillop was awarded the Secretary of Defense 
Medal for Exceptional Public Service. This is one of the most 
prestigious awards given to a civilian by the Department of Defense.
  In 1969, Mr. McKillop embarked upon his first humanitarian mission to 
provide supplies and relief to our prisoners of war in Vietnam. This 
first mission would be the beginning of a life-long crusade to locate, 
free, and bring home Americans who are held against their will. The 
most well-known operation was probably the 1979 rescue of 2 Electronic 
Data Systems employees from Iran in the wake of that country's 
revolution. Mr. McKillop coordinated flights and logistics for the 
mission later immortalized by Ken Follett in his best-seller On Wings 
of Eagles. Even today, Mr. McKillop actively pursues searches on a 
global basis.
  Mr. McKillop served his country as a naval officer aboard the USS 
Phoenix in the Pacific during World War II. Professionally, he has 
worked throughout the world as an airline executive. Currently he works 
as an aide to Ross Perot, his closest friend and an associate for more 
than 35 years. I am honored to have Harry, his wife Rebecca, and his 2 
beautiful daughters, Mary and Tory, as personal friends. Rebecca is a 
long-time American Airlines pilot, with international assignments. They 
are a great American family.
  Mr. McKillop is a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, and is 
a former Grand Knight of the New World Council 9903 in McKinney, and a 
member of the 4th Degree Assembly 2266 in Plano, Texas. Soon children 
in the Fourth Congressional District will be attending Harry McKillop 
Elementary School in the Liberty development in Melissa, Texas. He has 
also been honored by the McKinney Fire Department as an Honorary 
Battalion Chief.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring a true patriot 
and great American, Mr. Harry E. McKillop.

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