[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 80 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN R. DeHAVEN ON BEING NAMED 2008 VETERAN 
                              OF THE YEAR

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                            HON. JIM JORDAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2008

  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor LTC John R. 
DeHaven of Findlay, OH, on being named 2008 Veteran of the Year at the 
Armed Forces Day Celebration on Saturday, May 17, 2008, in Findlay, OH.
  A graduate of Findlay High School, John was drafted in 1941 into the 
Infantry and taught trainees to use rifles in Texas Training Camp. In 
1942, he passed the exam for the Army Air Corps and took his Basic 
Flight Training in Randolph Field in San Antonio, TX. He later 
completed his advanced pilot training in Victoria, TX. During his 
training, he flew the BT-6 single engine biplane. Later in 1942, he 
graduated and stayed in Victoria as a flight instructor.
  During World War II, John was assigned to the Chinese-American 
Composite Wing to fight against the Japanese. Before his move to China, 
he trained in Mitchell Field on Long Island. His mission was to fly P-
40's from Karachi, India to Kunming, China. While in Karachi, John 
trained American and Chinese Pilots for the 5th Fighter Group.
  As the struggle in China against the Japanese intensified, John 
showed incredible bravery. His unit was constantly re-deployed and they 
eventually ended up in Zhejiang, a mountainous area where flights were 
incredibly dangerous.
  His main mission was to strike the Japanese, often going after eight 
to ten aircraft per mission. He also escorted B-25 bombers to Japan. On 
one mission, John was returning to base and got separated from his 
squadron. It got dark and John was lost and running out of fuel. He had 
to fire his machine gun over a town, causing all the town's lights to 
go out. He then saw the searchlight in the distance and followed it to 
base.
  As the war drew to a close, John returned to the United States to 
train pilots in Texas. When the war ended, he remained in the Air Force 
Reserve and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his 
retirement, he remained active with the military, serving as a liaison 
for the Air Force Academy interviewing and recommending Academy 
applicants.
  I am honored to join the chorus of well-wishers as the State of Ohio 
again recognizes his distinguished service to Ohio's veterans. He is a 
shining example of our mutual responsibility to serve those who devoted 
their lives to protecting the freedoms we enjoy.




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