[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 145 (Friday, September 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HONOR FLIGHT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize the fourth Honor Flight from Kentucky that took place this 
week. Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization which transports 
surviving World War II veterans from around the country to see their 
memorial free of charge. I have been privileged to have participated in 
previous flights from Kentucky, and I very much regret that my schedule 
prevented me from attending this one. I hope to have the opportunity to 
meet again soon with the inspiring veterans from my home state on 
future Honor Flight trips.
  On Wednesday, Honor Flight's Bluegrass Chapter arrived in Washington 
with 38 World War II veterans from the Commonwealth to see the memorial 
which they inspired. These brave Americans also paid tribute to one of 
their fellow Kentuckians who gave his last full measure of devotion in 
March 1945. 2LT Howard Clifton Enoch, Jr., of Marion, Kentucky, paid 
the ultimate sacrifice while engaging with enemy aircraft over Germany.
  Earlier this year, the Department of Defense honored its promise to 
account for every one of its men and women, and, more than 60 years 
later, the remains of Second Lieutenant Enoch were repatriated. He will 
find his final resting place among other American heroes at Arlington 
National Cemetery later this month. The son of Lieutenant Enoch, Mr. 
Howard Enoch III, traveled with the veterans from Kentucky to honor his 
father, who he never knew. I would like to convey my deepest 
appreciation to Mr. Enoch for his father's service and to his family 
for their sacrifice.
  I also wish to express my tremendous gratitude to the 38 Kentucky 
veterans who were here on Wednesday for having served to protect our 
great Nation's principles from the enemies of freedom. The inscription 
on the western corner of their monument--a quote by President Harry S 
Truman--perhaps best puts into words those sentiments:

       Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service 
     of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our 
     undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifice.

  Indeed, our Nation will never forget their bravery or their sacrifice 
as it lives on today in the men and women of our armed services who 
display the same honor and continue to defend the same principles.
  I ask unanimous consent that the names of the 38 World War II 
veterans from the Commonwealth be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                              In Memory of

       Howard Clifton Enoch, Jr.

                         World War II Veterans

       George Arflack; William Atkinson; Harold Ausmus; Ruben 
     Avila; Fredrick Balke; John Beyer; Hubert Wessel; Lorell 
     Roberts; James Smith; Harlan Barton; Raymond Bloemer, Sr.; 
     John Blossom; Fred Bryan; Phillip Chapelle; Eugene Thurman; 
     John Bruggensmith; Leslie Cohen; Clarence Crawford; James 
     ``Art'' Cutliff.
       Wayne Tabor; Herman Sasse; Charles Devers; Henry ``Don'' 
     Donaldson; Matthew Flanagan; Robert Carrico; Robert Hall; 
     Edward Jackey; Clyde Logsdon; Leonard O'Dell; Edward Oechsli; 
     Bernard O'Hare; John O'Keefe; Blond Puckett; Leslie ``Dan'' 
     Stickler; Charles Tribble; Ernest Spencer; Harold Phillips; 
     Joseph Riney.

                          ____________________