[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                A TRIBUTE TO MAJOR EARL G. ANDERSON, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2009

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and military service of Major Earl G. Anderson, Jr. who was recently 
named the 2009 Aviator of the Year at the Indianapolis Air Show.
  Born in Rockford, Illinois in 1920, twenty-two-year old Earl 
Anderson, Jr. enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in April of 
1942 leaving behind his wife Geraldine to serve his country in its time 
of need. By September 1943, Aviation Cadet Anderson had completed his 
State-side training and was assigned to the United States 15th Air 
Force flying The Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber over Europe. The B-
24 was an American heavy bomber that still holds the record as the most 
produced U.S. military aircraft.
  Between December 1943 and June 1944 Major Anderson flew fifty-one 
successful combat missions against enemy targets before being shot 
down. He spent the remainder of the war as a Prisoner of War (POW) in a 
camp outside Munich, Germany. For his heroic and courageous flying, 
Major Earl Anderson, Jr. was awarded by order of the President of the 
United States the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 6 
clusters, and the Distinguished Unit Badge with one cluster.
  Earl's prison camp was eventually liberated by allied troops in 1945 
and after debriefing Earl was sent back to the United States to spend 
some time on furlough before returning to duty. Major Anderson 
continued serving both on active duty and as a member of the Reserves 
until he was Honorably Discharged in 1961.
  Fortunately for all Hoosiers, Earl's passion for aviation stayed with 
him after he left the service and he's been an active part of Indiana's 
aviation community for many years. Earl and his wife Geraldine (Gerrie) 
have been married for 67 years. They have two daughters, Marilyn and 
Barbara, and five grandchildren.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me now to thank Major Earl 
Anderson, Jr. for his service and his sacrifices for our country, and 
to congratulate him on being named the 2009 Indiana Aviator of the 
Year.

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