[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAMES F. RECORD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 27, 2010

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a fellow 
Hoosier whose long and distinguished career in the United States Air 
Force spanned four decades.
  Retired Lieutenant General James F. Record, who was born and raised 
in central Indiana, passed away on December 22, 2009 with his loving 
family beside him.
  The son of Edwin and Enid Record, General Record, like many Hoosier 
boys of his generation, grew up on the family farm. In between his 
chores, young Jim would watch with wonder as military aircraft flew in 
and out of what was then Bunker Hill Air Force Base. He dreamed to one 
day fly those fighter jets in the Air Force.
  Upon graduating high school, he enrolled at Purdue University in West 
Lafayette. As a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program 
and Purdue University Drill Team, not only did he hone skills that 
taught him discipline and teamwork, but he served as a leader and 
mentor to his younger classmates.
  General Record's Air Force Career began when he was commissioned as a 
Second Lieutenant in 1961. He completed flight training a year later 
and served as an instructor pilot for nearly six years. While serving 
multiple tours in Vietnam, he distinguished himself and flew more than 
six hundred combat missions.
  Following his service in Southeast Asia, he went on to command three 
fighter wings, the 833rd Air Division, and served as the first deputy 
commander of Joint Task Force Middle East, which operated in the 
Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
  General Record also served in the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, 
United Nations Command, and U.S. Combined Forces Command. This 
Michigantown native also found himself again serving in the Far East 
from 1990 through 1992 as the commander of Joint Task Force Southwest 
Asia.
  Rated as a command pilot with more than 6,000 hours flying time 
behind some of our nation's most legendary fighter aircraft, General 
Record was decorated with twenty seven Air Medals, the Vietnam Service 
Medal with six service stars, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the 
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Defense Superior 
Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak 
leaf cluster.
  While family, friends, and colleagues will forever remember and 
respect General Record's military career, those closest to him will 
remember a caring father, husband, son or friend. Even while battling 
the illness that ultimately took his life, he often checked up on those 
he cared about to make sure they were doing okay.
  Memorial services were held for General Record at Davis-Monthan Air 
Force Base in Arizona, where he commanded the 12th Air Force, as well 
as Michigantown Christian Church, where he was an active member as a 
young man.
  As we mourn Lieutenant General James F. Record's passing, let us keep 
his mother Enid, loving wife Peggy, sons James, John, and Joe, as well 
as his brother Ray and sisters Arlene and Barbara in our thoughts and 
prayers.
  Though the pain of his loss is tremendous, I am sure his family takes 
tremendous pride in knowing that General Record will join ranks with 
all those who rest in the hallowed grounds of Arlington National 
Cemetery.

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