[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E589-E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ROBERT ACREE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2010

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and 
congratulate Robert Acree upon being awarded with the ``Lifetime 
Achievement Award'' by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9896. Mr. 
Acree was honored on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in Chowchilla, 
California.
  Mr. Robert Acree was born and raised in Chowchilla, California. He 
attended Chowchilla High School, where he participated on the track 
team as a pole vaulter. He graduated from high school in 1965, and in 
1967 enlisted in the United States Air Force.
  Mr. Acree completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in 
Texas, and completed technical school as a Tactical Aircraft 
Maintenance Specialist at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. His first 
assignment was at Davis-Montham Air Force Base in Arizona where he 
worked on the F-4C ``Phantom.'' In September 1969, Mr. Acree received 
orders to deploy to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He joined the 558th Tactical 
Fighter Squadron, 12th Combat Support Group. He and his squadron kept 
the F-4 ``Phantoms'' in the air as the 558th conducted close air 
support for ground forces fighting the Viet Cong and the North 
Vietnamese. The squadron was also responsible for conducting 
interdiction and combat air patrol activities.
  Mr. Acree was assigned to the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 
366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang, Vietnam. With an aircraft 
landing or taking off every 52 seconds Da Nang Air Base is considered 
to be the busiest base in the world. The 421st, also known as the 
``Black Widows,'' flew thousands of close air support missions and 
conducted interdiction and combat air activities. Toward the end of his 
military career, Mr. Acree was rotated to the States for one of several 
assignments at George Air Force Base in California. In April 1971, Mr. 
Acree received an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force; after only 88 
days he re-enlisted back into the Air Force for 2 additional years. He 
served at Beale Air Force Base where he worked on the top secret SR-71 
``Blackbird'' spy plane. He was cross-trained in Aircraft Weapon 
Systems at Lowerly Air Force Base in Colorado and was then assigned to 
George Air Force Base. He completed his tour in Udorn, Thailand, 
working on F-4C's.
  In 1976, Mr. Acree requested a tour in Korea and served at the Kunsan 
Air Base. He then spent 2 years at the Soesterberg Air Base in Holland, 
working on the F-4 Phantom and the F-15 Eagle. In 1979, he reported to 
Edwards Air Force Base. While at Edwards he met his soon to be wife, 
Amy. They spent 4 years at Hahn Air Base in Germany and finally landed 
back at George Air Force Base.
  In July 1988, Master Sergeant Acree retired from the United States 
Air Force. During his twenty-one years of service, he earned an 
Associate of Science Degree in Aircraft Armament Systems Technology 
from the Community College of the Air Force. Upon his retirement, he 
was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf 
clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with five oak leaf

[[Page E590]]

clusters, the Air Force Longevity Award with four oak leaf clusters, 
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, NCO Professional Military 
Education Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, 
Air Force Overseas Service Long Tour Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, Air 
Force Overseas Service Short Tour Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, 
Air Force Training Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding 
Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry 
Cross with Palm and device, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
  Mr. Acree and his family returned to Chowchilla, California after he 
retired. He was employed as the Utility Systems Supervisor for the City 
of Chowchilla. Mr. and Mrs. Acree have four sons and six grandchildren. 
Their two youngest sons currently serve in the Air Force. Mr. Acree is 
a Life Member of Chowchilla Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9896. He is 
serving as the vice-president of the ``Sons of Thunder'' bike club and 
is a member of ``This Ain't Your Mamma's Church'' biker church.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Robert Acree 
upon being named as a ``Distinguished Life Member'' by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, Post 9896. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing 
Mr. Acree many years of continued success.

                          ____________________