[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AWARDING A CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO THE WORLD WAR II MEMBERS OF THE 
                            CIVIL AIR PATROL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2011

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I recently reintroduced H.R. 719, which will 
award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the 
Civil Air Patrol.
  During World War II, the volunteer members of the Civil Air Patrol--
civilian men and women ranging in age from 19 to 81--provided 
extraordinary public and combat services at a critical time of need for 
the nation.
  Civil Air Patrol members used their own aircraft to perform a myriad 
of essential tasks for the military and the entire country, including 
attacks on enemy submarines off the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of 
Mexico.
  The Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1, 1941, one week 
before the attack on Pearl Harbor. After performing exemplary service 
in WWII, the Civil Air Patrol was chartered by Congress as a non-
profit, public service organization and in 1948 as the Auxiliary of the 
United States Air Force.
  The Civil Air Patrol was initially mobilized in response to a massive 
German Navy submarine offensive off the east coast of the United States 
that targeted oil tankers and other critical shipping.
  As 52 tankers were sunk by enemy submarines between January and March 
1942 alone, neither the Navy nor Army had sufficient resources to 
patrol and protect the coastline--threatening the entire war effort.
  The Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol undertook the challenge of 
protecting our sea lanes and supporting the military's efforts at this 
critical time. From March 1942 until August 1943, more than 40,000 
volunteers at 21 Civil Air Patrol bases stretching from Maine to Texas 
coordinated thousands of patrols, investigations, and convoy missions.
  Heroic Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol aircrews were responsible for 
attacking 57 submarines--destroying or damaging two--as well as 
reporting nearly 200 submarine positions, 17 floating mines, and 91 
vessels and 363 survivors in distress.
  In addition to the work of its Coastal Patrol, the Civil Air Patrol 
also established itself as a vital wartime service to the military, 
states, and communities across the nation.
  These brave volunteers engaged in an impressive array of missions 
including border patrol, forest fire patrol, courier flights for mail 
and urgent deliveries, emergency transportation of personnel, search 
and rescue, and various military support duties. Overall, during the 
war the Civil Air Patrol undertook tens of thousands of missions and 
logged hundreds of thousands of flight hours in defense of our country.
  The Civil Air Patrol's WWII service came at the high cost of 64 
fatalities and 150 aircraft lost. Indeed, the courage and sacrifice of 
the estimated 200,000 civilians in the Civil Air Patrol exemplifies the 
spirit and dedication of an entire generation who were willing to risk 
their lives for America and the cause of freedom.
  In recognition of this remarkable volunteer service and commendable 
record, H.R. 719 will award a single gold medal collectively in honor 
of the WWII members of the Civil Air Patrol.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the valuable wartime 
service rendered by the civilian volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol by 
supporting this legislation.

                          ____________________