[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H736-H737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING RETIRED COLONEL JOHN R. HED OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

  (Mr. CRAVAACK asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CRAVAACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my respects for 
retired Colonel John R. Hed of the United States Air Force.

[[Page H737]]

  Colonel Hed was born to Swedish immigrants in St. Paul, Minnesota, on 
August 16, 1920; and ever since he was young, his passion was aviation. 
In his teens, he enlisted in the Air National Guard and eventually went 
on to flying school in the Army Air Corps. He later served in World War 
II in the Aleutian Islands. Upon his return to Minnesota, he helped 
start the Air National Guard base in Duluth, now the 148th Fighter 
Wing.
  In his career, he has flown over 7,400 hours in over 75 different 
aircraft. He even owned a prototype, the Baby Albatross sailplane, 
which now resides in the Smithsonian; and in 2003, he was inducted into 
the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame.
  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. 
He was married to the love of his life, Artelle, for 55 years.
  Throughout his 91 years on this Earth, Colonel Hed was a true 
American who lived by the motto of ``God, family, country.'' Minnesota 
will miss him, and America will miss the likes of him.

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