[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING COL. ROBERT FORTNAM, USAF (RET.) OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES F. BASS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Mr. BASS of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor retired 
Air Force Colonel Robert Fortnam of Pembroke, a New Hampshire hero 
whose service and sacrifice during World War II is to be commended and 
remembered. Mr. Fortnam is celebrating his 90th birthday this year, and 
in his 90 years, he has seen and experienced more than most Americans 
ever will in their lifetimes.
  Mr. Fortnam served as a B-17 co-pilot in the 305th Bombardment Group 
during World War II. On October 8, 1943, his life changed dramatically 
after his plane was shot down by a German F-190 fighter over the German 
border. Mr. Fortnam landed the plane safely and protected the lives of 
the 10 crew members on board, but their luck would change when German 
guards picked them up and sent them off to a POW camp in Poland, where 
Mr. Fortnam spent the next 19 months of his life.
  After the war, Mr. Fortnam returned to the Granite State, where he 
graduated from the University of New Hampshire, became a mechanical 
engineer, and continued to serve in the Reserves as a colonel until his 
retirement. Mr. Fortnam still likes to fly once a week in a Cessna 
Skyhawk and travel all over New England.
  Mr. Speaker, stories like Mr. Fortnam's reaffirm my commitment to 
those who have served and continue to serve our nation. We all owe Mr. 
Fortnam and the brave men and women of our armed forces a debt of 
gratitude that we can never truly repay, but we will continue fighting 
for them as they have fought for us.
  New Hampshire citizens have long answered the call to service to our 
nation, and Mr. Fortnam represents the best of our state. It is an 
honor to represent him in the United States Congress, and I wish him 
all the best as he continues to share his incredible story of service 
and sacrifice with us all.

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