[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 129 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING COLONEL BERNARD FRANCIS ``BERNIE'' FISHER AND LIEUTENANT 
                         THOMAS ROLLAND NORRIS

  (Mr. LABRADOR asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LABRADOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic efforts 
of Colonel Bernard Francis Fisher of the United States Air Force and 
Lieutenant Thomas Rolland Norris of the United States Navy, both of 
whom are Medal of Honor recipients from Idaho.
  Colonel Fisher was with the 1st Air Commando Squadron and was awarded 
the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry on March 10, 1966, in 
the Republic of Vietnam.
  A Special Forces camp was under attack and hostile troops had 
positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp. Colonel Fisher 
observed a fellow airman crash on the airstrip. In the belief that the 
pilot was injured, Colonel Fisher decided to attempt a rescue. 
Directing his own cover, he landed and taxied the full length of the 
runway to rescue the pilot. In the face of fire, he applied power and 
took off at the overrun airstrip.
  Lieutenant Norris was a SEAL Advisor and was awarded the Medal of 
Honor for supreme bravery in action from April 10 to April 13, 1972, in 
Vietnam.
  During the 3-day period, Lieutenant Norris and a 5-man team 
established a forward operating base deep within heavily controlled 
enemy territory to conduct a rescue of several downed pilots.
  It is for their outstanding display of leadership and courage that I 
am proud to honor and remember the actions of Colonel Bernard Francis 
Fisher and Lieutenant Thomas Rolland Norris.

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