[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 75 (Monday, May 19, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4456-H4458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AMERICAN FIGHTER ACES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 685) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 
American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic 
military service and defense of our country's freedom throughout the 
history of aviation warfare, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 685

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``American Fighter Aces 
     Congressional Gold Medal Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) An American Fighter Ace is a fighter pilot who has 
     served honorably in a United States military service and who 
     has destroyed 5 or more confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial 
     combat during a war or conflict in which American armed 
     forces have participated.
       (2) Beginning with World War I, and the first use of 
     airplanes in warfare, military services have maintained 
     official records of individual aerial victory credits during 
     every major conflict. Of more than 60,000 United States 
     military fighter pilots that have taken to the air, less than 
     1,500 have become Fighter Aces.
       (3) Americans became Fighter Aces in the Spanish Civil War, 
     Sino-Japanese War, Russian Civil War, Arab-Israeli War, and 
     others. Additionally, American military groups' recruited 
     United States military pilots to form the American Volunteer 
     Group, Eagle Squadron, and others that produced American-born 
     Fighter Aces fighting against axis powers prior to Pearl 
     Harbor.
       (4) The concept of a Fighter Ace is that they fought for 
     freedom and democracy across the globe, flying in the face of 
     the enemy to defend freedom throughout the history of aerial 
     combat. American-born citizens became Fighter Aces flying 
     under the flag of United States allied countries and became 
     some of the highest scoring Fighter Aces of their respective 
     wars.
       (5) American Fighter Aces hail from every State in the 
     Union, representing numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural 
     backgrounds.
       (6) Fighter Aces possess unique skills that have made them 
     successful in aerial combat. These include courage, judgment, 
     keen marksmanship, concentration, drive, persistence, and 
     split-second thinking that makes an Ace a war fighter with 
     unique and valuable flight driven skills.
       (7) The Aces' training, bravery, skills, sacrifice, 
     attention to duty, and innovative spirit illustrate the most 
     celebrated traits of the United States military, including 
     service to country and the protection of freedom and 
     democracy.
       (8) American Fighter Aces have led distinguished careers in 
     the military, education, private enterprise, and politics. 
     Many have held the rank of General or Admiral and played 
     leadership roles in multiple war efforts from WWI to Vietnam 
     through many decades. In some cases they became the highest 
     ranking officers for following wars.
       (9) The extraordinary heroism of the American Fighter Ace 
     boosted American morale at home and encouraged many men and 
     women to enlist to fight for America and democracy across the 
     globe.
       (10) Fighter Aces were among America's most-prized military 
     fighters during wars. When they rotated back to the United 
     States after combat tours, they trained cadets in fighter 
     pilot tactics that they had learned over enemy skies. The 
     teaching of combat dogfighting to young aviators strengthened 
     our fighter pilots to become more successful in the skies. 
     The net effect of this was to shorten wars and save the lives 
     of young Americans.
       (11) Following military service, many Fighter Aces became 
     test pilots due to their superior flying skills and quick 
     thinking abilities.
       (12) Richard Bong was America's top Ace of all wars scoring 
     a confirmed 40 enemy victories in WWII. He was from Poplar, 
     Wisconsin, and flew the P-38 Lightning in all his combat 
     sorties flying for the 49th Fighter Group. He was killed in 
     1945 during a P-80 test flight in which the engine flamed out 
     on takeoff.
       (13) The American Fighter Aces are one of the most 
     decorated military groups in American history. Twenty-two 
     Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of Admiral in the Navy. 
     Seventy-nine Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of General 
     in the Army, Marines, and Air Force. Nineteen Medals of Honor 
     have been awarded to individual Fighter Aces.
       (14) The American Fighter Aces Association has existed for 
     over 50 years as the primary organization with which the Aces 
     have preserved their history and told their stories to the 
     American public. The Association established and maintains 
     the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award presented annually 
     at the United States Air Force Academy; established and 
     maintains an awards program for outstanding fighter pilot 
     ``lead-in'' trainee graduates from the Air Force, Navy, and 
     Marine Corps; and sponsors a scholarship program for 
     descendants of American Fighter Aces.

     SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate 
     shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on 
     behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate 
     design in honor of the American Fighter Aces, collectively, 
     in recognition of their heroic military service and defense 
     of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of 
     aviation warfare.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, 
     and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
       (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in 
     honor of the American Fighter Aces, the gold medal shall be 
     given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be 
     available for display as appropriate and available for 
     research.
       (2) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
     awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, 
     particularly at appropriate locations associated with the 
     American Fighter Aces, and that preference should be given to 
     locations affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

     SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of 
     the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such 
     regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price 
     sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, 
     materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and 
     the cost of the gold medal.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national medal 
     for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H4457]]

Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Heck) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 685, as 
amended, currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Today, there has been a lot of recognition about those who have 
served our country, so I rise in support of H.R. 685, the American 
Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Johnson).
  This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal in 
recognition of the American fighter aces' heroic military service and 
defense of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of 
aviation warfare.
  Once awarded, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution, 
where it will be available for display or loan, as appropriate.
  Mr. Speaker, this country has had many military heroes in its 
history, men and women who have fought valiantly and who have often 
died in the process to defend freedom around the world. All are heroes, 
but none has captured the imagination more than the American fighter 
ace, flying usually alone, directly at the enemy.
  Each of us knows the story of one or more aces, but probably few know 
the stories of more than a couple of them. I think most people would be 
surprised to know that there are more than 1,500 of the more than 
60,000 U.S. combat pilots who have achieved ace status by destroying 
five or more enemy aircraft in combat.
  What even fewer know is that not all of these pilots flew for the 
U.S., even as they flew in the defense of U.S. ideals. Some flew in the 
British Royal Air Force, in the Canadian Royal Air Force, and in the 
French Lafayette Escadrille in World War I before the U.S. entered the 
war.
  American aces flew in the Spanish Civil War, in the Sino-Japanese 
War, in the Arab-Israeli War; and in echoing the recent tensions in 
Ukraine, one American fighter collected his victories while flying for 
the White Russian Air Force against the Red Air Force just after World 
War I.
  Mr. Speaker, the stories of America's fighter aces are full of the 
kind of courage and sacrifice we all think of as emblematic of our 
country.
  It would be easy for me to tell a few of those tales, but I think the 
story of the fighter aces and of fighter pilots in general can best be 
told by the man who will be my side's next speaker--the author of this 
bill, Mr. Johnson of Texas.
  As I am sure all of the Members of this Chamber know, Mr. Johnson is 
a decorated fighter pilot from both the Korean and Vietnam wars, who 
spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison after being shot down 
on his 25th mission.
  After noting that this bill is now sponsored by 312 Members of the 
House and that a Senate version passed on March 26 with 81 cosponsors, 
I urge the bill's immediate passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Many Congressional Gold Medal bills passing today are special, but 
with all due respect, this is particularly special.

                              {time}  1745

  I rise in support of H.R. 685, the American Fighter Aces 
Congressional Gold Medal Act. As suggested, this bill establishes a 
Congressional Gold Medal honoring American fighter aces for their 
heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom.
  Most Americans are familiar with the aerial feats of Tom Cruise's 
``Maverick'' in the award-winning and popular movie, ``Top Gun,'' but 
not enough people really understand what it was that the real fighter 
aces went through. To become an American fighter ace, a fighter pilot 
must destroy five or more enemy aircraft in aerial combat during a war 
or conflict in which U.S. Armed Forces have participated.
  I am unbelievably proud and humbled today to represent one of the 
remaining fighter aces in Washington's 10th Congressional District, 
retired Commander Clarence Alvin Borley, or, as he is known by his 
friends, ``Spike.''
  Like many aces, his story is simply incredible. Commander Borley is a 
Navy F6F Hellcat ace. He had a total of five aerial victories flying 
off the U.S. carrier the USS Essex between May and October of 1945.
  In fact, on October 12, Commander Borley was shot down after his 
plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. He flew out 2 miles off the coast 
of what was then known as Formosa, crash-landing in the ocean. He 
exited his plane in full gear and inflated his yellow Mae West life 
preserver and floated as his Hellcat sank.
  Shortly thereafter, a boat approached him with Japanese soldiers on 
it. He reached down and pulled his handgun, which had been soaking in 
the ocean water, fired, killed two enemy combatants, and the boat fled. 
Thereafter, Commander Borley swam further away from Formosa.
  Because it was a tremendous aerial combat day, later that day several 
rafts were dropped into the ocean for the pilots. Commander Borley 
dragged himself into one. He spent four nights in that raft. Mind you, 
he had no water, no food, and no shade. He kept getting further and 
further from Formosa.
  It took 100 hours for him to be rescued. In fact, the USS Sawfish was 
the ship that finally pulled him out of the water. Again, he had no 
water, no food, and no shade--and there were rough seas. I believe he 
had a canteen when he went down, but he capsized several times and lost 
it.
  Commander Borley of Olympia, Washington, is a true American hero, and 
I know I speak for many when I say we are deeply appreciative of all he 
has done for us.
  American fighter aces like Commander Borley are the best of the best 
in air-to-air combat. They engaged the enemy time and time again in 
East Asia, the South Pacific, and Europe--and they won. Yet their 
accomplishments have never been collectively recognized. Their aerial 
supremacy has never been honored by Congress--until today.
  The Museum of Flight in Seattle, which is a spectacular institution, 
and its chairman, Bill Ayer, deserve special recognition and thanks for 
their constant support and dedication to this effort. It is the home of 
the greatest World War I and World War II fighters in America. It has 
committed countless time and hours and energy to honoring the American 
fighter ace.
  I am honored beyond words to be the cosponsor of this bill with the 
gentleman from Texas. And I cannot exaggerate this. I suspect this is 
the first time in my 17 months in Congress we will vote on the same 
side of an issue. I cannot tell you the depth of my gratitude for his 
29 years of military service and all that he sacrificed and endured on 
behalf of us. What a fitting acknowledgment of his service here--and to 
all of America. I am humbled to join him in this effort.
  I encourage all of our colleagues to support H.R. 685 in recognition 
of the American fighter aces. Out of 60,000 aerial aviators, about 95 
aces are left. There hasn't been a fighter ace ``created'' since the 
Vietnam war. And for those who are, it is difficult for them to talk 
about this because, frankly, they are very, very modest. I know this 
from personal conversations.
  When I went to the national convention of fighter aces last year and 
spoke with so many of them, they are very modest about this. That is, 
frankly, all the more reason why it is incumbent upon us to lift up 
their contribution and their sacrifice. And I am humbled to join Mr. 
Johnson in this.
  Please support H.R. 685.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), the House's ace 
and the author of this legislation.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

[[Page H4458]]

  Mr. Speaker, listening to the previous speakers, I knew General 
Doolittle. He wasn't an ace, but he should have been.
  I would like to start by thanking my friend and colleague from 
Washington State (Mr. Heck) for his leadership on this bill. I also 
want to thank Chairman Hensarling of the Financial Services Committee 
and the House leadership for bringing H.R. 685, the American Fighter 
Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act, to the floor.
  This bill, which already has the support of 312 Members of this body, 
honors an elite group of American fighter pilots known as fighter aces 
with Congress' highest recognition, the Congressional Gold Medal.
  Additionally, I want to thank the American Fighter Aces Association, 
specifically Mr. Gregg Wagner, for his advocacy and for the 
association's efforts in recognizing this influential group of American 
fighter pilots.
  Aces are U.S. fighter pilots credited with destroying five or more 
confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial combat. More than 60,000 U.S. 
military fighter pilots have taken to the air. However, less than 1,500 
have been honored with the coveted status of fighter ace.
  During my 29 years of service in the U.S. Air Force I was credited 
with one confirmed MiG kill, one probable, and one damaged. I 
personally am not an ace, Mr. Speaker. However, having personally met 
and flown with some of those guys, I can speak to the sacrifice, risk, 
and contribution these fighter pilots make in protecting our freedoms.

  Allow me to share a little bit about the lives of two aces whom I 
personally knew. One is an American hero, dear friend, and fellow POW 
we lost last year, Brigadier General Robbie Risner.
  Robbie flew more than 100 combat missions over North Korea and became 
the 20th fighter ace of the Korean war. He shot down eight Russian-
built MiGs and received the Silver Star for a life-threatening midair 
maneuver to steer a fellow pilot to safety.
  During the Vietnam war, he led the first flight of Operation Rolling 
Thunder, a high-intensity aerial bombing of North Vietnam, for which he 
received the Air Force Cross and was featured on the cover of Time 
magazine for his bravery, valor, and accomplishments.
  The other is an American patriot and good friend who went home to 
meet our Lord and Savior in 2009, Colonel Hal Fischer.
  Hal served in the military for 30 years and also became an ace during 
the Korean war, with 10 confirmed aerial victories. I was in that same 
wing.
  While rising through the ranks to colonel, he flew 200 missions in 
Vietnam and 175 missions in Korea. On April 7, 1953, he entered into a 
fierce dogfight with North Korean MiG-15s near the Yalu River, where 
his F-86 Sabre jet was shot down.
  Forced to eject, Fischer parachuted into enemy territory and was 
quickly taken by Chinese soldiers as a prisoner of war. After being 
tortured and kept in dark, damp cells with no bed for 2 years, he was 
released and returned to Active Duty 2 months later.
  This is just a glimpse into the lives and heroic acts fighter aces 
performed during every mission. American fighter aces have led 
distinguished careers in the military, education, private enterprise, 
and politics. This elite group has carried out their duties with honor, 
integrity, dignity and respect.
  They are the best of the best, the cream of the crop in air-to-air 
combat. They have engaged the enemy time and time again over the South 
Pacific, Europe, and East Asia--and won. They contributed to the aerial 
supremacy of the United States. They have shortened wars and saved 
lives. Yet they have never been rightfully honored--at least not until 
now. I am honored to say that today we have an opportunity to change 
that.
  Today is the day these American patriots will receive a special 
homage, the highest possible honor Congress can bestow: the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  Sadly, of the 1,500 U.S. fighter aces this bill recognizes, only a 
few hundred remain with us today. While we have lost many American 
fighter aces, this Gold Medal is an important step in honoring and 
remembering their exemplary service to our country.
  As we ponder the blessings of service and sacrifice of those who wear 
the uniform, especially with Memorial Day just around the corner, we 
can only humbly acknowledge that we are the land of the free because of 
the brave. These men are shining examples of everything great that 
America stands for.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor the 
heroism, duty, service, courage, and sacrifice of American fighter aces 
than in the week before Memorial Day. The Congressional Gold Medal is 
the highest honor that Congress can bestow, and I can think of no group 
more deserving than this elite group of fighter pilots. I thank you for 
joining me in that effort.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this important piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to join all my 
colleagues in thanking our colleague from Texas for underscoring this 
important legislation and for his service.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 685, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.

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