[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 22, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6586-H6587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF ELI SETENCICH

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to 
pay tribute to the life of Eli Setencich, a captain in the American 
Army Air Corps during World War II, a journalist, and a friend to so 
many of us.
  Eli was an unsung American hero, a veteran of America's Greatest 
Generation. Eli hardly ever discussed, nor did he brag about, his World 
War II experiences, like many of those who served at that time.
  However, he flew 142 combat missions in P-49s during the war. Eli's 
amazing courage and heroism was recognized with two Distinguished 
Flying Cross awards.
  When the war ended, like most American veterans of that era, Eli 
returned

[[Page H6587]]

to his hometown to begin his career, in this case, Sanger, California.
  For 41 years, Eli worked for The Fresno Bee, a major paper in the 
West, first as a reporter, and then a columnist. His insightfulness and 
biting humor always made the point.
  Eli was a mentor to many young writers and a friend to all who knew 
him. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Yvonne; his daughter, Amy; 
and his two grandchildren.
  It is with great respect that I ask my colleagues of the United 
States House of Representatives to honor the life of Eli Setencich, a 
true American hero and a distinguished journalist.

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