[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORNG THE LIFE OF ELI SETENCICH

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2014

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Eli Setencich, who passed away on July 12, 2014, at the age of 90. Eli 
was a veteran of America's greatest generation who will be greatly 
missed by residents throughout Central Valley.
  Eli was born on April 10, 1924, in Sacramento, California and later 
moved to Sanger, California to live with relatives upon his mother's 
passing. In 1941, he graduated from Sanger High School and joined the 
Army Air Corps. During World War II, Eli flew 142 combat missions. He 
flew the A-36 Apache and P-47 Thunderbolt. Eli always showed great 
courage and superior flying ability during his combat missions. His 
service, heroism, and extraordinary achievements were recognized with 
two Distinguished Flying Cross awards.
  In 1944, upon receiving his first Distinguished Flying Cross for the 
combat mission he completed in Italy, Eli was promoted from First 
Lieutenant to Captain. In 1945, Eli received his second Distinguished 
Flying Cross after flying a combat mission in Germany. He exhibited 
great leadership and determination.
  When the war ended, Eli continued his service at the 144th Fighter 
Wing of the California Air National Guard. Later, he attended College 
of the Sequoias and began his legacy in journalism. After working in 
the radio and television industry for a short time, he started his 
remarkable career at The Fresno Bee. Eli worked at The Bee for 41 
years. He started out writing a weekly column, and later in his career, 
he was writing three columns a week. In 2002, Eli retired, and the 
contributions he made to the paper and the field of journalism were 
highly commended. Eli was a very insightful journalist, and his writing 
was both witty and humorous. His way with words could go unmatched.
  Eli was a mentor and friend to countless individuals. His humble 
demeanor and ability to poke fun at himself was always refreshing. Eli 
will be greatly missed by his wife, Yvonne, daughter, Amy, and two 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to honor the life of Eli Setencich, an 
American hero and distinguished journalist. His presence will 
undoubtedly be missed, but the impact he made on our community will 
never be forgotten.

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