[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 16 (Friday, January 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E138-E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING LT. COL. ED SAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 30, 2015

  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of the late 
Lt. Col. Ed Saylor. Lt. Col. Saylor was part of the infamous Doolittle 
Raiders who risked their lives during World War II. These men were 
responsible for raising the morale of an entire nation after the 
devastating attack on Pearl Harbor.
  Lt. Col. Saylor passed away Wednesday, but he is not gone from our 
hearts. His heroic actions will tell his story long after we are gone. 
Without him, the USS Hornet's plane number 15, also known as ``TNT'' 
and a critical part of the Doolittle Raid, would never have flown in 
1941. Sgt. Saylor, as he was then, was able to remove and repair the 
engine of ``TNT''--the first time this had ever been done at sea. He 
was also responsible for writing the words ``Democracy's Ace in the 
Hole'' on the side of the plane just before take-off. This message and 
symbolism would resonate for the duration of the war, helping to remind 
our troops that our side was fighting the right battle.
  Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Saylor went above and beyond the call of duty. 
He served our country in the military for 28 years; he helped America 
rise to greatness from the brink of despair,

[[Page E139]]

propelling us to victory. We will never forget him and I am proud to 
have called him my friend. I will always cherish his gift of a stained 
glass B52 Bomber he had hand-made himself.

                          ____________________