[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 55 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H2297-H2298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING ALEX MILLS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) is 
recognized for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the 
majority leader.
  Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, after the Japanese attacks on Pearl 
Harbor on December 7, 1941, Americans from across the Nation were 
driven by a sudden sense of patriotism, and they sought ways that they 
could serve their country. One such patriotic American was young Alex 
Mills of Concord, North Carolina. Although Alex desperately wanted to 
serve his nation, at only 13 years old, he was too young to join the 
ranks of thousands of young men and women who were shipping off 
overseas.
  Determined to not allow his youth to stand between him and doing 
something significant, young Alex searched for a way that he could help 
his country. Now, learning of a newly organized outfit created to 
patrol the coastline and borders of our homeland, Alex quickly enlisted 
in the Civil Air Patrol.
  Throughout World War II, the Civil Air Patrol pilots flew hundreds of 
patrol missions searching for enemy submarines operating along our 
coastline. Throughout the war, the Civil Air Patrol spotted numerous 
German U-boats, and after the planes were fitted with bombs, the Civil 
Air Patrol crews were credited with sinking at least two enemy 
submarines. Recognizing the value of this volunteer force of civilians, 
Congress acted to make the Civil Air Patrol the official auxiliary of 
the United States Air Force.
  Forty-one years after first joining the Civil Air Patrol, Alex Mills 
was appointed as the chaplain of Civil Air Patrol's Rome Composite 
Squadron at the Richard B. Russell Airfield in Rome, Georgia.
  Since taking on the role of chaplain, Alex Mills has continued his 
exemplary service and has risen to the rank of

[[Page H2298]]

lieutenant colonel. He also has been recognized as the Georgia Wing 
Chaplain of the Year and the Southeast Region Chaplain of the Year.
  Having had the honor to serve side by side with Lieutenant Colonel 
Alex Mills during my tenure at the Rome Squadron, I can attest 
firsthand to his dedication to duty, God, and country. I have witnessed 
the positive impact he has had on many young Americans who, as he did 
74 years ago, joined the Civil Air Patrol as a way to serve their 
nation.
  On Sunday, April 26, I will have the honor of presenting the 
Congressional Gold Medal to Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills for his 
lifetime of service and as one of the few remaining charter members of 
the Civil Air Patrol.
  Of all those that I have served with during my time in the military 
and serving in Civil Air Patrol, there are only a few that have had 
such a positive influence on my life and the life of my family. Without 
any reservation, I can attest that Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills is one 
of those individuals.
  On behalf of the State of Georgia and Georgia's 11th Congressional 
District, I recognize and commend Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills for his 
74 years of service to God, community, and country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________