[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE OF TUSKEGEE AIRMAN JOHN WATSON, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Jenkins) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life of John Watson, Jr., of Beckley, a Tuskegee Airman who served our 
country honorably during World War II.
  Mr. Watson passed away on August 31, and he will be buried with 
honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
  I had the honor of meeting Mr. Watson in May when he was formally 
recognized as a Tuskegee Airman. Mr. Watson joined the military during 
World War II and served as an aircraft crew chief. These men were 
integral to the success of the Tuskegee Airmen but were never given 
their due until recently. I was pleased and honored to help present Mr. 
Watson with his Tuskegee red jacket and his Congressional Gold Medal 
when he visited the Capitol just this past May as part of an Honor 
Flight that was organized by Always Free Honor Flight of West Virginia. 
One of his granddaughters, Daphne Watson, was able to join him for the 
presentation, and there was not a dry eye in the room as Mr. Watson 
received his long past due, much-deserved recognition.
  After serving in World War II, Mr. Watson continued his work as an 
employee of the VA Medical Center in Beckley, West Virginia. He truly 
believed in giving back to his Nation, and we are better off for his 
service to our country.

                          ____________________