[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 140 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING CLAUDE GORDON ``PEEWEE'' SHAFFER'S 90TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. KEN BUCK

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 2015

  Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Claude Gordon 
``PeeWee'' Shaffer's 90th birthday which will take place Saturday, 
October 3rd of 2015.
  Claude served his country from 1943 to 1946 during World War II. He 
was drafted into the Army and completed Gunnery School in Arizona. He 
was then sent to Rapid City Army Air Base in South Dakota for training 
and crew assignment as a ball turret gunner. Claude then became a Staff 
Sargeant and member of the 545th Bomb Squadron, the Dark Angel Crew.
  As a part of this distinguished squadron, he was ordered to carry out 
a bombing mission on Leipzig, Germany on March 17, 1945. On this 
mission, his B17 was shot down behind enemy lines near Naundorf, 
Germany. Claude was captured and became a prisoner of war.
  After being captured, Claude and his squad mates were prisoners to 
both the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe and were transported around 
Germany. They went to Oschatz, Weimar, Nuremberg, and Moosburg until 
finally arriving at the Stalag VII, a prisoner of war camp. It wasn't 
until April 29, 1945 that Stalag VII was liberated and he was released. 
Claude was discharged the following year.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Claude for his service 
to our country with a flag flown over the United States Capitol in his 
honor. He is a true patriot for his actions and I wish him a very happy 
birthday.

                          ____________________