[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 5, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING CAPTAIN RICHARD A. KIBBEY AND THE AIRMEN ABOARD THE JOLLEY 
                                GREEN 05

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 5, 2017

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, to recognize POW/MIA Day, on September 15, 
2017, the Department of the Air Force, 920th Rescue Squadron, will 
honor the life and sacrifices of Captain Richard A. Kibbey, MIA, by 
presenting his Dog Tags to his surviving family at Patrick Air Force 
Base in Cocoa Beach, FL.
  Captain Kibbey was one of four aircrew members aboard the HH-3E 
helicopter, call sign JOLLEY GREEN 05, on a mission to rescue downed 
pilot Captain Lucius L. Heiskell. On February 6, 1967, despite poor 
weather and limited visibility, Kibbey and his crew succeeded in 
picking up Captain Heiskell, but they were hit repeatedly by 37mm AAA 
fire. The burning HH-3E flew for about a mile before colliding head-on 
with a limestone cliff.
  Of the five men aboard JOLLEY GREEN 05, only one survived--
pararescueman Dwayne Hackney, who was found after the incident. The 
other four airmen were designated as Missing in Action: Major Patrick 
H. Wood, pilot, MIA; Captain Richard A. Kibbey, copilot, MIA; SSgt 
Donald J. Hall, flight engineer, MIA; and Captain Lucius L. Heiskell, 
0-1F pilot, MIA.
  Although the four men were carried in MIA status for some years, an 
Air Force review board ultimately determined that all available 
evidence indicated that they had died in the crash. Captain Kibbey's 
Dog Tags were recently discovered near the accident site by a local 
farmer and were transferred to the U.S. authorities.
  Captain Kibbey and the crew of the JOLLY GREEN 05, including Captain 
Heiskell, laid their lives down on the altar of freedom for the benefit 
of our nation and our way of life. Posthumously, for his actions, 
Captain Kibbey was promoted to Colonel and awarded the Silver Star and 
the Purple Heart. On behalf of the United States Congress I would like 
to express my sincere appreciation for their sacrifices. At my request, 
on August 30, 2017, the Architect of the Capitol flew the United States 
Flag over our Capitol Building to further honor the sacrifices of 
Captain Richard A. Kibbey and his crew.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting these brave airmen, and 
their families, for their commitment to serving our nation and 
protecting our freedom.

                          ____________________