[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 117 (Thursday, July 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MELVIN FRANCIS FISHER

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today sadly but, also, in honor of 
the passing of a dear friend from Shasta County, Mel Fisher. Melvin 
Francis Fisher was born in Detroit, Michigan.
  I first came to know Mel and his lovely wife, Kathy--what a character 
this couple was--during the first time I went to a Pearl Harbor 
survivors event in Shasta County in about 2002.
  Mel joined the Navy in 1940 to follow in the footsteps of his father, 
who was a fighter pilot in World War I. He couldn't have known what the 
journey was going to take him to; so, indeed, when he was in Pearl 
Harbor aboard the USS Whitney, that was where they were attacked by the 
Japanese. His ship was responsible for shooting down two Japanese 
planes that day.
  Mel later went on to serve on the USS Indiana, participating in 
military engagements in Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Okinawa, and more.
  In 2010, my family and I had the privilege of accompanying Mel, 
Kathy, and their family to the 69th anniversary commemoration of the 
Pearl Harbor attack. Indeed, that is something I will always treasure.
  His military service was very distinguished, but his family remembers 
someone who gave back to his community in service. He loved to fish on 
and around Lake Shasta.
  He peacefully passed away on Father's Day, surrounded by his loving 
family. He will be greatly missed.
  It was an honor for me to know such a man as Mel Fisher, who served 
his family faithfully and his community with love and is loved by so 
many.
  God bless you, Mel.

                          ____________________