[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EASTLAND TEXAS' OWN, CLIFTON A. HORN

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the small rural Texas town of Eastland 
is the home of Clifton A. Horn who was born there 92 years ago on 
October 24th. After graduating from high school in 1943, he worked in 
the shipyards building destroyer escorts for the U.S. Navy in Orange, 
Texas. In 1944, the Colonel, as he is known to all, was inducted into 
the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet training to be a multiengine 
pilot. However, World War II ended before he was able to serve.
  The Colonel returned to Texas to attend the University of Houston 
where he served as a judge on the Student Court, as president of his 
fraternity, and as a member of the student government. Colonel Horn 
worked to establish the ROTC program at the University of Houston and 
was in the first class of members who graduated from the program at the 
University of Houston. His portrait still hangs on the wall in the ROTC 
office.
  While attending the University of Houston, Clifton was a volunteer 
that fought the fire caused by a fertilizer explosion on the S.S. 
Grandcamp, a French freighter. The explosion obliterated Texas City, 
killing nearly 600 people, and lifting ships directly out of the water. 
The Texas City Disaster of April 1947 was the largest non-nuclear 
explosion killing hundreds and destroying the docks.
  After graduating from the University of Houston, he was commissioned 
as a 2nd Lieutenant and called to active duty. The Colonel then served 
in the 7th Field Artillery of the Big Red One 1st Infantry, attended 
Basic Officers Course, and then served as a Company Commander in 
Korea's 142nd Quartermasters Battalion, then served as a Group 
Commander at Ft. Bragg. He served all over Germany, Europe, Japan and 
the United States. During this time, he also graduated from the United 
States Army War College.
  Colonel Horn's decorated career continued as he served as an advisor 
to the Vietnamese Army during his first tour of Vietnam. During his 
second tour, he commanded a firebase as a battalion commander in the 
1st Cavalry Division Airmobile. After his final tour in Vietnam, 
Colonel Horn was transferred to Washington, D.C. to serve in the 
Immediate Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. It was 
during this time that he was promoted to full Colonel.
  In 1972, he was transferred to Germany as the Commander of the US 
Army Procurement Agency Europe. The Colonel retired in 1978 after 
honorably serving his nation for over 30 years. He can now be found 
most days on the golf course or playing gin or poker in the locker room 
of the Atascocita Country Club. Clifton's daughter-in-law, Tonia Horn, 
a United States Air Force Veteran, is a member of my Texas staff. For 
all of his world travels, the Colonel is happiest when surrounded by 
his wife of 62 years, three children, seven grandchildren and nine 
great grandchildren.
  Happy golfing, Colonel Horn. Your bravery and courage has helped make 
our nation a safer place.
  And that is just the way it is.

                          ____________________