[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 175 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1474-E1475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING MR. WILFRED R. DeFOUR, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2018

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent 
from New York's 13th Congressional District, Mr. Wilfred R. DeFour, Sr. 
and celebrate him on his 100th Birthday and highlight his service in 
defense of our nation.
  Mr. DeFour was raised in Harlem where he attended Dewitt Clinton High 
School, City College of New York, and the New York University School of 
Commerce.
  Mr. DeFour served in the 366th Air Service Squadron of the U.S. Army 
Air Corps and later the 332nd Fighter Group; military aviators and 
personnel known as a Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
  Mr. DeFour was an aircraft technician working on many of the planes 
flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. In fact, Mr. DeFour painted the tails of 
aircraft red by hand that lent the airmen their signature moniker of 
``Red Tails''.
  Mr. DeFour is a lifelong New Yorker and returned to New York City 
after his military service to work for the U.S. Postal Service for 33 
years where he demonstrated extraordinary pride in his work for the 
people of Harlem as evidenced by his ascendance to Superintendent of 
Special Delivery and Parcel.
  Earlier this month, Mr. DeFour celebrated his 100th birthday and over 
the weekend, he

[[Page E1475]]

was recognized for his service by the Claude B. Goven Tri-State Chapter 
Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
  Mr. Wilfred R. DeFour, Sr. is a model of perseverance and success in 
the face of racial animus and someone who I am immensely proud to have 
as a constituent. His contribution to our New York City community is 
omnipresent and it is my personal pleasure to wish him well on his 
100th birthday and highlight his life of achievement and service.

                          ____________________