[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 180 (Wednesday, November 14, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H9522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1715
                HONORING WAR HERO WALTER ``BERT'' MINTUS

  (Mr. ROTHFUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of western 
Pennsylvania native and war hero, Petty Officer Third Class Walter 
``Bert'' Mintus.
  Hailing from Portage, Pennsylvania, in 1942, Bert enlisted in the 
U.S. Navy and served as a radioman for Torpedo Squadron Fifty-One 
during World War II. This was the same torpedo squadron in which our 
41st President, George H.W. Bush, served during the war.
  On July 27, 1944, during a mission over the Pacific, his aircraft 
came under enemy fire from the Japanese and was shot down. Afterward, 
Bert and his brothers in arms on the plane were listed as missing in 
action and later presumed dead.
  For nearly 74 years, the Mintus family was unsure of the fate that 
befell their beloved family member. That changed this year. Thanks to 
the diligent efforts of the U.S. Navy, this past June, Bert's remains 
were identified; and last Thursday, Bert's family finally welcomed 
their war hero home.
  May God grant this son of western Pennsylvania eternal rest.

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