[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF PETTY OFFICER RAUL GUERRA

  (Mrs. NAPOLITANO asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Petty 
Officer Raul Guerra and the work of the Bring Raul Home Committee.
  Petty Officer Guerra was born in 1942, grew up in Los Angeles County, 
was beloved by his friends and family, and known for his love of 
journalism.
  Petty Officer Guerra enlisted in the Navy Reserves in 1965 and was 
deployed to Vietnam as a Navy journalist. On the evening of October 8, 
1967, Petty Officer Guerra volunteered for a combat mission to support 
a major airstrike over North Vietnam. His plane was tragically shot 
down and crashed. Due to heavy terrain and hostile territory, he was 
pronounced killed in action. His remains were not recovered.
  A local paper, the Whittier Daily News, in 2007 reported that a local 
Navy seaman's remains had been found, which was part of a long process 
to return Petty Officer Guerra's remains home.
  His former classmates, Ruben Valencia, and Donna and Gary Petersen 
formed the Bring Raul Home Committee. They worked over 12 years to 
diligently spread his story, search for living family members, and held 
many meetings with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
  The DPAA, in February 2019, notified the committee of the closure of 
Petty Officer Guerra's case, that he would finally return home, whereby 
he received full honors at LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, 
escorted by numerous, caring people.
  Petty Officer Raul Guerra was finally laid to rest after 52 years on 
April 25, 2019.
  I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of fallen 
Petty Officer Raul Guerra and recognize the dedication and years of 
work shown by the Bring Raul Home Committee.

                          ____________________