[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5691-H5692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1230
TUSKEGEE AIRMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT J. FRIEND MEMORIAL POST
OFFICE BUILDING
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1170) to designate the facility of
the United States Postal Service located at 1 League in Irvine,
California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J.
Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1170
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TUSKEGEE AIRMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT J.
FRIEND MEMORIAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1 League in Irvine, California, shall be
known and designated as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant
Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel
Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr.
LaTurner) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise
and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this
measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 1170 to
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 1 League
in Irvine, California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel
Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
Before passing away in June of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Friend was
one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who took to the skies during
World War II as the first African American military aviators.
The roughly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 combat sorties,
destroyed 260 enemy aircrafts, and received 150 decorations of the
Flying Cross and Legion of Merit, fighting the Nazi Luftwaffe while
simultaneously striking a blow against racism back home.
Lieutenant Colonel Friend flew fighter aircrafts for nearly 2 years
during the war. During Lieutenant Colonel Friend's 142 combat missions,
he destroyed critical Nazi and Axis power military assets, helping move
the U.S. and ally forces towards victory during the war.
In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Friend served in strategic roles as
an operations officer for the 301st Squadron and was the final
operations officer of the 332nd Fighter Group. Lieutenant Colonel
Friend also served honorably in Korea and Vietnam.
Lieutenant Colonel Friend was the recipient of multiple military
awards for service, including the: Distinguished Flying Cross,
Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three
Distinguished Service Medals, and an Air Medal. In addition, Lieutenant
Colonel Friend and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Friend studied astrophysics at
the Air Force Institute of Technology and business at the University of
California in Los Angeles. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971,
he worked as a consultant on the development of missile systems and
space-station components near his home in Irvine, California.
Naming a post office for Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Friend is
entirely appropriate given his distinguished, extraordinary
contributions to his State and country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1170, which would name a
post office after Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend, one of the last
surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
Lieutenant Colonel Friend was a fighter pilot for 2 years during
World War II, and destroyed critical Nazi military assets, bolstering
the United States. He also served in Korea and Vietnam.
After retiring from the military, he studied astrophysics and
business at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much
time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Porter), the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations of the Committee on Natural Resources.
Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for recognizing me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1170, which will
designate the post office located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as
the Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post
Office Building.
I introduced this bill to honor the legacy of a true Orange County
hero, Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend.
Before passing away in June of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Friend was
one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who took to the skies during
World War II as the first African American military aviators. The
roughly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 combat sorties, destroyed 260
enemy aircraft,
[[Page H5692]]
and received 150 decorations of the Flying Cross and Legion of Merit,
fighting the Nazi Luftwaffe while simultaneously striking a blow
against racism back home.
Lieutenant Colonel Friend flew fighter aircraft for nearly 2 years
during the war. During his 142 combat missions, he destroyed critical
Nazi and Axis power military assets, helping move the U.S. and Allied
forces toward victory during the war.
Lieutenant Colonel Friend was the recipient of multiple military
awards for valorous service, including the: Distinguished Flying Cross,
Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three
Distinguished Service Medals, and Air Medal. In addition, Lieutenant
Colonel Friend and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Friend studied astrophysics at
the Air Force Institute of Technology and business at the University of
California, Los Angeles. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, he
worked as a consultant on the development of missile systems and space-
station components near our community and his home in Irvine,
California.
Lieutenant Colonel Friend is survived by his children: Thelma,
Robert, Jr., Michael, Debra, Dana, Karen, and Clara Ann Browning; 18
grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-
grandchildren. His son, Darryl, died in 2002 while on active duty in
the military.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the other Members of the California delegation
for signing on in support of this bill and ensuring that Lieutenant
Colonel Friend's name is memorialized and his legacy lives on for
future generations.
Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am
prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of
H.R. 1170. I thank Representative Porter for her strong support in
helping to pass this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1170.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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