[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING AND CONGRATULATING THE SERVICE OF LT. COL. JOHN ``KARL'' MARKS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. VICKY HARTZLER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2022

  Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
the service of one of the highest-time fighter pilots in the U.S. Air 
Force, Lt. Col. John ``Karl'' Marks.
  On September 1, 2021, U.S. Air Force Reserve pilot, Lt. Col. Marks 
made history whenever he became the only pilot to reach 7,000 hours in 
the A-10C Warthog; in addition to becoming one of the highest-time 
fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force. Lt. Col. Marks is assigned to the 
442nd Fighter Wing based out of Whiteman Air Force Base. He has an 
impressive career which spans over three decades with over 3,610 
flights, 1,150 combat hours from thirteen combat deployments in 
multiple theaters of operations, and his most memorable combat mission 
of the destruction of 23 Iraqi tanks in a trio of missions during 
Desert Storm.
  It has been said that Lt. Col. Marks is a humble and outstanding 
attack pilot who loves to fly and brings an immense amount of 
invaluable knowledge to the 442nd Fighter Wing. Among the incredible 
feat of achieving 7,000 hours in a single aircraft type, Lt. Col. Marks 
has had memorable missions from Desert Storm I, Desert Storm II, and 
from Afghanistan. During his time in Afghanistan's Kunar Valley in 
2014, Lt. Col. Marks was able to help extract a Jaguar 20 squadron 
which was surrounded by the Taliban with no casualties. This is just 
one of the many successful combat missions Lt. Col. Marks has had.
  It is with great honor that I recognize the dedicated service of U.S. 
Air Force Pilot Lt. Col. John ``Karl'' Marks. Please join me in 
congratulating this true American hero for his dedicated valor and 
service to our Nation.

                          ____________________