[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING LTC. ERNEST E. WILSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DIANA HARSHBARGER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 19, 2023

  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant 
Commander (Ret.) Ernest E. Wilson of Johnson City, Tennessee for his 27 
years of honorable and meritorious service to the United States of 
America while serving in the U.S. Navy.
  Lieutenant Commander Wilson entered the Navy as an Airman Recruit. 
Through his unparalleled dedication, consummate professionalism, and 
tenacious determination, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
  He selflessly served with numerous attack squadrons and made several 
extended deployments onboard aircraft carriers. Each tour of duty 
exemplified our Navy's confidence in his capacity to excel in positions 
of continually increasing authority and responsibility.
  During his final ship deployment, he served as Maintenance Officer 
for Attack Squadron (VA-172) ``Blue Bolts'', attached to USS Shangri-La 
(CV-38). During the extended deployment, USS Shangri-La took up 
position at Yankee Station, in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the Northeast 
coast of Vietnam. As a part of Task Force 77, the ``Shang'' served as a 
crucial launch site for air strikes over North Vietnam. Lieutenant 
Commander Wilson's superlative management and meticulous attention to 
detail ensured an unmatched level of operational readiness for all 
planes attached to the ``Blue Bolts.'' Throughout his career, 
Lieutenant Commander Wilson's initiative, perseverance, personal 
sacrifice, and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon 
himself and were in the highest traditions of the United States Naval 
Service.

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