[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING MR. RONALD RAPER

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                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2024

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Ronald Raper 
on Atomic Veterans Day and thank him for his service to our Nation. Mr. 
Raper was born on May 31, 1938, in Boulder, Colorado. At the age of 18, 
Mr. Raper enlisted in the United States Navy. In 1958, Mr. Raper was a 
part of Operation Hardtack I, where he was a member of the flight crew 
that flew into radioactive fallout to conduct air sampling of nuclear 
tests at the Pacific Proving Grounds in the Marshall Islands. During 
this operation, Mr. Raper also contributed to Operation Newsreel, a 
high-altitude naval study conducted near Johnston Atoll. Following the 
Vietnam War in 1973, he was deployed with USS Coral Sea and played a 
crucial role in Operation End Sweep. Stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin, 
North Vietnam, he contributed significantly to the Mine Logistics 
Carrier Stations, where he helped in the removal of naval mines in the 
waterways of North Vietnam. To recognize his dedication and leadership 
during this operation, Mr. Raper's Navy Commander awarded him with a 
citation for outstanding performance of duty. During his military 
career, Mr. Raper was stationed throughout the United States and around 
the world, having served in California, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Japan. 
This past year, Mr. Raper was awarded the Atomic Veteran Certificate 
and Atomic Veteran Service Commemorative Medal from the United States 
Department of Defense, to honor his service in Operation Hardtack I. 
This recognition is a testament to Mr. Raper's lifelong career of 
service and sacrifice in advancing our Nation's atomic and nuclear 
weapons program. In addition to this honor, Mr. Raper has received 
other distinguished awards throughout his career, including the Navy 
Good Conduct Medal, which he was awarded four times, and the National 
Defense Service Medal. In 1975, Mr. Raper retired from the Navy after 
serving 20 honorable years. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to join me in honoring the incredible life of 
Mr. Ronald Raper on Atomic Veterans Day and thank him for his dedicated 
service to our Nation.

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