[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 172 (Friday, October 17, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING COLONEL JOHN BATTISTA AIROLA, USMC, RETIRED, WITH A 
                   CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION

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                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 17, 2025

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to present retired USMC 
Colonel John Battista Airola, of Huntsville, Texas, with a 
Congressional Veteran Commendation. His servant's life reflects the 
hard work and dedication that exemplifies the best of our Nation's 
values.
  Colonel Airola entered active duty at Quantico, Virginia in August of 
1955 at twenty-one years of age and served with honor and heroism 
during the Vietnam War with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the 
Marine Corps. His service instilled not only a sense of pride in his 
four children but led them all to the call of duty serving as officers 
in multiple branches of our Nation's military.
  Colonel Airola served 9 years in foreign service to our Nation with 
significant combat earning the following; Vietnam Service Medal with 2 
Stars, Bronze Star Medal with combat V, National Defense Service Medal, 
Navy Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit 
Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm, Vietnam Campaign Medal 
with device, Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, 
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Pistol Expert (15th Award), Rifle 
Sharpshooter and Legion of Merit dated May 4, 1987.
  Throughout his distinguished military career, he completed Recruit 
Training in 1955, then moved on into Infantry Combat Training later 
that year. In 1956, he completed the ANGLICO Basic Course (ABC) 
followed by Officer Candidate School and subsequent Basic School in 
1957. Carrying on with additional training, he completed Duties of a 
Motor Transport (MT) Officer and Embarkation Duties in 1958. By 1965, 
he completed additional training that included Jr. Landing Force Plan 
Staff II and Nuclear Weapons Orientation. As the war in Vietnam heated 
up, he completed Amphibious Warfare training in 1968 and the Senior 
Officer Preventative Maintenance Course by 1972 and later the 
Instructors Orientation Course in 1975.
  After his 32-year career in the Marine Corps, Colonel Airola 
transitioned his service over to the HEARTS Veterans Museum from its 
inception. His countless hours of volunteering, setting up museum 
displays, participating in parades, and educating the visitors and 
children is nothing short of amazing. Up until the summer of 2025, at 
the age of 91, John came in to volunteer every Saturday and even when 
he couldn't attend regularly, he still financially supported the 
mission of HEARTS.
  Colonel Airola is an exceptional candidate for this Commendation. His 
leadership is paramount and has furthered the mission of HEARTS Museum 
over the years by starting the local Marine Corps Birthday Celebration 
each year, helped foster the early days of HEARTS and served on its 
board of directors for many years advocating for his fellow veterans in 
addition to his support for the local Marine Corps League, Toys for 
Tots and Semper Fi Fund. It is this advocacy and impact which lead him 
to be tapped to serve on the inaugural Congressional Veterans 
Commendation committee for East Texas.
  Colonel Airola has made it his mission to continue to educate our 
visitors and the children about the pride in service to our country and 
our Nation's military history. The Colonel is history; the Colonel is 
an exceptional American Soldier. It is with this level of love of 
country and his beloved United States Marine Corps and all of its glory 
and strength that I proudly commend retired USMC Colonel John Battista 
Airola of Huntsville, Texas to his friends, family, and colleagues, and 
salute his service to the Marines, his country and Walker County by 
awarding him the 2025 Congressional Veteran Commendation.

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