[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF JERRY HODGES, JR.

  (Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Tuskegee Airmen 
Commemoration Day to honor the extraordinary life and service of one of 
these brave aviators, Jerry Hodges, Jr.
  At a time when our Nation was thrust into World War II and in the 
thick of Jim Crow, Jerry stepped up to serve his country, joining the 
first group of Black military pilots in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  His commitment to challenging the status quo while supporting our 
Nation did not end with the war.
  After graduating from the University of Southern California, he 
helped lead one of the first African-American-owned insurance companies 
in California.
  His legacy of excellence, courage, and unwavering devotion to justice 
and equity has paved the way for generations of African Americans in 
uniform and beyond.
  That is why I am proud to introduce legislation to rename a Post 
Office in my district in his honor. As we pass by the future Jerry T. 
Hodges Post Office, may we be reminded to carry forward his legacy and 
strive to be changemakers in our own communities.

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