[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                HONORING THE LIFE OF PETER BAUER DUNBAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. VICTORIA SPARTZ

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2026

  Mrs. SPARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Peter 
Bauer Dunbar, a dedicated American, accomplished aviator, and 
distinguished veteran whose extraordinary service and devotion to 
family reflect the finest traditions of our Nation.
  Born on January 29, 1936, at Epworth Memorial Hospital in South Bend, 
Indiana, to Irma and Willard Parker Dunbar, Sr., Mr. Dunbar spent his 
early years on the family farm near Crawfordsville, where he and his 
brothers, Willard and Samuel, worked daily caring for livestock and 
supporting the operations that sustained the family during and after 
the Great Depression.
  After graduating from Crawfordsville High School in 1954, he earned a 
Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship to Harvard College, 
where he excelled academically and in leadership. He ultimately served 
as Battalion Commander of the Harvard NROTC unit. His summers included 
active-duty assignments aboard the USS Albany, USS Purdy, and at 
training sites in Virginia and Texas.
  Mr. Dunbar graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering 
and Applied Physics and immediately entered night training, where he 
further distinguished himself through rigorous instruction at Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Pensacola and NAS Corpus Christi. In 1960, he was 
assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1) in Japan. He 
served four years in highly classified operations as a pilot and 
navigator of the Airborne Radar Surveillance and Intelligence Plane 
(EC-121M), conducting missions across Asia and the Western Pacific, 
including involvement in Operation Dominic. His leadership culminated 
in his role as an Electronic Warfare Aircraft Commander.
  After transferring to the Naval Reserve in 1964, Mr. Dunbar pursued 
graduate studies at Purdue University, where he earned his Master of 
Science in Industrial Administration as a Krannert Scholar. He 
continued to fly for the Navy Reserve, piloting the Douglas C-54 and C-
118 aircrafts at Naval Air Station Glenview and Alameda, demonstrating 
ongoing commitment to military readiness and service.
  On October 4, 1965, he began a new chapter as a pilot and navigator 
for Pan American World Airways, flying the Boeing 707 and teaching 
navigation to new aviators. Throughout the Vietnam War, he completed 
more than 400 transits into Vietnam, transporting troops, equipment, 
mail, and supplies. He later qualified on the Boeing 747, quickly 
rising to the position of Training Captain.
  On February 7, 1966, Mr. Dunbar married Tomoko Furukawa at the U.S. 
Embassy in Tokyo. This marked the beginning of a life of partnership 
that brought them one daughter, Cynthia. The family later settled in 
Carmel, Indiana, after many years in California. In 1986, following the 
transfer of Pan Am's Pacific operations to United Airlines, he 
continued flying for another decade, mastering the 727, 757, 767, and 
serving for several years as a 747 Captain.
  Mr. Dunbar completed six years of active-duty Navy service, followed 
by three years in the Ready Reserve and five years in the Standby 
Reserve, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His 
exemplary service earned him a place on the retired list, marking the 
culmination of a life defined by dedication, skill, and honor.
  Mr. Speaker, the life of Peter Bauer Dunbar stands as a remarkable 
testament to courage, excellence, and steadfast commitment to his 
country, his family, and the values that have long guided generations 
of Americans.

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