[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               HONORING A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, FRED W. DYER

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell you of a man that 
served our country with unselfish bravery. A combat pilot that did more 
than just fly planes, Fred Dyer was a man of tremendous service and 
dedication. Sadly Fred recently passed away.
  Fred was valued by his fellow pilots as a man that would never turn 
his back or leave in the middle of the storm. He often times put his 
own life in danger to ensure that the lives of others were safe. In one 
of many accounts recorded in Tom Brokaw's book, ``The Greatest 
Generation,'' a fellow pilot, George Wells, tells of how many bombing 
records were made by their unit, but one of the most notable was when 
he and Fred established the record for the highest number of bomber 
missions flown by a United States pilot in World War II. They flew 102 
missions before returning home for rest.
  In 1943, Fred recieved the distinguished Service Cross for action in 
Sicily where he refused to leave a plane that had caught on fire until 
everyone on board was safely out. All the crew members donned 
parachutes and jumped; Fred waited until they were all out then jumped 
himself. Unfortunately, he landed in the midst of a tank battle, but he 
was quickly rescued by British soldiers. Acts of bravery like these are 
why Fred was credited with medals such as the Distinguished Flying 
Cross, the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Air Medal with 15 
clusters.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I offer this tribute to honor Fred 
Dyer. He put the lives of others before his own and displayed 
unparalleled loyalty and bravery. Fred will be missed by all those who 
knew him.

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