[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO MAJOR RICHARD W. COOPER, JR., USAF

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Richard W. Cooper, 
Jr., a U.S. Air Force Major who conducted missions over Southeast Asia. 
Major Cooper was the navigator aboard a B-52D Stratofortress bomber out 
of Westover Air Force Base that participated in Operation Linebacker 
II, a bombing campaign in the waning days of U.S. involvement in 
Vietnam. On December 19, 1972, Major Cooper's plane was downed and he 
was listed as ``Missing In Action'' for over 30 years. Major Cooper was 
thirty years old. Recently, Major Cooper's remains were found, 
identified, and returned to the United States. His remains will be 
buried at 11 a.m. on December 19th, 2003 in Arlington National 
Cemetery.
  Through his service and commitment, Major Cooper was awarded eleven 
decorations that include the Distinguished Flying Cross; the Purple 
Heart; the Air Medal with two silver and two bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; 
the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; and, the Combat Readiness Medal.
  In recognition of his life, the nation owes a deep debt of gratitude 
to Major Cooper for his courage, heroism, and exemplary service. Our 
thoughts and prayers are with Major Cooper's family in Holyoke, 
Massachusetts as they finally lay him to rest.

                          ____________________