[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10929]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING JOSEPH J. WALTERS OF BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2008

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor 
Joseph K. Walters, a constituent from Brooksville, Florida, who served 
with honor and distinction during World War II. It was during an aerial 
battle over Belgium in 1943 that Mr. Walters' plane was shot down, and 
he was forced to parachute into enemy territory. As a result of the 
landing and damage from the plane, Mr. Walters was wounded in battle, 
suffering a broken arm and earning him his Purple Heart.
  On the morning of August 17, 1943, SSG Joe Walters, a ball turret 
gunner on a B-17 bomber in the European campaign of World War II, had 
already flown 14 missions into enemy territory. This morning's mission 
was to bomb German ball bearing plants. Once the squadron took flight, 
they came under fierce attack from enemy gunners. Thankfully they were 
able to drop their bombs on the targets, but on the return flight to 
England came under attack and all 10 men in his airplane were forced to 
bail out.
  Landing in a fruit orchard in Boris, Belgium, Mr. Walters was helped 
by local farmer Lambert Tilkin and his son, men who were part of the 
underground resistance and who were able to get Mr. Walters to safety. 
It was during this parachute landing that Mr. Walters suffered his 
broken arm. Thankfully his arm healed during the 109-day journey back 
to England, a journey that had him walking through France, over the 
Pyrenees and through Spain.
  In addition to his Purple Heart, Mr. Walters has received the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the 
World War II Victory Medal, The American Campaign Medal, The European-
African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, The 
Army Good Conduct Medal and the Honorable Lapel Button.
  Madam Speaker, soldiers like Joseph J. Walters should be recognized 
for their service to our Nation and for their commitment and sacrifices 
in battle. I am honored to present Mr. Walters with his long overdue 
Purple Heart. He should know that we truly consider him one of 
America's heroes.

                          ____________________