[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13879]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING WAR HERO IRA WEINSTEIN ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY

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                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2009

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 90th birthday 
of Ira Weinstein. For almost 60 years Ira has been a resident of 
Illinois' 10th District, and currently lives in Glencoe, IL. We also 
take this time to commemorate Ira, a WWII hero and an ex-POW for his 
bravery and service to his country.
  Born in Chicago in 1919 to a family of modest means, Mr. Weinstein 
found his calling in advertising when he worked for his high school 
newspaper. Unfortunately, his career aspirations were soon interrupted 
by the attack on Pearl Harbor and America's entrance into World War II.
  In 1942, just before completing his training as a bombardier-
navigator, he married Norma Randall, a marriage that would last until 
her death in 1995. While overseas, Ira was based with the 702nd 
Squadron in the 445th Bomb Group of the famed 8th Air Force. He flew 
two dozen harrowing missions, each time taking over the piloting duties 
of the massive B-24 Liberator.
  Trying to close out his quota of missions in order to go back home to 
his new bride, he traded in his pass for the Jewish High Holidays to 
complete one more mission. What was supposed to be a routine-mission 
became the ill-fated Kassel mission--the greatest single loss of men 
during the European air war. On September 27, 1944, his B-24 was 
critically damaged by an enemy attack forcing him to evacuate the 
bombardier's compartment while the aircraft was burning, falling to the 
ground in a dizzying flat spin. After a failed attempt, he bailed out 
with little time to spare. Landing safely in the tree line, Ira watched 
the locals pull his copilot out of the wreckage and pitchfork the man 
to death.
  After 6 days of evading capture, Mr. Weinstein was forced to turn 
himself in to local authorities in Germany. For the better part of the 
following year, he was held prisoner in Stalag Luft I in Barth, 
Germany, enduring brutal and unthinkable conditions. On May 11, 1945, 
the camp was liberated and for his heroism Ira was awarded several 
medals, including the Purple Heart and the distinguished French Croix 
de Guerre.
  Returning to Chicago, Mr. Weinstein took over a small advertising 
agency and grew it into a nationally known direct marketing firm. To 
those close to him, Ira was indefatigable, inquisitive, and inspiring, 
a man of unquestioned integrity, a loving father to two daughters, 
Laura and Terri, a proud grandfather, a cherished husband and a 
successful businessman acknowledged by his peers as a pioneer in his 
field. Today, Ira is retired and remarried to Mary Gandelman, with whom 
he continues to travel the globe.
  On June 10, we pause to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ira Weinstein. 
I commend Ira for his hard work and determination throughout some of 
the most challenging moments in American history. I hope that his story 
will never be forgotten.

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