[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27825]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAYMOND ERIC JONES, A MEMBER OF THE GREATEST 
                               GENERATION

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Raymond Eric Jones got married at the 
tender age of 19 to Lucille, and then he was off to serve his country 2 
years later in the great World War II. Raymond flew B-17s over Germany, 
including bombing Normandy to prepare for the D-day invasion. In 1944, 
before his 25th mission, he was informed that upon completion of that 
mission, he would be taken back home to America as a hero and do public 
relations for the Air Force.
  But that was not meant to be. His B-17 on that 25th mission was shot 
up and quickly crashed in a German field. Four members died on impact. 
Even though he was wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Jones pulled the 
remaining two from the wreckage, and he would remain in a German 
prisoner of war camp for the next 11 months. Fifty-eight years later, 
Lieutenant Colonel Jones received the distinguished Flying Cross for 
saving his two crew members. He has also received the Purple Heart, the 
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the POW medal and the 
Presidential Unit Citation.
  Monday, in the presence of his family, Taps will be played at 
Arlington National Cemetery, where Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Jones 
will be buried with full military honors, another member of the 
Greatest Generation who made America proud. Amazing breed--a rare 
breed, these World War II veterans.
  And that's just the way it is.

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