[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     ANNOUNCING RECIPIENTS OF THE INAUGURAL CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN 
              COMMENDATION FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to announce 
before my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives the 
names of eleven distinguished military veterans and community servants 
who call the Third District of Texas home. For their selfless service 
and dedication to their neighbors and nation, the following individuals 
have been selected as recipients of the inaugural Congressional Veteran 
Commendation:
  Thomas C. Garner joined the United States Army on March 5, 1943, 
eager to serve his nation during World War II. Originally assigned to 
the revered 78th Infantry Division, Garner soon applied and was 
selected for Army Air Corps pilot training. He served nearly a year 
abroad with the Air Corps, running an oxygen generating plant on Guam 
in support of the B-29 bombers that raided Japan.
  Six months after the war's end, Garner decided to make military 
service his career and reentered what was now the United States Air 
Force. Garner's troop carrier organization serviced all the embassies 
in Central and South America and the Caribbean and, from 1948-1949, 
participated in the Berlin Air Lift. Over the course of his career, 
Garner also deployed to Japan, Wake Island, Bermuda, Bangkok, and 
Thailand.
  Garner retired in 1970 after 27 years of active duty service. He then 
became a civil servant, kicking off a second, 20-year career with the 
Social Security Administration. During those years, Garner also served 
with the Texas State Guard, receiving numerous awards and citations and 
achieving the rank of Colonel.
  An active community servant with the Plano VFW and Air Force 
Sergeant's Association, Gamer continues to put others first.
  For these reasons, it is my pleasure to name Thomas Garner a 
recipient of the inaugural Congressional Veteran Commendation for the 
Third District of Texas.

                          ____________________