[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5965]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL THOMAS H. MAYFIELD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON RUNYAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 27, 2012

  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to one of 
my constituents, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Mayfield of Willingboro, 
New Jersey for his courageous and dedicated service to our Nation. 
Lieutenant Colonel Mayfield entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941 and 
was one of the first members of the 332d Fighter Group, more commonly 
known as the Tuskegee Airmen, an African-American aviation unit which 
provided critical support for the Allied campaign during World War II.
  Tuskegee Airmen like Lieutenant Colonel Mayfield were called upon to 
serve their country at a time when the armed forces were segregated, 
yet they persevered in the face of discrimination and proved themselves 
to be valiant and indispensable warriors. Their example paved the way 
for future generations of African Americans to serve honorably in the 
military.
  For his outstanding service to the United States as one of the 
original Tuskegee Airmen, Lieutenant Colonel Mayfield was awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal--the highest civilian honor Congress can 
bestow. This historic unit's unparalleled record also led to a 
Presidential Unit Citation.
  Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Mayfield retired from the United States 
Air Force in 1970 with over 29 years of distinguished service. 
Throughout his military career he received numerous accolades, 
decorations and awards for outstanding service, most notably, the 
Silver Pilot Wings and promotion to Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army 
Air Corps after completing flight training school in Tuskegee, Alabama.
  I thank Lieutenant Colonel Mayfield for his patriotism, and his 
continued service to his community and his country. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in recognition of this trailblazing American 
aviator.

                          ____________________