[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8772-8773]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING COLONEL HERMAN ``HANK'' TILLMAN FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED 
                 SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2012

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Herman 
``Hank'' Tillman who passed away on February 19th 2012. Colonel Tillman 
received 41 citations and medals over a 31 year career of service in 
our nation's military, making him one of Maryland's most decorated war 
heroes. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
  Colonel Tillman was born in Baltimore, MD in 1922. He graduated from 
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and went on to attend Johns Hopkins 
University. While enrolled in night classes at Johns Hopkins and 
working throughout the day in the engineering department at Baltimore 
Gas and Electric Company, the United States was attacked at Pearl 
Harbor. Six weeks later, he enlisted.
  Colonel Tillman first received his wings in December 1942 as part of 
the ``Pearl Harbor Anniversary Class,'' and by the age of 20, he was 
piloting the B-17 Flying Fortress, at the time the world's biggest 
bomber. In two years, he flew 52 missions many of which were deep 
behind enemy lines. He made Captain at 21 and shortly after his 23rd 
birthday he was promoted to Major. He received the Purple Heart and the 
Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 for safely landing his plane and 
crew despite heavy damage from German fire and serious shrapnel 
injuries to his leg.
  After his distinguished service in WWII concluded, Colonel Tillman 
returned home to his high school sweet heart, Elizabeth Anne Brown. 
They were married on June 25th, 1944 at Brooklyn Baptist Church. They 
had three children--Paula, Bruce, and Terri--and Betty left her 
position with the Coast Guard to care for the kids full-time while 
Colonel Tillman served abroad.
  Colonel Tillman's continued service in the Air Force took him to 
Korea and Vietnam. He later told the Baltimore Sun, `` `I was a career 
person,' he says, `As an Air Cadet graduate, I had taken the 
[officer's] oath. To me, commitment and oaths mean something, just like 
a marriage oath.' '' In Vietnam he flew 105 combat missions, most of 
which were in unarmed recon jets through heavily guarded enemy 
airspace. He received the Silver Star for a reconnaissance flight 
through heavy anti-aircraft fire near Mugia Pass that allowed attack 
planes to pinpoint enemy targets.
  Colonel Tillman retired from the Air Force in 1972 after compiling 
5,000 hours of flying time and earning 23 medals for bravery. He 
started a family business in Baltimore called Tillman Tool Company and 
later retired with his wife Betty to Kent Island, Maryland.
  Colonel Tillman led an accomplished and fulfilled life. I would like 
to take this moment to thank him for his service to the United States, 
and to pass along my condolences to his proud family. Although we can 
never repay the debt our nation owes Colonel Tillman and other veterans 
like him, their sacrifices will always be remembered.

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