[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY, JACK MATES

  (Mr. HECK of Nevada asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to 
recognize and wish a happy birthday to World War II veteran and Las 
Vegas Distinguished Flying Cross Chapter chairman Jack Mates, who will 
celebrate his 90th birthday on October 14.
  Mr. Mates served in the United States Army Air Force during World War 
II and was a B-17 squadron leader based out of Italy. He was awarded 
the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while 
participating in aerial flight against the enemy in the Mediterranean 
theater of operations. According to his award citation, Lieutenant 
Mates consistently displayed outstanding courage, aggressiveness, and 
intensive devotion to duty throughout all engagements.
  With his aircraft frequently severely damaged by heavy enemy fire, 
Lieutenant Mates courageously remained at his station, battling his way 
through to his targets to aid materially in the utter destruction of 
vitally important enemy installations and supplies.
  After his honorable discharge, Jack Mates worked closely with his 
father, learning the marketing business, and in 1959 was part of the 
group responsible for the introduction of Velcro to consumers across 
the United States. He later became president and chief executive 
officer of Velcro USA in 1980, upholding his central role while helping 
expand the brand until his retirement in 1986.
  Mr. Mates helped found the Distinguished Flying Cross Society in 1996 
in order to preserve the history and tradition of military aerial 
heroism. Since that time, he has remained an active participant in DFC 
society activities and served as Las Vegas chapter chairman.
  According to friends and family, Jack truly lived the American Dream 
and embodies the reason we refer to his generation as our greatest. It 
is with great pleasure that I join Lieutenant Jack Mates' family and 
friends in wishing him a very happy 90th birthday.

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