[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES LANE, JR.

 Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Lt. Col. 
Charles Lane, Jr., of Omaha, for his contributions to the United States 
of America through his military and public service. Mr. Lane passed 
away on November 8, 2013, at the age of 88. He lived a life dedicated 
to defending our country and helping others in the greater Omaha 
community.
  Lieutenant Colonel Lane's military career began in 1943, when he 
entered the Cadet Corps at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, AL. He 
soon became a fighter pilot and joined the Army Air Corps 99th Pursuit 
Squadron. In World War II, Lane flew 26 combat missions, flying P-51 
Mustang fighter planes. Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Lane 
continued his service in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years, until his 
retirement in 1970. His last station was at Strategic Air Command, 
Offutt Air Base, near Bellevue, NE. Following his service, Lane and his 
family remained in the area.
  In 2007, Lane was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President 
George W. Bush in recognition of his bravery, courage and sacrifice 
during World War II. Along with his fellow Tuskegee Airmen, he bravely 
rose above the racial divisions of the time to serve our country with 
honor and valor. In addition to their courageous service, the Tuskegee 
Airman provided inspiration to our country, paving the way towards 
greater equality for all Americans.
  As a civilian, Lieutenant Colonel Lane continued to serve his 
community. As Executive Director of the Greater Omaha Community Action 
Inc.--GOCA, he fought poverty on a number of fronts by addressing 
hunger, substance abuse, mental health and other issues. Spanning his 
tenure of more than two decades at the agency, he was known as being 
determined in his efforts to help the impoverished achieve self-
sufficiency.
  Demonstrating Lieutenant Colonel Lane's tireless passion for service, 
upon retirement he continued to volunteer his time, talent and 
resources to a number of important causes in the Omaha area. He founded 
the 99th Pursuit Cadet Squadron of the Nebraska Wing of the Civil Air 
Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. As the 
Squadron's first Commander and later its Commander Emeritus, he 
mentored countless youth and promoted aviation throughout Nebraska. He 
also served as a national representative of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
  Lieutenant Colonel Lane's lifelong commitment to our great Nation and 
serving others is truly commendable. I ask my colleagues and the 
citizens of the United States to join me in honoring his service on 
this day.

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