[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3932]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF MAJOR TOM GRIFFIN

  (Mr. WENSTRUP asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, in 2008, at 92 years old, Major Tom 
Griffin stood up at a Veterans Day event in Cincinnati, and he told his 
story as one of the Doolittle's Raiders that attacked Tokyo after the 
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
  Managing to bail out after the attack and making his way to China, 
Tom returned to the U.S., deployed once again, this time to Europe, and 
was a POW for almost 2 years. Tom Griffin never said, why me; but, 
rather, why not me?
  Growing up in the Depression, Tom Griffin learned to put service 
above himself. Over the years, I saw Tom tend to other veterans as they 
aged, and he was there for their final separation from service on 
Earth.
  Tom Griffin has completed his Earthly mission. However, the positive 
effects of his work will never perish. But are we worth the sacrifice 
made by Tom Griffin and so many others?
  Will history show that we treasured the gift of freedom that he 
handed us?
  We all need to commit to ensure that Tom Griffin's efforts on behalf 
of freedom will not have been in vain. May he be able to look down at 
us and say, well done.
  Tom Griffin, you led a good life. You were a good man and the 
greatest of Americans. Thank you, and God bless you, Tom Griffin.

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