[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING WWII VETERANS OF THE 485TH BOMB GROUP DURING 50TH AND FINAL 
                        REUNION IN DALLAS, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2014

  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize veterans 
of the 485th Bomb Group as they celebrate their 50th and final reunion 
this week in Dallas, Texas.
  The 485th Bomb Group was one of four heavy bomb groups assigned to 
the 55th Bomb Wing during World War II. The 485th began conducting 
combat operations on May 10, 1944 with a mission to bomb the 
marshalling yard at what is now Knin, Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia). 
Their final mission was flown to the Linz, Austria marshalling yard on 
April 25, 1945. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for 
the June 26, 1944 mission to the Florisdorf Oil Refinery in Vienna, 
Austria. Despite encountering heavy flak and intense fighter 
opposition, the Group was able to inflict considerable damage to the 
refinery, crippling the enemy's vital fuel production during a crucial 
period of the war.
  As we honor these heroes today, I am reminded of what President 
Calvin Coolidge once said, ``A nation which forgets its defenders, will 
itself soon be forgotten.'' I for one am committed to ensuring this 
nation never forgets the sacrifices that so many endured in order that 
we may enjoy the freedoms that have made our country so great.

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