[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING THE SERVICE OF
                          DR. SANFORD L. JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ANDY BARR

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2015

  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
individual, Dr. Sanford L. Jones, of Richmond, Kentucky. Dr. Jones, a 
part of the Greatest Generation, answered his nation's call to service 
during World War II. Following the war, he had a distinguished career 
as an educator. Today, on his ninetieth birthday, it is my honor to 
recognize him before the House of Representatives.
  Dr. Jones was born in Lost Creek, in Perry County, Kentucky. The 
oldest of seven children, his father worked as a coal miner and his 
mother taught school. When he was a senior in high school, Dr. Jones 
was drafted into the United States Army. He served as a Staff Sergeant 
in the U.S. Army 15th Air Force, 304th Bombardment Wing, 455th 
Bombardment Group from 1944-1945. Dr. Jones was assigned as a nose 
turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber. He completed 35 missions over 
Europe, with targets in Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Germany. He was 
awarded the Air Medal, with three Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal, 
for his outstanding service.
  Dr. Jones flew many important missions, but one stands out in 
particular. On March 23rd, 1944, 157 Liberators flew a raid on the 
Saint Valentine tank factory north of Linz, Austria. The anti-aircraft 
flak by the Germans was rough. In the words of Dr. Jones, ``I never saw 
flak burst so close and so much at one time. There were flashes of fire 
everywhere.'' His plane was badly damaged. After the pilot miraculously 
landed the plane, crew members counted over one hundred holes in the 
plane. Seven Liberators were lost on this mission, the most harrowing 
one of Dr. Jones' service.
  Following the war, Jones completed high school and went on to earn a 
bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky State College. He taught high 
school in Perry County before receiving a master's degree from the 
University of Kentucky and a doctorate from the University of Tennessee 
Memphis. Dr. Jones served on the faculty of Eastern Kentucky University 
from 1961-1992, serving as Chairman of the Department of Biological 
Sciences for 13 years. Over his many years in education, he has 
affected hundreds of young lives. His dedication to the education field 
is admirable.
  The bravery of Dr. Sanford and his fellow men and women of the United 
States Army is heroic. Because of his courage and the courage of 
individuals from all across Kentucky and our great nation, our freedoms 
have been preserved for our generation and for future generations. He 
is truly an outstanding American, a patriot, and a hero to us all.

                          ____________________