[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4097]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OREGON AIR NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KURT SCHRADER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th 
Anniversary of the Oregon Air National Guard.
  The Oregon Air National Guard was born on April 18, 1941, when 
Oregon's own Major G. Robert Dodson sent the celebrated message, 
``We've got people, we've got a place, and we're ready!'' to the 
National Guard Bureau and was allowed to activate the 123rd Observation 
Squadron. For the next seventy-five years the Citizen Airmen of the 
Oregon Air National Guard have been serving Oregon and the Nation with 
distinction.
  During World War II, the 123rd Observation Squadron patrolled the 
skies of the Pacific Northwest protecting our nation.
  Several years later Oregon Air National Guard pilots continued to 
serve our nation by flying over one thousand combat missions during the 
Korean War.
  As the Cold War took shape, the Citizen Airmen of the Oregon Air 
National Guard stood up to protect the Pacific Northwest. Since 1958, 
they have been on air defense alert twenty-four hours a day, seven days 
a week patrolling the skies from northern California to the Canadian 
border.
  On September 11, 2001, the citizen-airmen of the Oregon Air National 
Guard were among the first in the air. After ensuring the security of 
our homeland they again went overseas to provide vital support to 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Seventy-five years after their founding the Oregon Air National Guard 
continues to protect the skies of the Pacific Northwest, support our 
Nation's mission abroad, and stand ready to provide disaster relief for 
the great state Oregon and our Nation.
  Today the Oregon Air National Guard is made up of 142nd Fighter Wing 
in Portland, the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, and the Joint 
Force Headquarters in Salem, Oregon.
  Oregonians are proud of the hallowed legacy of our citizen airmen and 
airwomen. I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 75th 
Anniversary of the Oregon Air National Guard and honoring those who 
have and continue to serve their country and the great state of Oregon.

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