Recognizing Major George A. Davis, Jr.

Floor Speech

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Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, you often hear me refer to West Texas as the Food, Fuel, and Fiber Capital of the World--where we feed, power, and clothe our Nation--but our greatest resource is the people who have made and shaped West Texas into the God-fearing and freedom loving place that it is today.

The patriots of West Texas work hard and stand up for what's right. Perhaps no one embodies these values more than the man I honor here, an all-time great West Texan and Medal of Honor Recipient, Major George A. Davis, Jr.

Maj. Davis was born on December 1st, 1920, in Dublin, Texas, before moving to the West Texas town of Morton, a little over 50 miles west of Lubbock. In 1942, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Maj. Davis enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Lubbock, Texas, as an Aviation Cadet. During World War II, Maj. Davis piloted a P-47 Thunderbolt with the 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group. He heroically completed 266 missions, logged 705 combat hours, and shot down 7 Japanese fighter planes between 1943 and 1944, contributing greatly to Allied air superiority.

Following World War II, Maj. Davis again returned to the skies, this time in Korea, where it is said he distinguished himself by going above the call of duty and displaying immense courage in the face of great risk to his life.

On February 10th, 1952, Maj. Davis and his wingman encountered 12 enemy MIG-15 aircraft speeding toward allied fighter-bombers who were engaging the enemy. In an attempt to put himself in between the enemy combatants and our allied bombers, Maj. Davis rerouted his aircraft and dove directly into the MIG formation. While under fire, Maj. Davis destroyed two enemy aircraft, and instead of retreating, reduced his air speed to engage a third MIG-15 in defense of the Allied fighter- bombers. It was this last of many selfless and heroic decisions that led to Maj. Davis suffering a direct hit that took the life of this West Texas hero and sent his plane crashing behind enemy lines some 30 miles south of the Yalu River.

His heroic and selfless acts in support of the mission and his fellow airmen in the face of formidable odds, provided enough cover to allow the allied bombers to successfully complete their mission and continue in the fight for another day. As a result of these acts of uncommon valor, Maj. Davis was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Now, over 70 years later, his fellow veterans are fighting to bring Maj. Davis back home to Lubbock so he can be the first veteran buried at the new West Texas States Cemetery. As one of only seven American pilots to ever become an ace in two different wars and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, three Silver Stars, the Purple Heart, and the Medal of Honor, Maj. Davis is an American hero. I implore my colleagues in Congress to do everything in our power to ensure his family can welcome him home to his final resting place in West Texas.

On behalf of the 19th Congressional District of Texas, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Maj. George A. Davis, Jr. and his entire family for their tremendous sacrifice in service to our Nation.

God Bless, and Go West Texas.

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