June 30, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1183 Fairness Act of 2000. This February many of TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SERVICE- 478th Service Squadron, 1037th Signals; Cpl. my constituents were placed into a special MEN OF USAAF B–17 40–2072 Edward Tenny, 479th Service Squadron. hazard flood zone, a designation which neces- Pfc. Norman J. Goetz, 480th Service sitated the purchase of flood insurance. These HON. GARY G. MILLER Squadron; Pfc. Frederick C. Sweet, 481st residents were not notified that they would be OF CALIFORNIA Service Squadron, 46th Ordnance Company; required to purchase flood insurance until two IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES T/Sgt. Alfred H. Frezza, 27th Depot Repair months or less before the maps became effec- Squadron; Cpl. Jacob O. Skaggs, Jr., 27th Thursday, June 29, 2000 tive, even though the law is supposed to give Depot Repair Squadron; Pvt. James E. them six months notice. This exacerbated an Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speak- Finney, 27th Depot Repair Squadron; Pvt. already difficult situation, as residents who had er, I rise today to recognize and honor forty Raymond D. Longabaugh, 842nd Aviation En- not seen flooding in decades or a lifetime had American soldiers killed over fifty-seven years gineer Battalion; Cpl. Marlin D. Metzger, 374th little notice to purchase costly insurance. ago in a terrible aviation accident. This mishap Troop Carrier Group, 6th Troop Carrier Squad- occurred in Bakers Creek, Queensland, Aus- Several residents who did not believe they ron; Pfc. Frank S. Penska, 374th Troop Car- tralia on 14 June 1943. At the time, it was not were in the flood zone hired a surveyor at rier Group, 6th Troop Carrier Squadron; Sgt. only the worst aviation accident in Australia, their own expense. The data provided by this Anthony Rudnick, 565th Signal Battalion, but also the worst aviation accident of World private surveyor resulted in their homes being Company A; Pfc. Vernon Johnson, 440th Sig- War II. nal Battalion, Company A; Pfc. John W. removed from the special hazard flood zone. The aircraft was operated by the United While these residents were not required to Parker, 809th Chemical Company. States Army Air Force 46th Transport Carrier Mr. Speaker, although these men came purchase flood insurance, they did spend over Squadron, 317th Troop Carrier Group $200 each for the surveyor. They were told by from twenty different states, were from many (46TCG) of the 5th Air Force, United States different walks of life, and served in many dif- FEMA that they were responsible for that ex- Army Air Force, and was one of many B±17 pense, even though the mistaken flood zone ferent units, their common purpose was one: aircraft removed and converted from combat service to our nation. Until recently, the details classification was made by the county engi- status and placed with the 46th as a transport neers. of this mishap were classified by the Air aircraft. Shortly after takeoff from the Mackay Force, but now that the incident is available Clearly the national flood insurance program airport in Bakers Creek, Australia, their B±17 for public attention, I desire to honor the mem- needs to be revised to give homeowners more flying Fortress lost altitude, falling to the earth ory of these fine young men. notice and due process. That's why I am pro- in a slow and steady bank and crashed in a I applaud the efforts of people like Mr. Colin posing this legislation. ball of flames. In addition to the six crew Benson, who is a historian for the Mackay The National Flood Insurance Program Fair- members, thirty-five soldiers were on board, chapter of the Returned and Service League ness Act of 2000 would do the following: Re- returning to their posts after being on leave in (RSL) of Australia. Mr. Benson's devotion to quire the FEMA Director to notify by registered Mackay. Their names, rank, and units follow: obtaining the records of the incident and seek- mail the Chief Executive Officer of each com- Crew: 1/Lt. Vern J. Gidcumb, Pilot, 317th ing recognition for these men has been long munity affected by changes in Flood Insurance Troop Carrier Group, 46th Troop Carrier and arduous. As an Australian, Mr. Benson's Rate Maps. The Director will be required to Squadron; F/O William C. Erb, Co-Pilot, 317th dedication to our American soldiers is com- provide a copy of the revised map, along with Troop Carrier Group, 46th Troop Carrier mendable. Rarely does a foreign country ap- a statement explaining the process of appeal. Squadron; 2/Lt. Jack A. Ogren, Navigator, plaud the efforts and sacrifices of another, and The director will also provide the affected 317th Troop Carrier Group, 46th Troop Carrier strive so hard to honor their dead. I also ap- community sufficient information to identify Squadron; S/Sgt. Lovell Dale Curtis, Crew plaud Mr. Eugene D. Rossel's commitment which homes are affected. Require the Direc- Chief, 317th Troop Carrier Group, 46th Troop and dedication to the disclosure of this terrible tor to notify by registered mail the Chief Exec- Carrier Squadron; S/Sgt. Frank E. Whelchel, mishap. He is that type of American who will utive Officer of each community of FEMA's re- Crew Chief, 374th Troop Carrier Group, 22th not rest until heroes like the men I listed sponse to the community's appeal of the flood Troop Carrier Squadron; Sgt. David E. above are recognized for their personal sac- insurance rate maps. Require the Director to Tileston, Radio Operator, 317th Troop Carrier rifice. notify by first class mail each owner of prop- Group, 46th Troop Carrier Squadron. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we give thanks to all erty affected by the changes in the flood insur- Passengers: Pfc. Arnold Seidel, 5th Air our veterans for the sacrifices they made for ance rate maps. Require FEMA to reimburse Force, 415th Signal Company; Pvt. Ruben L. our great nation. Unfortunately, we must also a resident for reasonable costs incurred in Vaughn, 5th Fighter Command, HQ Squadron; live with the knowledge that some of our serv- connection with a surveyor or engineer for an T/5 George A. Ehrman, 5th fighter Command, icemen and women do not live long enough to appeal to the Director which is successful. Signal HQ Company; S/Sgt. Roy A. Hatlen, become veterans. They give their lives so that This does not include legal services incurred 35th Fighter Group, 40th Fighter Squadron; S/ ours might be better, and the men of B±17 by the resident. Sgt. John W. Hilsheimer, 35th Fighter Group, 40±2071 did no less. May we continue to rec- 40th Fighter Squadron; Sgt. Dean H. Busse, ognize and memorialize our fallen servicemen It is my hope that the legislation will allow 35th Fighter Group, 40th Fighter Squadron; communities to better work with FEMA to en- and women, long into the future. Cpl. Raymond H. Smith, 35th Fighter Group, f sure that residents are given sufficient, fair, 40th Fighter Squadron; Maj. George N. Pow- and timely notice if they will be required to ell, 49th Fighter Group, HQ Squadron; Pfc. Je- CONGRATULATING 30 SIXTH GRAD- purchase flood insurance. rome Abraham, 49th Fighter Group, Hq ERS OF SHADY LANE ELEMEN- Squadron; Pvt. Charles, D. Montgomery, 49th TARY SCHOOL f Fighter Group, 7th Fighter Squadron; Capt. John O. Berthold, 49th Fighter Group, 8th PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS Fighter Squadron; Sgt. Carl A. Cunningham, OF NEW JERSEY 49th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Sgt. Charlie O. LaRue, 49th Fighter Group, HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR 8th Fighter Squadron; Sgt Leo. E. Fletcher, Thursday, June 29, 2000 OF MINNESOTA 38th Bombardment Group, 405th Bombard- Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment Squadron; Sgt. Donald B. Kyper, 38th commemorate a great day, on which 30 sixth Bombardment Group, 405th Bombardment grade students from Shady Lane Elementary Thursday, June 29, 2000 Squadron; Cpl. Franklin F. Smith, 38th Bom- School reached all of the appropriate levels on bardment Group, 405th Bombardment Squad- their Terra Nova test. Ms. Pat Campanile's Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, during the ron; T/Sgt. James A. Copeland, 8th Service sixth grade class is an outstanding group of consideration of H.R. 4762, legislation to re- Group, HQ Squadron; Cpl. Charles W. Samp- young people. I wish the best of luck to the quire Section 527 disclosure, my vote was not son, 8th Service Group, 11th Service Squad- following group of sixth graders: Pedro Alva- recorded on final passage. ron; Pfc. Dale Van Fosson, 8th Service Group, rez, Angelica Beltran, Jeffrey Clement, Da Had I been present, I would have voted 1160th Quartermaster Company; Pfc. Kenneth Juane Collins, Shannon Costro, Casaundra ``aye'' on Rollcall 341. I ask unanimous con- W. Mann, 36th Service Group, 374th Service Davis, Erin Feeney, Julia Fluke, Kalem sent that my statement appear in the RECORD Squadron; Pfc. Charles M. Williams, 455th Francis, Lacey Hall, Matthew Hanratty, Gina after Rollcall Vote 341. Service Squadron; T/5 William A. Briggs, Hinchliffe, Darrell Jenkins, Sachi Jonas,
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