E250 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 6, 2013 and meaningful improvements in their health During the debt ceiling standoff of 2011, the trial College of the Armed Forces National and healthcare. I urge my colleagues to stand ‘‘sequester’’ was designed as a default option Seminar in 1973. In 1943, General Lyon en- with me and recognize National Sleep Aware- so revolting to both Democrats and Repub- listed in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a reserv- ness Week. licans that it would force the bipartisan ‘‘Super ist and continued serving as a civilian flight in- f Committee’’ to adopt a workable budget plan. structor until he received a direct appointment While that Committee failed at this objective, as a flight officer in June 1944. During World HONORING REVEREND HECTOR the American people have been left to pay the War II, he was assigned to the 6th Ferrying VILLEGAS price. Group and ferried aircraft to the Pacific and The sequester, if fully implemented, will put European theaters. In 1945 he was assigned HON. JEFF DENHAM more than 2 million jobs at risk—more than to the North African Division of the Air Trans- OF CALIFORNIA half of which are associated with small busi- port Command and returned to the United IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nesses: States in 1946. The sequester will also create tremendous In 1947, General Lyon was commissioned Wednesday, March 6, 2013 uncertainty in financial markets and among as a Second Lieutenant and participated in Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to consumers, ultimately contributing to an esti- various Reserve assignments until his vol- acknowledge and honor the life of a beloved mated one-half of one percent drag on eco- untary recall to active duty in 1951. He was leader in the Newman Community, Reverend nomic growth this year; then assigned to Headquarters Air Training Hector Villegas, and to recognize his tireless These cuts will also undermine military Command as a staff pilot and was later trans- work as the Pastor of St. Joachim’s Catholic readiness, educational quality, and research ferred to the Military Air Transport Service, fly- Church. Ministering to thousands, Reverend output while leaving us with longer airport se- ing air evacuation and ferrying missions. In Villegas earned the respect of fellow clergy curity lines, more untreated mental illnesses, 1953 he volunteered for a tour of duty in and civic leaders alike. more hunger, more homelessness, and fewer Korea and flew 75 combat missions in the C– The Rev. Hector Villegas of Newman federal criminal prosecutions. 46 and C–47. From 1954 to 1963, General passed away March 1 at the age of 48, only It should come as no surprise that, accord- Lyon was assigned to various positions in the days from his 49th birthday. The Rev. Villegas ing to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll, Reserve and served as a flight commander was known for serving the parish with com- Americans oppose the sequester by a more and operations officer. In 1963 he was named passion and devotion, a spiritual leader whose than 2-to-1 margin. Commander of the 929th Tactical Airlift own life was guided by his deep faith. If Congress is unable to craft a bipartisan Squadron, March Air Force Base, California, He was born and raised in Tijuana, where agreement that takes sequestration off the and subsequently served as Commander of he was surrounded by many friends and en- table, this body has a duty to avert these cata- the parent unit, the 943d Tactical Airlift Group. joyed childhood adventures with his older sis- strophic cuts by any means necessary. This is In June 1970, General Lyon was assigned ter Patricia. He had a lifelong passion for exer- why I introduced the ‘‘Cancel the Sequester as mobilization assistant to the commander, cise, and through adulthood could often be Act,’’ a one-sentence bill that would repeal the Sacramento Air Materiel Area, McClellan Air found working out at a gym. His participation section of the Budget Control Act of 2011 that Force Base, California, and in February 1972, in a youth ministry camp inspired him to be- created these senseless, job-destroying cuts. he became mobilization assistant to the Com- come a priest. Please consider cosponsoring the ‘‘Cancel mander, Fifteenth Air Force at March Air After graduating from the Tijuana Diocese the Sequester Act,’’ so that we can prevent Force Base. He was promoted to the grade of Seminary with a degree in philosophy, the Washington’s dysfunction from inflicting further Major General on April 24, 1974, with date of Rev. Villegas came to California in 1998 as a harm on the American people. rank May 24, 1972. In March 1974 he was ap- seminarian at St. Jude’s parish in Ceres. He f pointed mobilization assistant to the com- attended St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo and mander in chief, Strategic Air Command, St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park before TRIBUTE TO GENERAL WILLIAM Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where he being ordained June 29, 2002, by Bishop Ste- LYON was involved in the planning of the transfer of phen Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annun- designated KC–135 units to the Reserve ciation. HON. KEN CALVERT Forces. In 1975, General Lyon was appointed The Rev. Villegas served at St. Stanislaus OF CALIFORNIA by President Gerald R. Ford to serve as Chief in Modesto from 2002 to 2007, serving as a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of Air Force Reserve Headquarters at the parochial vicar and later administrator pro tem. Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Pentagon, where he was responsible for man- He is survived by his mother, Evangelina aging a $700 million budget as well as the ac- Villegas of San Diego; and two sisters, Patri- Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today tivities of some 53,000 Air Force Reservists. cia Hernandez of Chula Vista and Adriana with my colleagues Congressman DARRELL Four years later, on April 16, 1979, he retired Quiroz Villegas of San Diego. ISSA, Congressman JOHN CAMPBELL and Con- from military service. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring gressman DANA ROHRABACHER, and on behalf General Lyon’s many military decorations Reverend Villegas for his unwavering leader- of the entire California Republican Congres- and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distin- ship, and recognizing his accomplishments sional Delegation, to honor and pay tribute to guished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three oak and contributions as Pastor of St. Joachim’s an individual whose dedication and contribu- leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Catholic Church. The life of Reverend Hector tions to our country and state are exceptional. Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readi- Villegas serves as an example of excellence We have been fortunate to have dynamic and ness Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal to those in our community, and his legacy will dedicated leaders who willingly and unselfishly with hour glass device, and the Republic of not be soon forgotten. give their time and talent to make their com- Korea Presidential Unit Citation. f munities, and country, a better place to live More than 50 years ago, General Lyon and work. General William Lyon is one of started building homes for returning military CANCEL THE SEQUESTER ACT OF these individuals. General Lyon’s many ac- personnel and others who wanted to make a 2013 complishments are wide ranging, as he has life in California. This modest effort evolved to made his mark as a successful businessman, become William Lyon Homes, which is now HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. a decorated member of the military and an ac- one of the nation’s largest private home- OF MICHIGAN tive supporter of the community. On March 9, builders. Headquartered in Newport Beach, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2013, General Lyon will be celebrating his California, William Lyon Homes has con- 90th birthday. structed more than 100,000 new residences in Wednesday, March 6, 2013 General Lyon was born in 1923 in Los An- Arizona, California and Nevada. Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to geles, California. Prior to entering the United General Lyon’s business success isn’t lim- raise my voice against the set of across-the- States Army Air Corps in 1943, he attended ited to homebuilding. In 1981 he and a partner board cuts—known as ‘‘the sequester’’—cur- the University of Southern California and the purchased AirCal, a regional air carrier based rently taking effect across the country. Dallas Aviation School and Air College. He in Newport Beach, California. General Lyon These devastating cuts are unique among completed the Air War College in 1971 and served as the Chairman and Chief Executive American public policies for a simple reason: the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Officer until 1987 when AirCal was purchased they were purposefully designed to be a bad Senior Officers Orientation Course in 1972 by American Airlines. His love of flying then idea. and 1974. Additionally, he attended the Indus- led him to acquire Martin Aviation, a fixed

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