1Honoring the life of Theodore Van Kirk, navigator for the Enola
2Gay during its mission to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima,
3Japan, during World War II.

4WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk was born in Northumberland,
5Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1921; and

6WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk graduated from Northumberland High
7School and briefly attended Susquehanna University before
8enlisting in the United States Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet
9Program in October 1941; and

10WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk received his commission and aviator
11wings in 1942 and was assigned to the first navigational B-17
12Flying Fortress unit in England; and

13WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk returned home in 1943 and married Mary

1Jane Young; and

2WHEREAS, In 1944, Mr. Van Kirk joined the 509th Composite
3Group at Wendover, Utah, as a crew member of the B-29
4Superfortress aircraft, the Enola Gay, which he navigated during
5its mission to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on
6August 6, 1945; and

7WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk received the Silver Star, Distinguished
8Flying Cross and 15 Air Medals for his distinguished service;
9and

10WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk ended his service in 1946 at the rank
11of Major and enrolled at Bucknell University, where he received
12bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering; and

13WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk accepted a position with DuPont, where
14he held various research and marketing positions for 35 years;
15and

16WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Mr. Van Kirk participated
17in numerous air shows and spoke to high school and student
18groups about his experiences during the war;

19WHEREAS, Mr. Van Kirk's military career was documented in the
20book, My True Course, written by Suzanne Dietz and first
21published in 2012; therefore be it

22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life of
23Theodore Van Kirk, navigator for the Enola Gay during its
24mission to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during
25World War II.