[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN RONALD W. FORRESTER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2024

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
sacrifice of U.S. Marine Corps Captain Ronald W. Forrester. CAPT 
Forrester was reported missing in action during a combat mission during 
the Vietnam War. His remains were identified and accounted for on 
December 4, 2023, and he was buried with full military honors in 
Arlington National Cemetery on October 7, 2024. His answered call to 
service and dedication to our Nation left a legacy that has impacted 
multiple generations.
  CAPT Forrester was raised in Odessa, Texas and graduated from Texas 
A&M University in 1969. At Texas A&M University, he was a member of the 
Corps of Cadets before being commissioned as an officer into the Marine 
Corps.
  Within the Marine Corps, CAPT Forrester was a member of the Marine 
All-Weather Attack Squadron 533, Marine Air Group 15, 1st Marine Air 
Wing. On December 27, 1972, Forrester was assigned as the bombardier/
navigator aboard an A-6A Intruder along with the pilot, Captain Jim 
Chipman. During a nighttime combat mission over North Vietnam, radio 
contact with the aircraft was lost, and subsequent aerial search teams 
were unable to locate the missing plane or its crew. After several 
months, the Marine Corps changed the crew's initial Missing In Action 
status to Killed In Action.
  On December 4, 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) 
identified the remains of Captain Ronald W. Forrester as well as those 
of his fellow crewmember, Captain Jim Chipman. CAPT Forrester was 
officially welcomed home in a moving memorial celebration held on 
February 2, 2024, at Lake Travis United Methodist Church and attended 
by hundreds of his family, friends, Texas A&M classmates, and fellow 
veterans from across the country.
  At the time of his death, CAPT Forrester was 25 years old and married 
to Jana Bland Jenkins with a two-year-old daughter Karoni. She has 
dedicated much of her life to the POW/MIA cause, advocating for 
families who have dealt with the painful uncertainty surrounding their 
missing loved ones.
  The impact of CAPT Forrester's life has influenced more than just 
those who knew him. His nephew, Craig Forrester, followed his path to 
Texas A&M, the Corps of Cadets, and the Marine Corps. Craig Forrester 
credits his uncle's memory and legacy with inspiring his own military 
service. Forrester's granddaughter, Lilian Gonzales, believes she would 
not be the person she is without the love and support that has 
surrounded her because of her grandfather's absence and sacrifice.
  Captain Ronald W. Forrester lost his life in service to our Nation, 
and we are grateful that his family has been provided closure and 
allowed to bring him home to his fInal resting place.

                          ____________________