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Congressional Daily Record
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July 16, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. VICTORIA SPARTZ
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Mrs. SPARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Peter Bauer Dunbar, a dedicated American, accomplished aviator, and distinguished veteran whose extraordinary service and devotion to family reflect the finest traditions of our Nation.
Indiana, to Irma and Willard Parker Dunbar, Sr., Mr. Dunbar spent his early years on the family farm near Crawfordsville, where he and his brothers, Willard and Samuel, worked daily caring for livestock and supporting the operations that sustained the family during and after the Great Depression.
Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship to Harvard College, where he excelled academically and in leadership. He ultimately served as Battalion Commander of the Harvard NROTC unit. His summers included active-duty assignments aboard the USS Albany, USS Purdy, and at training sites in Virginia and Texas.
Mr. Dunbar graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering and Applied Physics and immediately entered night training, where he further distinguished himself through rigorous instruction at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and NAS Corpus Christi. In 1960, he was assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1) in Japan. He served four years in highly classified operations as a pilot and navigator of the Airborne Radar Surveillance and Intelligence Plane (EC-121M), conducting missions across Asia and the Western Pacific, including involvement in Operation Dominic. His leadership culminated in his role as an Electronic Warfare Aircraft Commander.
After transferring to the Naval Reserve in 1964, Mr. Dunbar pursued graduate studies at Purdue University, where he earned his Master of Science in Industrial Administration as a Krannert Scholar. He continued to fly for the Navy Reserve, piloting the Douglas C-54 and C- 118 aircrafts at Naval Air Station Glenview and Alameda, demonstrating ongoing commitment to military readiness and service.
for Pan American World Airways, flying the Boeing 707 and teaching navigation to new aviators. Throughout the Vietnam War, he completed more than 400 transits into Vietnam, transporting troops, equipment, mail, and supplies. He later qualified on the Boeing 747, quickly rising to the position of Training Captain.
On February 7, 1966, Mr. Dunbar married Tomoko Furukawa at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. This marked the beginning of a life of partnership that brought them one daughter, Cynthia. The family later settled in Carmel, Indiana, after many years in California. In 1986, following the transfer of Pan Am's Pacific operations to United Airlines, he continued flying for another decade, mastering the 727, 757, 767, and serving for several years as a 747 Captain.
Mr. Dunbar completed six years of active-duty Navy service, followed by three years in the Ready Reserve and five years in the Standby Reserve, ultimately achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His exemplary service earned him a place on the retired list, marking the culmination of a life defined by dedication, skill, and honor.
Mr. Speaker, the life of Peter Bauer Dunbar stands as a remarkable testament to courage, excellence, and steadfast commitment to his country, his family, and the values that have long guided generations of Americans.