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Gwen Jones, of Chandler, pins an award on her father, John Dudley Meadows, during his surprise 91st birthday party. Rep. Louie Gohmert paid a visit to the party to show his support for the veteran. Courtesy photo One Air Force veteran had a surprise visit from a US congressman during a recent birthday party.

John Dudley Meadows, father of Chandler resident Gwen Jones, was not expecting to attend his birthday party March 20 – with his birthday still two weeks away – and he was certainly not expecting to have Representative Louie Gohmert in attendance.

 “It was such an honor to present east Texas native, John Dudley Meadows, with the World War II Medal he earned but never received,” Gohmert said.

Meadows was presented with the Good Conduct Medal for his service in the US military.

“Congressman Gohmert's special trip to present the Good Conduct Medal to my Dad was a surprise we kept from him until Friday night (March 20) when we gave him the party for his 91st birthday 2 weeks early at the Longview VFW Hall,” Jones said. “Representative Gohmert expressed appreciation to him for his service and took time to sit and chat with him personally before the presentation. I was honored to pin the medal and ribbon on my father's shirt.”

Representative Louie Gohmert, right, shows John Dudley Meadows the Good Conduct Medal. Meadows was presented with the medal for his extraordinary military service. Courtesy photo Gohmert spoke before presenting Meadows with his award.

“Some of our military members fought heroically in foxholes and trenches, relying on supplies that were consistently brought in by plane by people who risk their lives daily, but never got much recognition, like Mr. Meadows,” Gohmert said. “For example, it was incredibly risky for Dudley Meadows to airlift supplies even in Asia and rig ways to refuel in flight by having a plane carrying extra fuel tanks drop a line with a weight on it that could be grasped and pulled into his plane to then pull down a hose that could be inserted into his own fuel tank – but they did what had to be done to keep fighters on the ground supplied. It all contributed to an Allied victory.”

Meadows joined the Army Air Corps (forerunner of the US Air Force) in December 1942. He trained at Spartan Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met and later married his first wife, Jones' mother.

Jones said Meadows flew the B-29, C-124, C-47 and C-46. During World War II he flew supplies and mules along the China-Burma-India route above the Himalayan Mountains.

While in the active Air Force reserves, Meadows flew cargo missions during the Korean War and the Vietnam War until September 1970.

Meadows later retired from the reserves as a major. Some of the other countries he flew in include West Germany, Scotland, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, the Azores Islands and Spain.

Jones said Gohmert also presented Meadows with two “space pens,” which will write with or without gravity, a paperweight engraved with the Congressional seal on it combined with a magnifying glass for reading, and a US flag previously flown over the Capitol Building.

“Several other veterans attended the presentation and Rep. Gohmert took time to visit with each one that spoke to him,” Jones said. “Mr. Ken Dance, who is retired from TJC, drove over to Longview with Rep. Gohmert. Both gentlemen were very gracious, personable, and sincere; our family and friends appreciated their time and consideration given to make this event a special event for my father.”

Gohmert also expressed his gratitude for veterans such as Meadows.

“Some give their lives heroically in a matter of seconds. In Dudley Meadows’ case, he gave it, day after day, year after year for decades of valiant service in the U.S. Air Force,” Gohmert said. “We who benefited are grateful.”