[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF COL. BILLY CLYDE STEED

                                 ______


                      HON. G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 1996

  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to recognize a 
fellow Mississippian, Col. Billy Clyde Steed, who is retiring this 
month after 40 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. I wanted to 
share with my colleagues the highlights of Colonel Steed's outstanding 
career of service to his country.
  He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1956. After completion of 
recruit training, he reported to the 2d Marine Division and was 
assigned to the 8th Marine Regiment. He was later assigned to the 
amphibious reconnaissance company.
  In 1958, he was ordered to Marine Barracks, 8th & I, and remained 
there until 1962. From 1962 to 1964, he was stationed at the Marine 
Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, as a drill instructor. Colonel Steed 
was then transferred to the 1st Marine Division and served with 3d 
Battalion, 7th Marines. The 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, deployed to 
Okinawa and was redesignated as 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, and deployed 
to Vietnam in January 1965. During this period, he served as a squad 
leader, platoon sergeant, and platoon commander.
  Returning to the United States in 1965, he was again assigned to 
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, as an instructor at the Drill 
Instructor School.
  Commissioned a second lieutenant on September 30, 1966, he was 
ordered to the 2d Marine Division and attended the Aerial Observer 
School. During his tour with the 2d Marine Division he served as an 
instructor at the Aerial Observer School, executive officer for L 
Company, 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, and commanding officer, 
Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division. On 
December 30, 1967, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant. In 1968, he 
joined the 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, and deployed to the Republic of 
Vietnam, serving as a platoon commander, executive officer, and later 
as commander, I Company.
  When the 27th Marines returned to the United States, he remained in 
Vietnam and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division Aerial Observer 
Section. Upon returning to the United States in 1969, he was assigned 
to the G-4, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  In March 1970, he was promoted to Captain. From 1970 to 1971, he 
served with the Shore Party Battalion, 5th Marine Division, as a 
company commander and operations officer.
  Graduating from the Amphibious Warfare School in 1971, he was 
assigned as a company commander at Officer Candidate School.
  Again ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in December 1972, he served 
as an aerial observer with Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. Following 
the cease fire, he transferred to the Landing Support Group, 3d Force 
Service Regiment, Nam Phong, Thailand, and served as the operations 
officer.
  In 1974, he returned to the United States and was assigned as the I-
I, E Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Marines, Concord, CA.
  He was promoted to major in June 1977. He was next ordered to the 1st 
Marine Brigade in Hawaii and served as Weapons Company Commander, the 
executive officer for 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, the regimental S-4, and 
the operations officer for the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit.
  Graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1981, he was 
assigned as the Chief Aerial Observer, VMO-2, Camp Pendleton, CA. In 
July 1982, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to the 
air-ground exchange program where he served as G-3 Plans and Deputy G-
4, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.
  In 1984 he was assigned to the 1st Marines as the regimental 
executive officer. During April 1985, Colonel Steed assumed command of 
the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. In 1987 he was assigned as Assistant 
Chief of Staff, G-7, for preparedness and Special Operations Training 
Group of I Marine Expeditionary Force until August 1988. On August 29, 
1988, Colonel Steed assumed command of the 25th Marines. On October 1, 
1988, he was promoted to Colonel.
  On December 15, 1990, Colonel Steed was assigned as the MARCENT/I MEF 
G-3 (Operations Officer) during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. During that 
operation, Colonel Steed served as the operations officer for the 
largest U.S. Marine Corps combat operation since the Vietnam conflict.
  Returning to the United States in April 1991, Colonel Steed served as 
the G-3 Operations Officer for I MEF during the largest employment of 
U.S. Marine Corps Forces in counter-drug interdiction efforts in 
history. He was responsible for the deployment of over 10,000 marines 
and sailors in support of Joint Task Force-6 over a 2-year period. He 
later assumed the duties as Chief of Staff for I MEF, where he deployed 
to Somalia in November 1992. He later served as the Special Military 
Assistant to Adm. Jonathan Howe, USN (Retired), the Special U.S. 
Representative to Humanitarian and United Nations Operations in that 
besieged country. Following his return to the United States, he was 
summoned back to Somalia to work with the United Nations.
  Colonel Steed is currently the director of expeditionary warfare and 
special operations training at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA.
  Colonel Steed's personal decorations include: the Legion of Merit, 
the Bronze Star with Combat ``V,'' the Air Medal (Individual Award), 17 
Strike Flight Awards with Combat ``V,'' the Navy Commendation Medal 
with Combat ``V'' with two gold stars and the Purple Heart with on gold 
star.

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