[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 102 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7759-S7760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I wish to compliment Senator Pryor and 
others for passage of the taxpayer bill of rights. I also wish to 
recognize Senator Grassley, because he worked very energetically in 
trying to see that the Taxpayer Bill Of Rights 2 would actually become 
law. I am delighted we were successful in passing that today.
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                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                 TRIBUTE TO LT. GEN. PAUL E. BLACKWELL

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Lt. Gen. 
Paul E. Blackwell, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans of 
the U.S. Army, who will retire on 26 July 1996. Lieutenant General 
Blackwell's career spans 31 years in which he has given distinguished 
service as a soldier, leader, and visionary for our military. Let me 
briefly recount to you the career of this distinguished servant of our 
Nation.
  A native of South Carolina, Lieutenant General Blackwell graduated 
from Clemson University where he earned both a bachelor and masters of 
science. He entered active duty as a second lieutenant in 1965 as an 
infantryman. Since then, he has commanded at platoon through division 
level.
  Lieutenant General Blackwell has served in every type of U.S. Army 
division--light, airborne, mechanized, motorized, and armor. He has 
held an extraordinary variety of command and staff positions, including 
commanding general, 24th Infantry Division (mechanized) and his most 
recent assignment as deputy chief of staff for operations and plans. 
Other key assignments include commanding general, 2d Armored Division(-
), Garlstedt, Federal Republic of Germany; commander, III Corps 
(Forward), Maastrich, The Netherlands; assistant division commander, 3d 
Armored Division and commander, Hanau Military Community, Federal 
Republic of Germany; deputy director for operations, National Military 
Command Center, Joint Staff, Washington, DC; commander, 1st Brigade, 
9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA; chief of staff, 9th Infantry 
Division, Fort Lewis, WA; G3 (operations officer), 9th Infantry 
Division, Fort Lewis, WA; commander, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry, 3d 
Infantry Division, Aschaffenburg; Brigade S3, 2d Brigade, 3d Infantry 
Division, Kitzingen; S3, 2d Battalion, 325th Infantry, 82d Airborne 
Division.
  Lieutenant General Blackwell's combat experience includes two tours 
in the Republic of Vietnam and service in Saudi Arabia during Operation 
Desert Storm. During his tours in Vietnam, he served in various 
positions to include commander, Company D, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 
9th Infantry Division and platoon leader of an airfield security 
platoon. During Operation Desert Storm, Lieutenant General Blackwell 
served as the assistant division commander of 3d Armored Division.
  Lieutenant General Blackwell's career spanned a period of enormous 
changes and great turmoil requiring vigilance coupled with decisiveness 
to ensure our Nation's security. He has adapted to new and diverse and 
integrated technologies to assist the Army to change both 
intellectually and organizationally to meet the challenges of the 21st 
century.

[[Page S7760]]

  Throughout his three decades of service, Lieutenant General Blackwell 
provided flawless moral character and vision for our Army. He led by 
example and significantly contributed to the transformation of the Army 
from a cold war, forward deployed force, into a power projection force, 
ready to defend the national interest in any corner of the world, 
whenever the Nation called. While meeting the challenges of today, he 
prepared the Army for tomorrow as well, with a farsighted and far-
reaching vision of the conduct of future war. His determination to keep 
the Army ``trained and ready,'' his sense of responsibility to his 
soldiers and the Nation, and his understanding of both our history and 
the future of armed conflict have given this Nation an Army capable of 
achieving decisive victory now and into the 21st century.
  Lieutenant General Blackwell's career reflects selfless service to 
our Nation and the essence excellence we expect from our military 
leaders. Through the decades of service and sacrifice, he has been 
supported by a loving family. Lieutenant General Blackwell's family is 
a critical part of his success. Janet Blackwell and his son, Paul, have 
served the Nation by providing unconditional love and support through 
numerous deployments and countless family moves to maintain the 
homefront for this dedicated soldier.
  Lt. Gen. Paul E. Blackwell is the quintessential professional, loyal 
servant of the Constitution, and caring leader for America's sons and 
daughters, on behalf of the Congress of the United States and the 
people we represent, I offer our sincere thanks for your service.

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