[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1401-E1402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO RETIRING MARINE CORPS MAJ. WALLACE W. HILLS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 1996

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marine Corps 
Maj. Wallace W. Hills, of Albany, NY, who is retiring this August after 
a 19-year career. Major Hills has served his country with honor and 
dedicated service

[[Page E1402]]

and I would like to ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to join me in saluting him.
  A native of Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island, where he attended Sachem 
High School, Major Hills is departing as the Commanding Officer of the 
Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Albany on Saturday, July 20. Under 
his command, Recruiting Station Albany has earned four consecutive 
Commandant of the Marine Corps' Superior Achiever Awards for recruiting 
excellence, an indication of the overall excellence with which Major 
Hills has served his country.
  Major Hills joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from East 
Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, in December of 1976 with a 
bachelor of arts degree in history and political science. At East 
Stroudsburg University, he earned All-Conference and All-Pennsylvania 
honors as a member of the 1975 undefeated championship football team.
  He completed Basic School for Marine Crops officers in May 1977, and 
has served in a variety of commands and assignments during a 
distinguished and decorated career. Upon graduating Naval Air Training 
Command, he served as an A-6 pilot with the Marine All Weather Attack 
Squadron 121. After two deployments in the western Pacific, where he 
made the Marine Attack Squadron of the Year, he transferred to 
Recruiting Station-Northern New Jersey for 3 years. He returned to the 
Fleet Marine Force in July of 1986, where he became Commanding Officer 
of Combat Service Support Detachments 24 and 27. Between August 1990 to 
April of 1991, Major Hills participated in operations Desert Shield, 
Desert Storm and Eastern Exit--the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in 
Somalia.
  During his career, Major Hills garnered many decorations and awards, 
including: the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star; the Navy 
Achievement Medal; the Navy Unit Citation with bronze star; the 
Meritorious Unit Citation with three bronze stars; the National Defense 
Medal; the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars--
signifying service during Desert Shield and Desert Storm; the Kuwait 
Liberation Medal; and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze 
stars.
  Major Hills is married to the former Kathryn Gaughan, of Scranton, 
PA, who is a first-grade teacher at the Albany Academy for Girls. They 
have two sons, David and John, who are a senior and a freshman, 
respectively, at Shaker High School, in Loudonville, NY. Upon his 
retirement Major Hills will serve as the senior Marine instructor and 
teach leadership science for the Marine Corps Junior ROTC unit at 
Amsterdam High School, in Amsterdam, NY.
  The men and women in the Armed Forces, like Maj. Wallace W. Hills, 
perform a service for this country that too often goes unrecognized. 
America has achieved and maintained a position of leadership and 
respect throughout the world because of the sacrifice and effort 
offered by our Armed Forces. The rest of America should pause more 
frequently to think of these men and women in uniform who keep this 
Republic safe, so we may enjoy the fruits of democracy. That is why I 
urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to take a moment and 
recognize Maj. Wallace W. Hills for his service to America.

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