[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 19, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO COL. NORMAN S. BRINSLEY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

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                          HON. THOMAS W. EWING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 19, 1997

  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a 
distinguished and dedicated military officer who has served this Nation 
with great honor and distinction. Col. Norman S. Brinsley will retire 
on April 4, 1997, after 30 years of commissioned service in the U.S. 
Army and Army Reserve. His career accomplishments reflect the type of 
military leader this Nation has depended upon in times of both peace 
and war. Today I would like to take a few minutes to highlight Colonel 
Brinsley's career.
  Col. Norman S. Brinsley's distinguished career in the U.S. Army and 
Army Reserve has spanned more than three decades. He enlisted in the 
Army in May of 1966, during which he attended the Infantry Officer 
Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. After earning a commission as a 
second lieutenant, Colonel Brinsley attended the infantry school's 
basic Airborne course to learn the fine art of Army parachuting.
  Colonel Brinsley served three tours in Vietnam in a variety of 
assignments. He served in operations and logistics with the 7th Special 
Forces Group as well as in logistics and administration with the 5th 
Special Forces Group. He commanded Company E, 4th Battalion, 503d 
Infantry, with the 173d Airborne Brigade. Colonel Brinsley returned to 
the 5th Special Forces Group where he was plans officer. His last 
assignment in Vietnam was as assistant logistics officer with U.S. Army 
Republic of Vietnam, Special Mission Advisory Group.
  Colonel Brinsley became a drilling Army reservist in September of 
1971 and held a number of positions of increasing responsibility for 12 
years in the 3220th U.S. Army Garrison, the 81st U.S. Army Reserve 
Command and the 12th Special Forces Group. His final assignment as a 
drilling reservist was as a manpower analyst and Chief of Force 
Development and Modernization with the 86th U.S. Army Reserve Command 
in Chicago, IL.
  Colonel Brinsley entered the Active/Guard Reserve [AGR] program in 
1984 and has held demanding positions in resource management, internal 
review, and Reserve component support. He was assigned to the 22d 
Support Command in Saudi Arabia during both Operation Desert Shield and 
Desert Storm. Upon his return from the Persian Gulf, he assumed command 
of the Army Reserve Readiness Training Center of Fort McCoy, WI. 
Colonel Brinsley was later selected as the deputy commander of the Army 
Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis and later became the commander.
  During his distinguished career, Colonel Brinsley has been a highly 
decorated officer. His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze 
Star with three oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal and seven 
bronze service stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master 
Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
  Service and dedication to duty have been hallmarks of Colonel 
Brinsley's career. He has served this country with reliability, 
distinction, spirit of dedication, devotion to duty, and the 
unflinching bravery that is the legacy of this Nation and its people. 
Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to present the distinguished 
credentials of Col. Norman S. Brinsley before the Congress today.

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