[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7704-S7705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO COL. THOMAS L. OWENS, U.S. ARMY CHIEF OF PERSONNEL, U.S. 
                       SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize and say 
farewell to an outstanding Army officer who has served our Nation with 
distinction for the past 27 years. It is a privilege for me to 
recognize his many outstanding achievements and commend him for his 
service.
  A native of Brandon, MS, Colonel Owens attended High School in Byram, 
MS. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he 
was commissioned as a regular Army second lieutenant in June 1970. This 
foundation, provided by his education and training in Mississippi, 
began his distinguished national career.

[[Page S7705]]

  Colonel Owens has served throughout the world in defense of our 
Nation's freedom. He served three tours in Europe during the Cold War 
against the Communist block countries. These tours were served with 
renowned units including, VII U.S. Corps, 2d Armored Division and 8th 
Infantry Division (Mechanized). While stationed in the United States, 
Colonel Owens served with the elite XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, 
North Carolina. He served in Desert Storm with XVIII Airborne Corps, 
receiving a Bronze Star for his dedicated service.
  Colonel Owens' current and final assignment has been with the U.S. 
Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida as Chief of 
Personnel. Colonel Owens' magnificent work has ensured our Special 
Operations Forces personnel who are deployed throughout the world in 
more than 50 countries are always taken care of and put in the right 
place at the right time.
  The common thread throughout his 27 years of service has been Colonel 
Ownes' selfless sacrifice in doing everything he could to take care of 
the young men and women who served under him as a platoon leader all 
the way through Brigade Commander. Mr. President, we owe a debt of 
gratitude to Col. Tom Owens, his wife, Ulrike, son, Steve, and 
daughter, Audrey, for their many sacrifices during his 27-year Army 
career. He is a great credit to both the Army and the country he has so 
proudly served.
  On behalf of the great State of Mississippi and our Nation, I wish 
him, as a paratrooper and distinguished soldier, ``calm winds and soft 
landings, while keeping his feet and knees into the breeze'' as he 
transitions into life as a civilian. He is a soldier's soldier.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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