[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING LT. GEN. RICHARD G. GRAVES (RETIRED) ON HIS RETIREMENT 
                    FROM THE GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP.

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                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the second 
retirement of Lt. Gen. Richard G. Graves, a distinguished soldier who 
as a businessman continued to promote the interests of the Army and of 
the United States.
  Lt. Gen. Graves is departing from General Dynamics Corp. where he has 
served as vice president of the General Dynamics Land Systems Division, 
first in Saudi Arabia and recently in Washington, DC. He will now 
return to his adopted home, the State of Texas.
  While in Saudi Arabia, he was responsible for the fielding of over 
300 United States made M1A2 tanks to the Royal Saudi Land Forces. 
Complex and difficult in itself, this accomplishment has had two major 
benefits to the United States of America.
  First, these tanks and their Saudi crews now are part of the 
foundation of military strength that allows the Government of Saudi 
Arabia to stand against the possibility of renewed aggression in the 
Middle East. Second, the efficient and positive way in which this 
critical task was done strengthened the relationship of trust and 
confidence the United States has with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  Lt. Gen. Graves was born and raised in Indiana. Following graduation 
from West Point in 1958, he established a reputation as a highly 
proficient and able armor officer, culminating in command of the U.S. 
Army's Contingency Corps, III U.S. Corp. at Fort. Hood, TX, from 1988 
to 1991.
  During his military career, he sought out difficult assignments here 
and abroad and executed them in an outstanding manner. He was the 
commander of an Armored Calvary Squadron during the Vietnam war and 
earned the Silver Star and several other decorations for valor. During 
the latter days of the cold war, he served in armored units here and in 
Germany as a Brigade Commander, Corps Operations Officer, Division 
Chief of Staff, Corps Chief of Staff, Assistant Division Commander, and 
Division Commanding General. He also served on the Staffs of Forces 
Command and the Department of the Army. In these roles, he was one of 
the architects of the rebuilding of the American Army from the depths 
of the post-Vietnam weakness to the heights of the competence displayed 
in the Desert Storm victory.
  Members, please join me in congratulating Lt. Gen. Richard G. Graves 
(retired). He has earned the praise and thanks of the American people 
for his many contributions as a soldier and patriot.

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