[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10531-S10532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL RICHARD A. BURPEE, U.S. AIR FORCE, 
                                RETIRED

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional leader in recognition of a remarkable career of service to 
his country--Lieutenant General Richard A. Burpee, United States Air 
Force, retired. Dick Burpee has amassed a truly distinguished record, 
including 35 years of service in the Air Force uniform, that merits 
special recognition on the occasion of his retirement as chairman of 
the board of directors of the Retired Officers Association.
  Born and raised in Delton, Michigan, he is now a distinguished 
citizen of the great State of Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Air Force 
just after the Korean War in 1953. Subsequently selected for pilot 
training, he earned his aviator's wings and Second Lieutenant's 
commission in 1955.
  Over the next decade, Dick served in a variety of flying and staff 
positions, including assignments as an instructor pilot and as an 
exchange pilot with the Royal Canadian Armed Forces. In the process, he 
successfully completed studies leading to the award of a bachelor's 
degree in economics and a master's degree in public administration.
  During a 1967-68 tour of duty with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing in 
Vietnam, he distinguished himself with a record of 336 combat missions 
in the F-4 fighter and the award of the Silver Star, two Distinguished 
Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star and fifteen air medals.
  Air Force leaders recognized the talent and potential of this 
general-to-be and selected him for prestigious positions at Air Force 
headquarters in Washington, DC, first in the Office of the Director for 
Operational Test and Evaluation and subsequently as an aide to the Air 
Force Vice Chief of Staff.
  Following completion of the National War College and selection for 
promotion to the grade of Colonel, he returned to operational flying 
duty in a series of leadership positions, ultimately serving as 
Commander of the Strategic Air Command's (SAC) 509th Bombardment Wing 
in 1974-1975.
  Exceeding even the Strategic Air Command's high standards of 
leadership excellence, Dick Burpee was hardly getting started. 
Following selection to General officer rank, he carved a path of 
performance and achievement through assignments at Headquarters 
Strategic Air Command, as Commander of the 19th air division, and in 
senior plans and operations positions at Air Force headquarters in the 
Pentagon. From 1983 to 1985, the great State of Oklahoma had the good 
fortune to get to know Dick Burpee as a particularly outstanding 
Commander

[[Page S10532]]

of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.
  Oklahomans were not alone in recognizing his talents, as he was 
subsequently promoted to three-star rank and assigned as Director for 
Operations for the Pentagon's Joint Staff--the highest ranking 
operations staff officer of our country's Armed Forces.
  Finally, in 1988, he was appointed to command the Strategic Air 
Command's prestigious 15th Air Force, a position he held until his 
retirement from active military service in 1990.
  In addition to the impressive combat record I have already mentioned, 
I would note that General Burpee's military files reflect an 
outstanding total of 11,000 flying hours as well as the award of the 
Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Service Medals, 
and the Legion of Merit. A true warrior and leader, indeed.
  Dick Burpee, however, is not a person who considers even 35 years of 
arduous service a full working career. Following his retirement, he 
started a successful consulting business in management and marketing 
with aerospace industries and government. Since relocating to Oklahoma 
City in 1991, he has served as vice president for development and vice 
president of administration at the University of Central Oklahoma, sits 
on the board of directors of the United Bank in Oklahoma City, and has 
been deeply involved with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. 
Elected to the board of directors of the Retired Officers Association 
(TROA) in 1992, he was unanimously selected as TROA's chairman of the 
board in 1996, a position from which he is now retiring.

  Through his stewardship, the Retired Officers Association continues 
to play a vital role as a staunch advocate of legislative initiatives 
to maintain readiness and improve the quality of life for all members 
of the uniformed service community--active, reserve and retired, plus 
their families and survivors.
  I won't describe all of his accomplishments, but will briefly touch 
on some highlights to illustrate his involvement and concern for 
military people. As chairman, he has championed the fight for health 
care equity for retirees of the uniformed services, whose access to the 
military health care system has been severely curtailed by base 
closures, downsizing, and shrinking military medical budgets. His 
persistent and well-reasoned proposals have translated into successful 
legislative initiatives aimed at expanding Medicare-eligible retirees' 
access to military facilities and allowing them to enroll in the 
federal employees health benefits program. He also has been one of the 
most vocal advocates for ending the practice of capping annual pay 
raises for active and reserve personnel below those enjoyed by the 
average American. Happily, those efforts are now bearing fruit in the 
form of full-comparability raises for the troops in 1999 and, 
hopefully, from 2000 on.
  Taken together, these comprise two of the most important 
institutional inducements to help reverse declining career retention 
statistics in all services.
  In forcefully articulating the urgency of honoring long-standing 
health care and retirement commitments to those who have already served 
and by championing improved quality-of-life initiatives for those now 
serving, Dick Burpee has significantly raised Congress' sensitivity to 
these important retention and readiness issues.
  Perhaps most importantly, Dick Burpee has distinguished himself and 
TROA from other, often strident, critics by consistently offering 
cogent, well-researched plans that outline workable legislative 
solutions to these complex problems.
  My closing observation, with which I am sure you will all agree, is 
that General Dick Burpee has been, in every sense of the word, a leader 
in the military, TROA and the entire retired community. Our very best 
wishes go with him for long life, well-earned happiness, and continued 
success in service to his Nation and the uniformed servicemembers whom 
he has so admirably led.
  As a former soldier myself, who entered military service at about the 
same time he did, I offer General Burpee a grateful and heartfelt 
salute.

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