[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 3 (Friday, January 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S51]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD C. ALEXANDER

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, recently Major General Richard C. 
Alexander of Ohio retired as the Adjutant General of the Ohio National 
Guard. I rise today to pay tribute to this remarkable individual and 
dedicated public servant.
  General Alexander's military career began in 1954 when he joined the 
Marine Corps and served honorably until 1958, when he was discharged 
with the rank of Sergeant. As a native of Cleveland, General Alexander 
returned to Ohio and enlisted in the Ohio National Guard and served in 
Battery C, 1st Missile Battalion, 137th Artillery.
  Continuing his career, General Alexander completed the National Guard 
State Officer School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 
6th, 1965. Following the completion of many advanced military education 
courses including graduating from the U.S. Army War College and U.S. 
Army Command and General Staff Course, General Alexander rose through 
the ranks within the Ohio National Guard and was selected to serve as 
the Ohio Adjutant General in December 1987.
  When I was the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, I became aware of how 
fortunate the citizens of Ohio were to have an individual such as 
Richard Alexander serving as the Adjutant General of the Ohio National 
Guard. During his tenure as the Adjutant General, he has met many 
challenges that have tasked the full scope of his ability to manage a 
citizen soldier force in a world environment of uncertainty and 
changing global priorities.
  The Ohio National Guard has found itself a witness, participant and 
beneficiary to the many changes and successes that occurred under the 
leadership of General Alexander. During the Persian Gulf War, more than 
1,600 Ohio National Guard members were activated in support of military 
operations. In 1993, the Ohio National Guard was called upon to respond 
to an inmate riot at the Lucasville Prison. Since that time Ohioans 
repeatedly have called upon the services of the Ohio National Guard to 
respond to various natural disasters involving flood recovery and 
various levels of snow emergencies. I have seen first hand the 
tremendous service and professionalism of the National Guard when I 
toured areas of the state that were damaged by the rain and flooding in 
the Spring of 1997.
  In addition to assistance at the local level, defense officials 
repeatedly have called upon the services of Ohio National Guard members 
to supplement and support our national military defense in a variety of 
missions throughout the world. The strong leadership that has been 
provided by General Alexander has benefitted not only the Ohio National 
Guard, it has benefitted all Ohioans and our Nation. These leadership 
skills were recognized by the National Guard Association of the United 
States, which appointed General Alexander to the position of President 
of the association in 1996.
  It is with a degree of sadness that I find myself saying ``farewell'' 
to such a strong leader and personal friend. General Alexander has 
served his country ably and honorably for the past forty-four years. 
The positive impact he has had on the lives of Ohioans is immeasurable 
and his compassion for people and pride in serving in the military 
epitomize the true meaning of the words--Duty, Honor, Country.
  I join with all Ohioans in expressing my appreciation for a job well 
done to Major General Richard C. Alexander. I wish General Alexander, 
his wife, LaVera, and his entire family all the very best. Indeed, 
General Alexander deserves the very best because he gave the very 
best--to his family, his state, and his country.

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