[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 105 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO BRIG. GEN. PAUL R. COOPER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 1999

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Brigadier 
General Paul R. Cooper, the commander of the Air Force Reserve 
Command's 440th Airlift Wing, since August 1995. General Cooper is 
leaving this post and on August 1 will assume his new duties as the 
Commander of the 445 Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 
Ohio. Milwaukee's loss is surely Ohio's gain.
  A native of Seattle, Washington, General Cooper graduated in 1967 
from the University of Washington with a degree in chemistry and was 
commissioned a second lieutenant in the Reserve Officer Training Corps. 
He has been a wing commander, group commander and installation 
commander at two Air Force Reserve bases. General Cooper was recalled 
to active duty during Operation Desert Storm, where he served as 
commander of a composite C-130 unit deployed to the Middle East for six 
months. He was selected to return to extended active duty from June to 
October 1996 to command the 4100th Group and serve as the installation 
commander of the NATO Air Base, Boznia-Herzegovina, as part of the 
implementation force under Operation Joint Endeavor. General Cooper is 
a command pilot with over 11,500 flight hours.
  General Cooper and his wife Kathy will be honored at a farewell 
dinner and reception July 30 in Milwaukee at which time the Coopers' 
many friends and colleagues will have an opportunity to show their 
appreciation for a job well done at the 440th.
  I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly thank General Cooper 
for all his assistance over the last four years when I have called on 
him to aide the members of the unit as well as the Milwaukee community. 
In fact, just last month General Cooper showed his commitment to our 
community by presiding over a military medals presentation in which I 
was proud to distribute well-deserved metals to World War II soldiers 
and their families.
  Again, on behalf of the men and women of the 440th and the entire 
southeastern Wisconsin community, thank you General Cooper for a job 
well done. God bless you and best wishes at your new post.

                          ____________________