[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               A TRIBUTE TO RETIRING COL. TONY J. BUCKLES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to recognize the 
outstanding service to our Nation by Colonel Tony J. Buckles, who will 
be retiring from the Army on April 1, 2001 after a distinguished career 
that has spanned over 30 years of dedicated service. Tony Buckles 
distinguished himself as a leader who epitomized the modern American 
professional soldier.
  Tony Buckles' illustrious career as an Armor Officer embodied all of 
the Army's values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, 
Integrity, and Personal Courage.
  Colonel Buckles demonstrated his outstanding tactical and operational 
expertise in numerous command and staff positions overseas and in the 
continental United States. Continually serving in positions of ever-
increasing responsibility, the highlights of his career include serving 
as an Armor Company Commander three times and the youngest Armor 
Battalion Commander in the Army. Tony served as the Chief of Plans and 
Operations at the Combat Maneuver Training Center in Hohenfels, Germany 
at the peak of the Cold War. He was responsible for the development and 
evaluation of warfighting skills for all armor and mechanized forces in 
the European Theater.
  Tony's talent for solving complex management problems complemented 
his proven operational skill. During Operation DESERT STORM, Colonel 
Buckles spearheaded the $2.6 billion dollar total package fielding of 
the Light Armored Vehicle to the Saudi Arabian National Guard. His 
subsequent assignment was Chief, Combat Arms Division, US Total Army 
Personnel Command, where he was responsible for the career management 
of 28,000 combat arms officers from accession through retirement. He 
also served as the Garrison Commander of the Army's largest 
installation at Fort Hood, Texas. This facility covered an area of 340 
square miles and supported all aspects of life and training for 195,000 
soldiers and families.
  As evidence of the quality of Colonel Buckles' leadership, 
management, and interpersonal skills, he was specially selected to 
serve as the Chief of the Army's Congressional Liaison Office in the 
United States House of Representatives. He was responsible for 
maintaining liaison with 435 Members of Congress, their personal 
staffs, and twenty permanent or select legislative committees. During 
that period, Tony personally escorted more than 200 Members of Congress 
on fact-finding missions to over 75 foreign countries. His dedication, 
candor and professionalism while serving in that capacity earned him 
the reputation as the best source on Capitol Hill to resolve issues 
pertaining to the Army.
  Accordingly, I invite my colleagues to join in offering our heartfelt 
congratulations to Colonel Tony J. Buckles on a career of selfless 
service marked by his resolute dedication and unwavering integrity. He 
represents the very best that our great Nation has to offer. We wish 
Tony and his wife, Nancy, continued success and happiness in all of 
their future endeavors.

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