[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 36 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2471-S2472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              RECOGNITION OF MAJOR GENERAL J. CRAIG LARSON

 Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to 
recognize an outstanding American and soldier. Major General J. Craig 
Larson has devoted nearly thirty-three years to the U.S. Army and Army 
Reserve. It is only fitting that we pay tribute to a magnificent 
soldier and citizen who has done so much for his country and the great 
state of Utah.
  Major General Larson is the Commander of the U.S. Army 96th Regional 
Support Command in Salt Lake City, UT. As such, he commands more than 
6,000 Army Reservists in the six-state area of Colorado, Montana, North 
and South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
  He was drafted by the Army in 1966, and obtained the rank of 
Sergeant. He then attended and completed Officer Candidate School at 
the Ordnance Center and School in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He was 
commissioned a Second Lieutenant in January 1968. He served nearly 
seven years on active duty with assignments as Assistant to the Depot 
Commander, Anniston Army Depot, Alabama; Commander, Company C, 702nd 
Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division on the DMZ in Korea; and 
Assistant Director of Industrial Operations, Indiantown Gap, PA.
  During his twenty-six years in the Army Reserve, he served as: 
Commander of the 259th Quartermaster Battalion (Petroleum Terminal and 
Pipeline) in Pleasant Grove, UT; Executive Officer and then Commander 
of the 162nd Support Group at Fort Douglas, UT, and Deputy Chief of 
Staff for Logistics, Headquarters, 96th U.S. Army Reserve Command, also 
at Fort Douglas, UT.

[[Page S2472]]

  Just prior to his current assignment, Major General Larson was the 
Assistant Deputy Chief of VA Staff for Logistics and Operations, U.S. 
Army Materiel Command in Alexandria, VA. As such he was activated in 
November 1996 to be Commander. Logistics Support element--Africa, HQ, 
Army Materiel Command, in support of Operation guardian Assistance, a 
humanitarian relief effort for refugees from Rwanda, Zaire, and Uganda.
  Major General Larson is a native of Salt Lake City, UT and a graduate 
of Highland High School. He received his Bachelors Degree in Business 
Management from Weber State College and a Masters of Business 
Administration from the University of Utah. In his civilian life, Major 
General Larson is owner and President of Wind River Petroleum. He also 
serves as Chief Executive Officer of Christensen and Larson Investment 
Company, President of Wind River Trucking, and is currently serving on 
the Salt Lake International Airport board of directors. He is married 
to the former Toni Eskelson of Salt Lake City--also a Highland High 
School graduate. They have five daughters, two sons, and eight 
grandchildren.
  General Larson is leaving command and the uniform on Saturday, the 
24th of March 2001. His uniformed service to the Nation will be greatly 
missed. However, he will continue to serve his community and family as 
a business and civic leader and as a father and grandfather. As a 
nation we should take this opportunity to recognize and honor Major 
General J. Craig Larson, a true American.

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