[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S23]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO COLONEL BENJAMIN L. CASSIDY, USMC

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, today I recognize Colonel Benjamin 
L. Cassidy, United States Marine Corps, on the occasion of his 
retirement from active duty. During his twenty-eight years with the 
Corps, Colonel Cassidy served our nation with distinction and aplomb.
  After having graduated from Brown University in 1975, Colonel Cassidy 
was commissioned aboard the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston Harbor. Upon 
completion of The Basic School in 1975, he was transferred to Camp 
Lejeune, NC where he served as the Battalion Logistics Officer, 
Executive Officer, and Platoon Commander, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 
2nd Marine Division.
  In 1978, Colonel Cassidy was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance 
Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan where he served as 
Company Commander and Platoon Commander. He was transferred to Fort 
Benning, GA in 1980 where he attended the Infantry Officers Advanced 
Course. Upon graduation, he accepted orders to Recruiting Station, 
Hartford, CT and served as the Recruiting Station Executive Officer 
from 1981 to 1984.
  From 1984 to 1987, he served with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine 
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC as the Battalion 
Operations Officer and Company Commander. In 1987, he attended the 
Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Quantico, VA and was later 
assigned as an Instructor.
  From 1989 to 1991, Colonel Cassidy served as the Marine Corps' 
Exchange Officer to the Brazilian Marine Corps, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. 
From 1991 through 1993, he served with the Bureau of International 
Narcotics Matters, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. During 
this time, he also earned a Masters in National Security Studies at 
Georgetown University.
  He next served as Battalion Inspector-Instructor and Marine Corps 
Advisor, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, San 
Antonio, TX. In 1995, he served as Marine Corps Liaison and student at 
the Chilean Naval War College, Valparaiso, Chile.
  Many of you know Ben personally, as he has served for almost 4 years 
as the Director of the Marine Corps' Senate Liaison Office. During 
Colonel Cassidy's tenure here at the United States Senate, he planned 
and led numerous congressional delegations on fact-finding trips around 
the world. He coordinated these delegations flawlessly and with 
meticulous attention to detail. In addition, he has overseen the 
resolution of hundreds of congressional inquiries that have been 
submitted to the Marine Corps for clarification and assistance. Colonel 
Cassidy has also worked to ensure that members of the Senate have a 
better understanding of the requirements and capabilities of the Navy/
Marine Corps Team.
  We in the Senate have benefitted from Colonel Cassidy's dedication, 
sense of duty and outstanding work ethic, and I have made certain that 
we continue to benefit by hiring him as my Defense and Foreign Affairs 
Legislative Assistant. I wish Colonel Cassidy, his wonderful wife 
Kathleen, and their children Alanna, Ben, and Caroline, fair winds and 
following seas as he begins this new chapter of his life.

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