[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN APPRECIATION FOR MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP G. KILLEY

 Mr. JOHNSON. Madam President, today I express appreciation for 
the work that Major General Philip G. Killey has done as the Adjutant 
General for the South Dakota National Guard. Today, General Killey and 
other members of the National Guard come up to the Capitol for their 
annual trip to Washington, and I wanted to take this time to thank the 
general for the terrific leadership he has provided to the Guard over 
the past four years.
  General Killey reports that South Dakota has continued its high 
rankings in terms of readiness of its Guard and Reserve units. South 
Dakota's units are also tops in the Nation in the quality of its new 
recruits. I commend the South Dakota Guard for its continued 
excellence, and General Killey for his leadership, which has led to the 
maintenance of this high standard. National rankings only confirm the 
quality that has come to be expected of the Guard and Reserve of a 
great State.
  Most South Dakotans know at least one of the 4,500 current members of 
the South Dakota Guard and Reserves or the thousands of former 
Guardsmen and Reservists. Sometimes, the connection is even more 
direct. Before joining the Army, my oldest son Brooks was a member of 
the South Dakota Army Guard in Yankton.
  Almost every community in my State benefits from the work of these 
Guardsmen. Following the tragedies of September 11, Guardsmen were 
called to assist in the campaign against terrorism and have performed 
security duties at airports around the state. From Aberdeen to Yankton, 
the Guard and Reserves are active members of the South Dakota 
community.
  In addition to the support the Guard and Reserves give to South 
Dakota, they have also supported overseas operations including those in 
Central America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. The South Dakota 
Air Guard performed admirably in their deployment to the ``no-fly 
zone'' over Iraq late last year.
  These latest activities, and the professionalism that our South 
Dakota Guardsmen have shown, are a testimony to the leadership of 
General Killey. Before becoming the Adjutant General in 1998, General 
Killey served with distinction in both the active duty Air Force and in 
the South Dakota National Guard.
  General Killey received his commission in 1963 through Officer 
Training School, at Lackland AFB in Texas. He served a tour in 
Southeast Asia in 1967-1968 flying the F-4 with the 8th Tactical 
Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. He left 
active duty in 1969 and joined the Air National Guard in 1970. He held 
various positions with the South Dakota Air National Guard before 
becoming the Adjutant General. He was recalled to active duty as 
director of the Air National Guard from 1988 until 1994. General Killey 
was the first Guardsman to serve as commander, 1st Air Force, Air 
Combat Command, and Continental United States North American Aerospace 
Defense Command Region, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida from 1994 until 
1998.
  I commend General Killey for his many years of service, and thank him 
for all that he has done for this nation and for our great state of 
South Dakota.

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