[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNITION OF COLONEL ROBERT C. KING

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
commend a remarkable Iowan. COL Robert C. King retired from his duties 
as Public Affairs Officer for the Iowa National Guard in December 2003 
and will retire from the National Guard at the end of the year. Colonel 
King has been a member of the Iowa National Guard since 1968 and has 
worked tirelessly to break new ground in the area of communication 
between the Iowa National Guard and outside media outlets. It goes 
without saying, his service is appreciated beyond words.
  In his job as Public Affairs Officer, Colonel King cultivated a media 
relationship with the National Guard when none existed before. He 
served during some of the highest profile activities since World War II 
including the crash of United Flight 232, Operations Desert Shield and 
Desert Storm, the floods of 1993, as well as Operation Enduring Freedom 
and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Colonel King has represented the Iowa 
National Guard and its thousands of members at a variety of functions 
throughout the State. He has held several command-directed assignments 
and served as the commander of the State Area Readiness Command in 
addition to his role as Public Affairs Officer. He handled this dual 
assignment with remarkable ease and showed his dedication through his 
willingness to take on such a committed role. While under his command, 
the Iowa National Guard Headquarters received Superior Unit Awards 
every year. Colonel King served as the 34th Rear Area Operations Center 
training administrator and executive officer. Colonel King also served 
as the administrative-supply technician for the 186th Military Police 
Company. He has been a valuable connection for me personally, providing 
information for me to stay abreast of what is going on with the Iowa 
National Guard. I am proud of Colonel King and the contributions he has 
made to Iowa. He tapped previously underutilized or noticeably absent 
avenues within the media relations field for the Iowa National Guard. 
His devotion to the soldier, the National Guard, Iowa and this country 
is beyond reproach.
  Again, I would like to congratulate Colonel King on his retirement as 
Public Affairs Officer for the Iowa National Guard. He has proven to be 
a remarkable officer and I thank him for his inexhaustible dedication 
to Iowa and to America.

                          ____________________