[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4298-S4299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD L. URSONE

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to an 
outstanding American soldier, BG Richard L. Ursone. General Ursone, a 
native of Stamford, CT, is retiring June 30, 2004 after 33 years of 
distinguished service in the United States Army Medical Service Corps.
  General Ursone played a critical role in shaping and successfully 
executing the mission of the United States Army Medical Department. 
When brave men and women across our country commit to serving our 
country in the Armed Forces, our country also makes a commitment to 
them. And part of that commitment is to provide them with world-class 
medical care, both on and off the field of battle. Throughout his 
career, General Ursone has made invaluable contributions to the health 
and well-being of soldiers in the United States Army. Over the past 
three decades, General Ursone has served in a series of demanding 
assignments around the globe and in leadership positions of increasing 
responsibility.
  Of particular note was General Ursone's service in combat during 
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. From 1990 to 1991, General 
Ursone, then a Lieutenant Colonel, served as commander of the 47th 
Medical Logistics Battalion. He successfully deployed and led his 
soldiers in supporting the war effort and the entire U.S. Army Central 
Command Theater of Operations with the delivery and replenishment of 
needed medications and medical supplies.
  From 1994 to 1996, then-Colonel Ursone served as the commander of the 
U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center, Europe in Pirmasens, Germany. 
Through his leadership, he reengineered the center's business practices 
to ensure that our soldiers stationed in Europe and their families 
received medical supplies and medications quickly and efficiently. His 
hard work and many accomplishments were recognized with the prestigious 
Vice President Gore's Hammer Award.
  In 2000, he was promoted to brigadier general. As a general officer 
he served in multiple senior positions and was also appointed as the 
fourteenth chief of the Army Medical Service Corps.

[[Page S4299]]

  As the commander of the Europe Regional Medical Command, General 
Ursone led a health care system comprised of a medical center, two 
hospitals, and 27 clinics. This medical command supported operations 
spanning over three continents--Europe, Africa and Asia--while 
simultaneously providing healthcare to over 250,000 soldiers, family 
members, retirees and civilians from the Department of Defense. In 
subsequent assignments as the Assistant Surgeon General for Force 
Sustainment and the Assistant Surgeon General for Force Projection from 
June 2002 to June 2004, General Ursone's leadership was integral in 
preparing the Army Medical Department to serve our troops in their 
efforts against the new and unfamiliar threat of global terrorism.
  As chief of the Medical Service Corps, General Ursone has unified the 
most diverse group of specialties in the Army. His commitment to leader 
development and mentoring of junior officers helped the Corps achieve 
annual increases in recruiting and retaining officers. General Ursone's 
vision and leadership have created opportunities for officers to serve 
our Nation while also achieving their own professional and personal 
aspirations.
  Health care in the Army encompasses a staggering array of services, 
from basic medical and dental checkups to prescription medications to 
emergency care on the battlefield to vaccinations against biological 
and chemical threats. Officers serve as medical operations officers, 
healthcare administrators, medical logisticians, preventive medicine 
officers, allied scientists, behavioral science officers as well as 
optometrists and pharmacists.
  To lead and manage such a wide and complex network, you need to be a 
special person--one who is able to think strategically and act 
appropriately for the time and circumstances. You need a leader who 
will take swift and decisive action in a crisis, like when General 
Ursone worked around the clock managing the evacuation and care of the 
victims of the USS Cole bombing. You need a compassionate leader 
capable of implementing Women, Infant and Child programs. Above all, 
you need a leader who recognizes that his decisions will have a 
tremendous impact on thousands and thousands of individual soldiers and 
their families. In each and every one of these critical areas, Richard 
Ursone has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
  Brigadier General Ursone's service and contributions to fellow 
soldiers and our Nation are eloquent testimony to his loyalty, 
dedication, talents, and abilities. General Ursone is not a physician. 
However, it is difficult to imagine any individual who has done more to 
ensure that every single soldier, family member and retiree in the U.S. 
Army receives the most advanced, efficient, and compassionate health 
care. His commitment to the men and women of our Armed Forces is truly 
an inspiration to us all. I send him my best wishes on his well-
deserved retirement. And on behalf of our Nation, I extend to him 
thanks and gratitude for a remarkable career of service.

                          ____________________