[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROBERT B. FLOWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 2004

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Lieutenant 
General Robert B. Flowers, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will retire on July 1 after 35 years of 
dedicated and meritorious service to our nation.
  LTG Flowers followed his father into the Army after being 
commissioned from the Virginia Military Institute in 1969. Since that 
time he has led at every level of command, culminating in his current 
role as Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the United States 
Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to his selection as Chief of Engineers 
in October 2000, he served as Commanding General of the Maneuver 
Support Center at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, home to the Army's 
engineer school. In this post, General Flowers helped produce and train 
our nation's engineer soldiers, units and leaders.
  Throughout his career, General Flowers effectively trained and led 
engineer soldiers around the globe. During Operations Desert Shield and 
Desert Storm he commanded an expanded, ten battalion brigade and led 
more than 7,700 soldiers into battle in Iraq. Among his many other 
distinguished assignments include Assistant Division Commander of the 
2nd Infantry Division in Korea; Commander of the Army Corps of 
Engineers 12-state Mississippi Valley Division; Deputy Chief of Staff 
for Engineering U.S. Army Europe in Bosnia and President of the 
Mississippi River Commission, which develops and implements plans to 
improve navigation and safety, prevent floods, and promote and 
facilitate commerce and trade on the river.
  In his current role as Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he is the Army Chief of Staff's 
senior advisor on engineer issues. Simultaneously, he leads the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers and its more than 35,000 soldiers and 
civilians. During a critical time in America's history, General Flowers 
led the Army Corps of Engineers' support to the Nation. Following the 
terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, General Flowers ensured the 
immediate and significant support given to recovery operations at the 
Pentagon and in New York City.
  Mr. Speaker, under the leadership of General Flowers, the Corps of 
Engineers continues to play a vital role in the War on Terror and 
support reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. His efforts 
have resulted in lasting and significant impacts to our nation and the 
Armed Forces. I know my fellow Members of the House will join me in 
thanking him for his years of dedication and selfless service and 
wishing him all the best in the years to come.

                          ____________________