[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1318-E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        DAILY INTERLAKE ARTICLE

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                         HON. DENNIS R. REHBERG

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 7, 2004

  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to submit this article from the 
Daily Interlake in Kalispell, Montana for the Record.
  The Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. is the second largest private 
timberland owner in the United States, including 1.3 million acres in 
my home state of Montana.
  Last month, Plum Creek received the Patriot Award for contributing to 
national security through its personnel policies that support employee 
participation in the National Guard and Reserve.
  On May 19, 2004, Brigadier General Randy Mosley of the Montana Army 
National Guard visited Plum Creek's Columbia Falls, Montana office and 
presented the award, on behalf of the Department of Defense, to Art 
Vail, Flathead Unit Manager; Tom Ray, General Manager of Resources; and 
Hank Ricklefs, Vice President of Manufactured Products.
  Plum Creek Senior Forester, Don Sneck from the Flathead Unit 
submitted the nomination for the award but was unable to attend the 
ceremony because he is presently serving in Iraq. He has served in the 
guard for 20 years and today flies a helicopter air ambulance, 
evacuating injured soldiers from southern Iraq to Kuwait. This is Don's 
third deployment in the last two years.
  I congratulate Plum Creek on receiving this prestigious award and 
thank Don for his hard work on behalf of Plum Creek, his home state of 
Montana and his country.

               [From the Daily Inter Lake, May 20, 2004]

                 Plum Creek Honored for Soldier Support

                           (By Candace Chase)

       Brig. Gen. Randy Mosley of the Montana Army National Guard 
     brought certificates and thanks Wednesday to Plum Creek 
     Timber Co. in Columbia Falls.
       The company and three of its executives received patriot 
     awards for contributing to national security by supporting 
     their employee citizen soldiers.
       Don Sneck, an employee and deployed guardsman, submitted 
     their nominations.
       Mosley honored Henry Ricklefs, vice president of 
     manufactured goods; Tom Ray, general manager of resources; 
     and Art Vail, Flathead unit manager. They received 
     certificates at a management meeting in the Plum Creek board 
     room.
       In remarks before the ceremony, Mosley said he couldn't 
     over-emphasize the importance of an employer's support for 
     deployed soldiers in Iraq.
       ``It's an environment fraught with danger and 
     uncertainty,'' he said. ``We want to concentrate on what is 
     in front of them.''
       Sneck couldn't attend the ceremony he initiated because he 
     still serves in Iraq. Mosley said Sneck flies a helicopter 
     air ambulance, evacuating injured soldiers from southern Iraq 
     to Kuwait.
       ``There is no better sight than an air ambulance coming 
     in,'' Mosley said.
       According to Mosley, Sneck has served in the guard for 20 
     years. His unit has deployed three times in the last two 
     years.
       When not called to active duty, Sneck works as a senior 
     forester at Plum Creek Timber.
       Another Plum Creek employee soldier did attend the patriot 
     award ceremony. Staff Sgt. Tavia Syme of the 889th 
     Quartermaster Co. has returned to her job after deploying in 
     Iraq.
       The reservist said she worked in water purification. Syme 
     said she had a tough time adjusting to heels in her 
     administrative assistant job after 14 months in combat boots.
       Syme estimated that about 20 to 25 others perform double 
     duty as Plum Creek employees and part-time soldiers.
       She said she appreciated her company's support as expressed 
     in regularly shipped care packages of goodies such as 
     pretzels, jerky, hard candy and greeting cards. The company 
     also sponsored a welcome-home brunch for Syme.
       As part of the award ceremony, the general showed a video 
     called ``A Soldier's Journey'' which documented the 
     experiences of soldiers like Syme before and during recent 
     deployments.
       ``These are all Montanans--all soldiers who deployed,'' 
     Mosley said. ``Some are still deployed.''
       The general said that the nation intentionally organized 
     the armed services with dependence on the Reserves and Guard. 
     Once

[[Page E1319]]

     viewed as a strategic reserve, Mosley said changing times now 
     require citizen soldiers to deploy in seven days or less.
       ``All of a sudden you receive a phone call and your world 
     is turned upside down,'' he said.
       According to Mosley, the country has now deployed the 
     largest force of reserves and guardsmen since World War II.
       ``This doesn't work without the support of their bosses,'' 
     he said.
       Mosley serves as assistant adjutant general for the Montana 
     Army National Guard.

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