[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E783-E784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE W. KEEFE IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICE AS 
          ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2005

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the career of Major General 
George W. Keefe, who recently retired from his post as the 41st 
Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. Major General 
Keefe, appointed interim Adjutant General on July 24, 1999, and 
Adjutant General January 7, 2000, was the first Air Force officer to 
hold this position.
  Born and raised in Northampton, Massachusetts, Major General Keefe 
attended Holyoke College, where he received an Associate in Business 
degree. He joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard in 1956 as a 
Crash Fire Rescue Specialist and rose to the enlisted rank of Master 
Sergeant in Westfield's 104th Tactical Fighter Group.
  Upon becoming an officer, Major General Keefe served in various 
capacities within the Massachusetts Air National Guard, including the 
104th Combat Support Squadron Personnel Officer, Base Supply Operations 
Officer, Comptroller, and Chief of Supply. His leadership abilities 
elevated him to the positions of Commander of the 104th Resource 
Management Squadron, and Deputy Commander for Resources for the 104th 
Tactical Fighter Group. In 1993, the Major General became the Group's 
Vice Commander. Major General Keefe was selected as the Vice-Commander 
for the Massachusetts Air National Guard in 1994 and assumed the 
position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air in 1995.
  As Adjutant General, Major General Keefe was the Governor's senior 
military advisor responsible for protecting life and property, 
preserving peace, order, and public safety in times of natural disaster 
and civil emergency. He also had a responsibility to the Chief of the 
National Guard Bureau for providing operationally trained, equipped and 
mission-ready forces to support national security objectives.
  Major General Keefe is enshrined in the U.S. Air Force Enlisted 
Heritage Hall at Maxwell AFB as one of the only general officers who 
enlisted as an E-1, was promoted through the ranks to E-7, and then 
rose through the officer ranks from First Lieutenant to Major General. 
He holds several distinctions, including being the last member in 
uniform who served in the Berlin Call-up, serving at Plattsburg AFB 
from October 1961 to September 1962.
  Among his awards and decorations, Major General Keefe has received 
the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation 
Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with three oak leaf clusters), 
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service 
Medal (with Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Armed 
Forces Service Medal. The Major General also has been awarded the Air 
Force Longevity Service Ribbon (with nine oak leaf clusters), Armed 
Forces Reserve Medal (with gold

[[Page E784]]

and bronze hourglass device), Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon 
(with Bronze Star), Air Force Training Ribbon Massachusetts Medal of 
Merit, Massachusetts National Guard Service Medal (with gold eagle), 
Massachusetts National Guard Desert Storm Service Award and an Award 
for Heroism for the City of Northampton, Massachusetts.
  Major General Keefe has four sons, Gary, James, Patrick and Timothy. 
Three of his sons are current members of the Massachusetts National 
Guard. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the nation owe Major 
General Keefe an enormous debt of gratitude for his service to his 
country. On behalf of my colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation, I 
commend Major General George W. Keefe for such a distinguished military 
career and I wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________