[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL ABRAHAM TURNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2005

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the outgoing 
Commanding General of the United States Army Training Center at Fort 
Jackson, SC, for his service to God and country, and his dedication to 
family and career. His leadership role at one of the military's largest 
training facilities has been greatly appreciated. BG Abraham Turner 
will be leaving his post this month to become Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Operations and Training in Fort Monroe, VA, and the men and women in 
uniform at Fort Jackson owe a great debt of gratitude to this model 
soldier.
  Since receiving his commission through the Reserve Officers Training 
Corps at South Carolina State University in 1976, Brigadier General 
Turner has earned some of the highest accolades of any Army officer. 
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of 
Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf 
Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat 
Infantry Badge and the Expert Infantry Badge.
  Brigadier General Turner previously served in numerous positions at 
Fort Bragg, Fort Benning and West Point, where he was a Regimental 
Tactical Officer. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, C3, 
Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command at Camp Doha, 
Kuwait. His numerous combat assignments have included a 1989 deployment 
in Operation Just Cause in Panama, a year-long deployment in Operation 
Desert Shield/Desert Storm that ended in 1991, and, most recently, a 
deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, where 
he served as part of C3, Coalition Forces Land Component Command.
  Brigadier General Turner is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic 
and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff 
College, and the United States Army War College. He earned a bachelor's 
degree in Music from South Carolina State University and a master's 
degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University. He and 
his wife Linda are the proud parents of three lovely children: April, 
Creighton and Jessica.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite you and my colleagues to join me today in 
honoring Brigadier General Turner, who embodies all the virtues of 
individual courage and sacrifice in defending global freedom for which 
the U.S. Army is so well known. I know he will continue to build and 
enviable legacy at Fort Monroe with the same fortitude and charisma 
that led him to such a successful tenure in his native South Carolina. 
I thank him for his service--at home and abroad. I am proud and we are 
fortunate to have him in the top ranks of our armed forces.

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