[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL VICTOR SAMUEL UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM 
                         THE UNITED STATES ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN M. McHUGH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional officer in the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel 
Victor H. Samuel, upon his retirement after 20 years of distinguished 
service. Throughout his career, Colonel Samuel has personified the Army 
values of duty, integrity, and selfless service across the many 
missions the Army provides in defense of our Nation. As a Congressional 
Legislative Liaison Officer in the office of the Secretary of the Army, 
many of us on Capitol Hill have enjoyed the opportunity to work with 
Colonel Samuel on a wide variety of Army issues and programs, and it is 
my privilege to recognize his many accomplishments.
  Lieutenant Colonel Victor H. Samuel, the son of Mr. Hasker B. and 
Sylvia P. Samuel of Silver Spring, Maryland attended Eleanor Roosevelt 
Senior High School in Greenbelt, Maryland and was commissioned as a 
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, after graduating from 
Hampton Institute in 1984. Colonel Samuel's first assignment was in Bad 
Hersfeld, Germany as an Engineer Platoon leader. He was subsequently 
assigned duties as the Executive Officer and Assistant G3 in the 3rd 
Armored Calvary Regiment that was charged with defense of the Fulda Gap 
in Europe during the Cold War. Colonel Samuel went on to Command an 
Engineer Company in the 31st Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, 
Missouri. In 1992, Colonel Samuel was selected to complete advance 
studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland where he 
received a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering (Construction 
Management).
  In 1994, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel served as the Project Engineer for 
the Vicksburg, Mississippi District. He was subsequently assigned to 
the XVIII Airborne Corps, Airborne Combat Engineer Brigade, at Fort 
Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as the Brigade Logistics Officer 
and Battalion Executive Officer. Thereafter, Colonel Samuel was 
assigned to the Army Staff in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff 
for Personnel, where he honed his expertise in the field of personnel 
management.
  In 2002, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel was assigned to the Office of 
Chief of Legislative Liaison, Programs Division where he assumed duties 
as a Legislative Liaison managing the Personnel and Human Resources 
portfolio. Colonel Samuel served as the Policy Branch Chief for 
Programs Division where he oversaw the promulgation of legislative 
policy initiatives in operations and logistics, depot maintenance, 
personnel, education and training, medical, and military construction.
  Through these varying assignments, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel has 
provided outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional 
judgment on numerous critical issues of enduring importance to both the 
Army and Congress. His actions and counsel were invaluable to Army 
leaders as they considered the impact of important issues. On behalf of 
Congress and the United States of America, I thank Colonel Samuel, his 
wife, Janice, and his entire family for the commitment, sacrifices, and 
contribution that they have made throughout his honorable military 
career. Congratulations on completing an exceptional and successful 
career.

                          ____________________