[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 55 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING LIEUTENANT GENERAL DANIEL JAMES III ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                               RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2006

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, June marks the retirement of a great leader 
in our military ranks, Lieutenant General Daniel James III. General 
James is a distinguished graduate of the University of Arizona's 
Reserve Officer Training Corps program. In June 1969, General James 
completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay 
Air Base, South Vietnam, as a forward air controller and O-1 pilot. A 
command pilot with a demonstrated career of exceptionally meritorious 
service, General James has over 4,000 hours in fighter and trainer 
aircraft, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and more than 500 combat 
hours. His distinguished flying career includes the T-39, T-37, T-38, 
O-1E, F-5E, F-4 (C, D, E) and F-16A aircraft.
  General James has excelled at every level of service including 
squadron flight commander in the 182nd Tactical Fighter Squadron 
(Aggressor Squadron) at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and commander of 
the 149th Operations Group, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. In November 
1995, General James was appointed by Governor George W. Bush as the 
Adjutant General of the State of Texas. A Texas native, he served in 
this capacity until being named as the Director, Air National Guard in 
June 2002.
  His exceptionally meritorious service has resulted in not only 
recognition within traditional military circles, but within the 
civilian community as well. He has received a wide range of civilian 
awards; including the Garvey-Woodson Award, Black United Fund of Texas 
(1995), Outstanding Service Award, Texas STARBASE Executive Advisory 
Board (1995-1996), Benjamin D. Foulois First Flight Award, Air Force 
Association--Texas (1997), Central Texas Combined Federal Campaign 
Community Service Award, Texas (1997-1998), Honored Patriot Award, 
Selective Service System (1998 and 1999), Commendation for Military 
Service, Joint Session of the Texas Legislature (1999) and the Palmetto 
Patriot Award, South Carolina (1999). He has served as the Chairman of 
the Greater Austin Quality Council and on the Board of Directors of the 
Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
  General James' military service culminates with his assignment as 
Director, Air National Guard, and Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, 
Virginia, from June 3, 2002, until June 2, 2006. General James served 
during one of the most challenging periods of any previous director of 
the Air National Guard. His outstanding achievements and dynamic 
leadership and initiative resulted in the development of a bold 
strategy for Air National Guard relevance in the 21st Century. His 
VANGUARD Engagement Strategy was the impetus for Air National Guard 
transformation, ensuring it would remain ``Ready, Reliable and Relevant 
. . . now more than ever.'' During his period as the Director, Air 
National Guard members flew over 200,000 sorties and more than 600,000 
hours in support of the Global War on Terrorism, including well over 50 
percent of the fighter, tanker and airlift sorties for Operation Noble 
Eagle while postured for Air Sovereignty Alert at 16 of 17 sites; 
provided almost one-third of the fighter sorties in Operation Enduring 
Freedom; provided over one-third of the fighter and tanker sorties for 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Air National Guard crews supported 75 percent 
of the tanker sorties and over 60 percent of the airlift sorties in 
other theaters.
  This service included humanitarian, disaster relief and civil 
support. The Air National Guard support to Hurricane Katrina was 
unprecedented. Over 3,000 sorties flown, more than 11,000 passengers 
evacuated and in excess of 11,000 tons of cargo was moved in a 4-day 
period. One thousand four hundred forty-three lifesaving rescues were 
directly attributed to ANG personnel and General James' leadership.
  General James will retire and reside in Mount Vernon, Virginia, on 
June 2, 2006, with his wife, Mrs. Dana Marie James, and their son, 
Daniel Steven James.

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