[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 2 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD A PLATT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. REYNOLDS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 5, 2007

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today 
to honor a respected military officer and great fighter pilot upon the 
occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force and Air 
National Guard after 36 years of honorable and dedicated service.
  Born in Silver Creek, New York, growing up in Suffern, New York, 
Major General Richard A. Platt began his military career June 1971 when 
he received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps 
at Newark College of Engineering. After earning his pilot wings in June 
1972, he flew F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft and was assigned to front 
line combat units in Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.
  Madam Speaker, from his early days as a fighter pilot in Vietnam to 
his role as a fighter weapons instructor General Platt has shown 
impressive leadership and combat flying skills. His flying experience 
includes two combat tours of duty, one in Vietnam and the other over 
the skies of Bosnia.
  In 1981, Major General Platt left the active duty air force and 
continued his service flying the A-10 Warthog as a member of the 104th 
Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. General Platt 
time and time again demonstrated his unparalleled vision and 
leadership. As a commander, he led the transformation of the 104th 
Fighter Wing into one of the premier fighting units in the entire 
American military.
  Madam Speaker, following his flying career, General Platt served with 
distinction as he continued to provide vision and leadership to the Air 
National Guard. His assignments included commander of the Massachusetts 
Air National Guard and Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander of 
both Air Combat Command as well as United States Air Forces Europe. His 
last post brought him to Washington, D.C. where he was Assistant to the 
Director of the Air National Guard. In this role, General Platt was 
instrumental in beginning important changes to ensure the relevance and 
viability of the Air National Guard and United States Air Force, in 
this most challenging period of our country's history.
  Madam Speaker, General Platt's dedication to the military has been 
evident from the day he joined his ROTC unit to his last tour of duty 
at the Pentagon; but perhaps more than any other assignment, nothing 
was more special to him than his role as commander of the 104th Fighter 
Wing. Even today, several years after General Platt's tenure, the wing 
is still recognized as an elite unit--his core values of integrity, 
dedication to duty, and patriotism remain strong. General Platt 
recognized that the fighter wing and our entire military are only as 
strong as the lowest ranking member--and no one member was more 
important than any other. For him the 104th Fighter Wing was more than 
just officers and airmen, they were, and still remain his family.
  Madam Speaker, each and every American is safer and freer due to the 
service of Major General Platt and the men and women like him serving 
across all of our armed services.
  Madam Speaker, in recognition of and in gratitude for his service, 
leadership and patriotism, I ask that this honorable body join me in 
honoring Major General Richard A. Platt upon the occasion of his 
retirement; and wish him great health and happiness in the days and 
years ahead as a father, husband and grandfather.

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