[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




OCCASION OF UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT 
      CHANGE OF COMMAND AND RETIREMENT OF COLONEL PAUL GROSSKRUGER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 28, 2009

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to recognize the service and contributions of Colonel Paul 
Grosskruger of the United States Army Corps of Engineers--Jacksonville 
District as he passes Command to Colonel Pantano and prepares to retire 
from military service. He has had a long and admirable career, worthy 
of distinction and worthy of our gratitude.
  Colonel Grosskruger assumed command of the Jacksonville District on 
July 25, 2006 and it has been my distinct pleasure to work closely with 
him for these past several years. Most notably, I have worked with 
Colonel Grosskruger on the Merrill-Stevens Expansion Project and was 
also fortunate to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they 
completed the restoration of Virginia Key Beach. Each time, Colonel 
Grosskruger impressed us with his clarity, candor and fairness. Colonel 
Andrew Pantano has large new responsibilities to fill, but from reading 
his resume and noting his experiences, I am confident that he will be 
more than up to the task.
  Below is a brief biographical sketch of Colonel Grosskruger's long 
and distinguished career. We have come to expect nothing less than 
great things of this career officer and we look forward to hearing from 
Colonel Grosskruger again, though as a private citizen. I know that 
many members of Florida's delegation join me in wishing him the best as 
he enters this new stage of life and we have every confidence that 
Colonel Pantano will continue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--
Jacksonville District's fine tradition.
  Born and raised in eastern Iowa, Colonel Grosskruger was commissioned 
into the Corps of Engineers upon graduation from the United States 
Military Academy in 1983. Colonel Grosskruger is a graduate of the U.S. 
Army Engineer Basic and Advance Courses, the Combined Arms and Services 
Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the 
U.S. Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in 
engineering mechanics from the United States Military Academy and a 
Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Iowa State 
University. He is a registered professional engineer in both the 
Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Florida.
  His assignments include platoon leader, battalion S2 officer and 
company executive officer in the 317th Engineer Battalion, Eschborn, 
Germany; company commander and battalion S4 officer in the 82d Engineer 
Battalion, Bamberg, Germany; company commander of the 535th Engineer 
Company (Combat Support Equipment), Grafenwoehr, Germany; project 
officer and deputy resident engineer in the Omaha Engineer District, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado Springs, Colorado; battalion 
executive officer, 317th Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia; 
group operations officer, 36th Engineer Group, Fort Benning, Georgia; 
Instructor, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas; Chief of Engineer Operations and Assistant Corps 
Engineer, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany; Commander of the 94th Engineer 
Combat Battalion, Vilseck, Germany, where he planned and conducted 
operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His prior assignment 
was as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort 
Leonard Wood, Missouri. Colonel Grosskruger's awards include the Bronze 
Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (seventh award); the Army 
Commendation Medal (three awards and the ``V'' device); the Joint 
Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal (fifth award); the NATO 
Medal; the Joint Meritorious Unit award; and the Humanitarian Service 
Medal. He has earned medals from Nicaragua and Poland. He has the U.S. 
and German parachutist badge and the air assault badge. His battalion 
earned the Presidential Unit Citation for service with the 3d Infantry 
Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  I would be remiss if I did not also take this opportunity to thank 
Colonel Grosskruger's wife and family for their support and dedication. 
It is a well known fact that the hardest job in the military is that of 
the military spouse; our service men and women would not be able to do 
what our country asks of them without the backbone of a loving family. 
Claudia Grosskruger is to be commended as much as Colonel Grosskruger 
for their work in service to this country and for their efforts in 
raising Jerry, 20 and Jennifer, 18.

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