[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 165 (Friday, November 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11245-S11246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS F. METZ

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I have been very fortunate in my life. One 
of the great opportunities I received from Senator John O. Pastore of 
Rhode Island was the opportunity to attend West Point. At West Point, 
it was not just a great education, it was not just an opportunity to 
serve the Nation. The most important opportunity I had was to meet an 
extraordinary group of my colleagues and classmates who have served 
this Nation with great distinction now for over 30 years.
  Recently, some of my colleagues who have reached general officer 
ranks have retired: GEN Bill Dailey, who was one of the chiefs of our 
special operations forces, someone whose heroism and courage would be 
well renowned if it could be revealed, but because of his special 
operations missions, much of what he has done will be classified for 
many years; GEN Mike Maples, who was the head of the Defense 
Intelligence Agency--two valued friends and classmates who have 
retired.
  In a few days, another of my classmates will join that distinguished 
roster: LTG Tom Metz. Tom Metz is someone who personifies the values of 
duty, honor, and country, and who has spent his entire life in service 
to the Nation.
  He joined the Army as an enlisted man in 1966. He went to the Army's 
West Point preparatory school, and then he joined the class of 1971 in 
the summer of 1967. Even then, back in the late 1960s, it was quite 
obvious that Tom Metz was going to be a leader in our Army, that he was 
going to command great responsibilities. It was a function of his skill 
but, most importantly, it was a function of his character, his 
commitment to those he led and to the Nation he chose to serve.
  Tom Metz's career has been an extraordinary one. He started as a 
lieutenant in the 1st Battalion of the 509th Parachute Infantry 
Regiment in Germany in the 1970s. He rose through the ranks to hold 
command at every level: platoon, company, battalion.
  He concluded his command responsibilities in Iraq as the commander of 
Multi-National Corps-Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. There he led 
our forces from January 2004 to February 2005. In a difficult moment, 
he provided the leadership and the example that our forces needed.
  His previous assignments included being the assistant division 
commander of the 4th Infantry Division, where he was able to begin the 
technological improvement of our Army by introducing new digital 
technology for our armored forces. He also served in several staff 
positions of great responsibility.
  Presently, he is the head of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device 
Defeat Organization. This is the weapon--the IED--of choice of our 
opponents, and the Department of Defense chose one of the most capable 
and most caring individuals to lead our effort to defeat these devices.
  Tom will conclude a distinguished career. He was bolstered, 
supported, encouraged, and sustained throughout his career by his wife 
Pam and his family. They, too, served and they, too, deserve our great 
commendation and respect.

[[Page S11246]]

  I am extraordinarily proud of his service as a classmate, as a 
friend, as someone who admires his character, his courage, and his 
unstinting commitment to the soldiers he led and the Nation he served. 
I thank him for his great service.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Pennsylvania is 
recognized.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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