[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL LARRY DODGEN

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                          HON. PARKER GRIFFITH

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2010

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
American who was a good friend of mine and a good friend of north 
Alabama--Lieutenant General Larry Dodgen. General Dodgen passed away 
this past Saturday leaving a void in our Huntsville community. He was a 
battle tested soldier, having led his battalion into war in 1993 during 
Operation Desert Storm. Later in his career, he became commander of the 
U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal. He 
assumed this command on September 10, 2001, and led during a trying and 
transformative time in our nation's history. Following that duty, in 
2003, he was tapped to command the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense 
Command/Army Forces Strategic Command headquartered at Redstone (SMDC/
ARSTRAT). He was fully invested not only in the Arsenal, but also in 
the Huntsville community. He was a leader in the Base Realignment and 
Closure (BRAC) process on Team Redstone. Following his retirement from 
his distinguished career in the United States Army, he remained in the 
community and became the corporate lead executive of Northrop Grumman's 
Huntsville operations. Men such as General Dodgen are rare; he was a 
true servant who was fully involved both in his profession and his 
community. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Leslie, and his 
many friends and family who are mourning at this time. Next month I 
will join with many others to honor him as he is laid to rest among his 
fellow heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. We will all truly miss 
this great man, and are better for having had the opportunity to know 
him.

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