[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF U.S. ARMY MAJOR GENERAL (RETIRED) ROBERT C. GASKILL 
 AND U.S. MARINE CORPS MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT (RETIRED) JOHN W. JONES 
                                  JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2011

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Prince William County Chapter of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and its 2011 ``Salute to 
Veterans'' Freedom Fund Banquet. U.S. Army Major General (Retired) 
Robert C. Gaskill and U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant 
(Retired) John W. Jones Jr. will receive special recognition at the 
banquet for their service to our nation.
  The NAACP was established in 1909 to eliminate racial prejudice and 
remove barriers of racial discrimination that prevent equal opportunity 
for all members of society. The Prince William County Chapter seeks to 
implement outreach initiatives, educational programs and victim 
services that address issues of discrimination in the local community. 
The local chapter hosts an annual Freedom Fund Banquet to raise funds 
to support the chapter's activities. This year, the program will honor 
veterans of the United States armed forces.
  It is my honor to join the Prince William County Chapter of the NAACP 
in giving special recognition to two veterans and residents of Prince 
William County, Major General Gaskill and Master Gunnery Sergeant 
Jones.
  General Gaskill was born in Yonkers, N.Y., on April 12, 1931, to John 
and Armania Gaskill. The Gaskill family later moved to Arlington, Va. 
General Gaskill completed Reserve Officer Training as a Distinguished 
Military Graduate, and received a bachelor of science in business 
administration from Howard University in 1952. He was commissioned into 
one of the last all-black battalions in the United States Army. General 
Gaskill had a distinguished and decorated career in the Army before his 
retirement in 1981, to which he credits the support of his late wife 
Erotida Gaskill. General Gaskill is a Life Member of the NAACP, member 
of Unity in the Community, and an elder at his church.
  Sergeant Jones was born in Memphis, Tenn., on September 3, 1930, to 
Mattie and John W. Jones, Sr. Sergeant Jones' mother passed away when 
he was nine, and he was raised by Laura Belle Jones, his father's 
second wife. In 1956, Sergeant Jones joined the United States Marine 
Corps. While in the Marine Corps, Sergeant Jones went to night school 
to complete his high school degree and enrolled in college courses. His 
service in the Corps included tours in the 1958 Lebanon Crisis and the 
Vietnam War. Sergeant Jones is married to the former Anne Tankins of 
Quantico. He is active in the NAACP and volunteers in his church, First 
Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he serves as Deacon Emeritus and sings 
in the choir.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the 
Prince William County Chapter of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People and its 2011 ``Salute to Veterans'' 
Freedom Fund Banquet. I extend my personal appreciation to Major 
General U.S.A. (Retired) Robert C. Gaskill and Master Gunnery Sergeant 
U.S.M.C. (Retired) John W. Jones, Jr. for their service and sacrifice 
on behalf of our country.

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