[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 159 (Friday, October 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1897-E1898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RETIREMENT OF MAJOR GENERAL YVES J. FONTAINE

                        HON. ROBERT T. SCHILLING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 21, 2011

  Mr. SCHILLING. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
speak on the floor of the House of Representatives about an incredible 
member of our Armed Forces.
  Major General Yves J. Fontaine has served as Commanding General of 
the U.S. Army Sustainment Command (ASC), since September 2, 2009. As 
Commanding General of ASC, Major General Fontaine leads a global 
organization responsible for providing front-line logistics support to 
combat units. This important Command manages Army pre-positioned stocks 
located in strategic sites around the world; maintains weapons and 
equipment at bases in forward areas; and oversees the Logistics Civil 
Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), which provides contractor support in 
theaters of operation. Major General Fontaine has diligently worked to 
bring together the Rock Island Arsenal community, both on and off the 
island. He has been a great asset to the Quad Cities community and his 
service as Commanding General of ASC will be greatly missed.
  I would like to take this opportunity to share his incredible history 
with the American people. Major General Fontaine was born in La 
Louviere, Belgium and became a naturalized United States citizen in 
1971. Major General Fontaine was commissioned as an Army officer in 
1976 following his graduation from University of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, where he was named as Distinguished Military Graduate. 
Along with the Bachelor of Science degree in Management which he earned 
from LaSalle, Major General Fontaine also holds master's degrees in 
business administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, 
and advanced military studies from the Army's Command and General Staff 
College. He also completed the Training with Industry program at the 
Defense Contract Agency in Indianapolis, Indiana. His military 
education includes the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the 
School for Advanced Military Studies, and the U.S. Army War College.
  Major General Fontaine has diligently and admirably served the Army 
and his country through previous assignments. Major General Fontaine 
came to ASC from Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he served as Commanding 
General of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC). Prior to that 
assignment, he served as the G4 (Logistics) for U.S. Army-Europe, 7th 
U.S. Army, in Heidelberg, Germany. Major General Fontaine also served 
as the G4 for the 82nd Airborne Division and the G4 and Chief of Staff 
for the U.S. Special Operations Command, both at Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina. During Operation Desert Shield, Major General Fontaine 
deployed to Southwest Asia with the 24th Infantry Division. When 
Operation Desert Storm began, Major General Fontaine acted as liaison 
officer with France's 6th Light Armored Division. He then became 
Support Operations Officer for the 24th Infantry Division's 24th 
Support Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia. After assuming command of 
the 1st Corps Support Command, Major General Fontaine deployed from 
Fort Bragg to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Other key assignments held by Major General Fontaine during his 
career include commander of the 82nd Forward Support Battalion, 82nd 
Airborne Division; maintenance officer for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle 
System Materiel Fielding Team, and materiel operations officer for the 
19th Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Corps Support Command, in Vilseck, 
Germany; company commander and battalion maintenance officer with the 
4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Carson, Colorado; and 
platoon leader, shop officer and battalion maintenance officer with the 
8th Infantry Division in Germany. His entire service record is a credit 
to his training in the Army, his focus on education and the support of 
his wife and four daughters.
  Major General Fontaine's awards and decorations include the 
Distinguished Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf 
Clusters; the Bronze Star Medal; the Defense Superior Service Medal; 
the Meritorious Combat Action Badge; and the Master Parachutist Badge.
  I appreciate the great service he has provided to Rock Island Arsenal 
and our nation

[[Page E1898]]

as a whole. I also appreciate the sacrifices that he and his family 
have gone through during his time in the military. We are very lucky to 
have folks like Major General Fontaine serving our country and I wish 
him and his family the best as they move on into this new adventure. On 
behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your dedication and your 
service.

                          ____________________