[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7698-S7699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL RAYMOND W. CARPENTER

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I rise today to 
pay tribute to Major General Raymond W. Carpenter and his faithful 
service to our country. After 44 years of service to our Nation and the 
State of South Dakota, General Carpenter will soon retire from the 
United States Army.
  Gen. Carpenter began his military service in 1967 when he enlisted in 
the South Dakota Army National Guard. General Carpenter later joined 
the United States Navy and put his photographic memory to work learning 
the Vietnamese language in preparation for his assignment at the Naval 
Support Activity in Danang, South Vietnam. Upon completion of his Naval 
service, he returned to the South Dakota Army National Guard where he 
was commissioned in 1974. He has commanded at all levels, from 
Lieutenant to Colonel.
  General Carpenter is an engineer by formal training, tirelessly 
devising, planning and building. He was a founding member of the 
Director of the Army National Guard's Engineer Advisory Team and went 
on to be the chairman until May 2006. Engineering and organizational 
skills aside, General Carpenter is most passionate about soldiers: the 
Nation's sons and daughters who are in his care. I have seen this 
firsthand and have also witnessed his dedication to our Nation's 
veterans as he assisted me in awarding Korean War medals to veterans in 
South Dakota.
  For the past 2\1/2\ years, Gen. Carpenter has ably served as the 
Acting Director, Army National Guard. In this capacity, he has led more 
than 350,000 National Guard soldiers from the 54 states, territories 
and the District of Columbia. As Chairman of the Military Construction 
and VA Appropriations Subcommittee, I have worked with Gen. Carpenter 
to fund important National Guard construction projects, and I was proud 
to have him testify before my subcommittee. He has represented our home 
State well and has been a tireless advocate for the members of the Army 
National Guard. He is truly a soldier's soldier. On occasion, when Big 
Army concocted some sort of short-sighted plan, there was Gen. 
Carpenter ``standing like a stone wall'' to look out for the interest 
of his soldiers and his country.
  For his efforts, General Carpenter has received numerous awards and

[[Page S7699]]

decorations at every phase of his stellar career, including Legions of 
Merits, Meritorious Service Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal, Army 
Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Army Reserve Components 
Achievement Medals, and the National Defense Service Medals, among many 
others.
  Today I join my fellow Americans and stand with proud South Dakotans 
in congratulating Gen. Carpenter on an impressive military career. In 
2011 our Nation is most assuredly safer, stronger, and more secure 
because of this dedicated soldier, gifted engineer, and superb leader. 
I am grateful for Gen. Carpenter's service to our country, and to his 
wife, Mary, for her tireless support of her husband and his mission. 
After years of dedicated service, I wish Major General Carpenter a 
relaxing retirement, filled with many joyful hours on his 
Harley.

                          ____________________