[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING CAPTAIN ROBERT C. GRANT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2012

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Robert C. 
Grant, and to congratulate him on his retirement. Captain Grant is an 
outstanding individual who served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the 
Seventh Coast Guard District since coming on Active Duty in April of 
1998.
   Captain Grant first entered military service as a medic in the U.S. 
Air Force Reserve in December 1966, serving at both Tyndall Air Force 
Base near Panama City, FL and Homestead Air Force Base in South 
Florida. In April 1974, he received a Direct Commission in the U.S. 
Coast Guard Reserve and served as a drilling Reservist in various Coast 
Guard Reserve Units in the Seventh District until coming on Active Duty 
in April 1998. Most notable of his Reserve Unit assignments was his 
three year tour as Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Unit 
Marine Safety Office Miami, during which the majority of the 90-member 
unit was activated in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
   During his tenure as Deputy Chief of Staff, Captain Grant served as 
a senior advisor to eight Admirals. He was the primary District liaison 
to Congressional Members and their staffs from South Carolina, Georgia, 
Florida, and Puerto Rico. His efforts assisted Congress in passing 
legislation that has proved instrumental in addressing new maritime 
smuggling tactics that constitute a threat to the United States.
   Among his many achievements, Captain Grant was active in 
strengthening the relationship between the Coast Guard and the South 
Florida Hispanic and Haitian communities through a dedicated public 
outreach initiative. In the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake 
near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he also supported such large-scale 
responses as Operation Unified Response and Operation Southeast Watch--
Haiti, which led to the evacuation of over 1,150 US citizens, 250 
medical evacuations, the transport of over 715 first responders, and 
the delivery of over 1.1 million pounds of critically-needed relief 
cargo and equipment by Coast Guard aircraft.
   Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Captain Robert C. Grant 
for his continued service to our nation, and more specifically South 
Florida and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this 
outstanding individual.

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