[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING GENERAL WILLIAM M. FRASER III

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2014

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to pay tribute 
to an exceptional Air Force leader, General William M. Fraser III, 
Commander, United States Transportation Command.
   General Fraser is retiring after honorably serving this great nation 
with an incredibly distinguished 40-year career. General Fraser 
graduated from the Texas A&M University ROTC program in 1974. As a 
command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours, General Fraser has 
held command and staff positions at the squadron, group, wing, major 
command, and Department of Defense levels and is considered one of the 
finest strategic logistics experts in the nation.
   USTRANSCOM serves as the key logistics synchronizer for the 
Department of Defense. It provides global mobility for rapidly 
projecting national power and influence, anywhere, anytime. Whether 
sustaining our combat troops in remote parts of Afghanistan, ensuring 
critical cargo moves through ports in the South Pacific, or re-
supplying our forces at the South Pole, General Fraser and his command 
have shown the world why we truly are an exceptional nation. No other 
nation can project power globally or sustain its forces in every far 
corner of the globe as we can, and we have achieved this ability 
largely through General Fraser's leadership and the efforts of his 
command.
   Equally important, General Fraser cultivated trust with our allies 
and forged bonds that will endure for many years. These relationships 
are reaping diplomatic, economic, and geopolitical benefits that 
contributing directly to regional security and stability and enabling 
our military to remain effective and efficient as we downsize and 
rebalance our forces.
   General Fraser will tell you that his accomplishments were due to 
the hard work from the men and women of USTRANSCOM, but we know they 
were highly inspired by his leadership. We, in Congress, will miss his 
``Giddy Up'' and ``Aggie'' persona and his proactive approach to keep 
us informed and to help us understand the impact of our work. But most 
of all, we will be forever grateful for General Fraser's unwavering 
support to our men and women in the Armed Forces, their dependents, and 
our entire nation.
   Mr. President, while we recognize General Fraser for his 40 years of 
service, I also wish to recognize his wife, Beverly, and wish her the 
very best for the future, as well as their son Mac who served in the 
U.S. Marine Corps, and their daughter, Ashlee, a military spouse of an 
Air Force officer. The Air Force will lose not one, but two, 
exceptional people upon General Fraser's retirement. Will and Bev, we 
wish you well in your future endeavors and pray that those who follow 
in your footsteps may continue the legacy of your unprecedented support 
for our great nation.

                          ____________________