[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR FRANK A. GRIPPE ON 
                     THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD L. HANNA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Frankfort, New York's 
own Command Sergeant Major Frank A. Grippe, United States Army for his 
extraordinary dedication to duty and selfless service to the United 
States of America. Command Sergeant Major Grippe will soon retire from 
his present assignment as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, United 
States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida.
  Command Sergeant Major Grippe entered the United States Army in April 
1981 through Syracuse, New York. He trained as a light infantryman and 
graduated from Airborne School at Fort Henning, Georgia, after which he 
went on to serve in a variety of duty positions and organizations: 
Rifleman, Machine-gunner and Team Leader in 1-509th Airborne Battalion 
Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy; Team Leader, Rifle Squad Leader and 
Reconnaissance Squad Leader in 2-325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd 
Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Rifle Squad Leader, 
Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Battalion Operations Sergeant and Company First 
Sergeant with 2-75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington; ROTC 
Senior Military Instructor at San Diego State University, San Diego, 
California; Command Sergeant Major for 1-87th Infantry Regiment, Fort 
Drum, New York, CSM of Task Force Summit (OEF Afghanistan, September 
2001-April 2002); Command Sergeant Major for 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain 
Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York; CSM of Combined Joint Task Force 
Warrior (OEF Afghanistan, July 2003-May 2004); Post and Division 
Command Sergeant Major of the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) and Fort 
Campbell, Kentucky, CSM of Task Force Band of Brothers; Multi-National 
Division North (OIF, September 2005-September 2006). From August 2007 
December 2011, he was assigned as the Command Sergeant Major of I Corps 
and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington and served as the Multi-
National Corps-Iraq Command Sergeant Major from March 2009 to March 
2010. Command Sergeant Major Grippe is presently the Command Senior 
Enlisted Leader for the United States Central Command.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to recognize Command Sergeant 
Major Grippe's long and decorated career. On behalf of a grateful 
nation, I commend Command Sergeant Major Grippe for his dedicated 
service to the United States of America. I also wish to recognize the 
sacrifices and contributions made by Command Sergeant Major Grippe's 
wife Carla and daughter Madeline. We are a nation truly indebted to all 
of the service members, veterans, and military families who continue to 
give so much to defend our American values and liberties. I extend my 
best wishes to Command Sergeant Major Grippe and his family on the 
occasion of his retirement.

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