[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              TRIBUTE TO MASTER SERGEANT RAYMOND E. KELLEY

 Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 
exceptionally meritorious career of one of this Nation's finest, MSG 
Raymond E. Kelley, on his retirement after 26 years of sacrifice and 
selfless service to the United States of America and the State of West 
Virginia.
  Master Sergeant Kelley's career began on February 12, 1983, and ended 
upon his retirement on December 28, 2015. He first enlisted in 
Parkersburg, WV, as a heavy equipment operator with Company C, 463rd 
Engineer Battalion in the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1985, Master Sergeant 
Kelley transferred to the Navy, serving as a Seabee, completing 
deployments to Somalia and Bahrain through October 1993.
  After a break in service, Master Sergeant Kelley returned to the Navy 
Reserves in 1996 and later joined the West Virginia Army National Guard 
in February 2000 as a staff sergeant and was assigned as a combat 
engineer section leader. In 2003, Master Sergeant Kelley deployed to 
Iraq with the Headquarters and Support Company 1092nd Engineer 
Battalion as a construction foreman.
  Following the deployment, Master Sergeant Kelley was promoted and 
served as a platoon sergeant for the 119th Engineer Support Company, 
Clarksburg, WV, and the 1st Detachment of the 1092nd, Headquarters and 
Support Company, Point Pleasant, WV.
  In 2006, Master Sergeant Kelley was assigned to the 193rd Equipment 
Support Platoon in Moundsville, WV, where he served as the senior 
noncommissioned officer for the unit and the unit full-time readiness 
noncommissioned officer.
  In 2011, Master Sergeant Kelley was transferred to the 1092nd 
Engineer Battalion, Headquarters and Support Company as the assistant 
operations sergeant and was promoted in September 2012 as the battalion 
operations sergeant.
  His awards and decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, 
second award; Army Commendation Medal, third award; Army Reserve 
Component Achievement Medal, third award; Army Achievement Medal, third 
award; National Defense Service Medal, second award; Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; 
Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 
Mobilization Device; Army Service Ribbon; Non-Commissioned Officer 
Ribbon, third award; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Action Badge; 
Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Army Good Conduct Medal, second award; 
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation; United States Navy Presidential 
Unit Commendation; Navy Presidential Unit Citation; Navy Achievement 
Medal, third award; United States Navy Overseas Service Ribbon; Navy 
Good Conduct Award, second award; West Virginia Emergency Service 
Medal, third award; WV State Service Ribbon, third award; West Virginia 
Achievement Ribbon; and West Virginia National Guard Minuteman Ribbon, 
third award.
  Master Sergeant Kelley made significant contributions to all of the 
units to which he has been assigned throughout his 26 years of service. 
As the platoon sergeant for the 193rd Equipment Support Platoon, his 
unit consistently maintained strength in excess of 100 percent and had 
the highest morale of any unit in the 1092nd Engineer Battalion. As the 
battalion operations sergeant, Master Sergeant Kelley managed all 
training events and training requirements, ensuring subordinate units 
were prepared for all potential missions.
  Master Sergeant Kelley resides with his wife, Rhonda, in Parkersburg, 
WV. They have three children: Seth, Hanna, and Chance. Master Sergeant 
Kelley is a fellow runner, as well as an avid outdoorsman. I wish him a 
fond farewell and the best of luck in the next phase of his life. He 
has shown leadership and wisdom throughout his numerous assignments. He 
has made a difference in the readiness of the West Virginia National 
Guard, in the morale of his units, and most importantly, in the lives 
of thousands of servicemembers. He has been an asset and a treasure; 
his presence will be missed by many and by the West Virginia National 
Guard as a whole.
  Master Sergeant Kelley, I am honored to call you a fellow West 
Virginian; but most of all, thankful for your endless dedication that 
has meant so much, to so many.

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