[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 54 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDWARD P. ASH

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to my constituent 
LTC Edward P. ``Ned'' Ash for his exemplary dedication to duty and 
service to the U.S. Army and to the United States of America. 
Lieutenant Colonel Ash will retire this summer after more than two 
decades in the U.S. Army.
  Entering the Army from Vancouver, WA, Lieutenant Colonel Ash earned a 
commission from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree 
in international relations and was commissioned an armor officer in 
1994.
  Lieutenant Colonel Ash served in a variety of cavalry units and 
assignments during his 22 years of service. As a lieutenant, he served 
as a tank platoon leader, scout platoon leader, troop executive 
officer, and as a squadron staff officer in the 2nd Squadron, 3d 
Armored Cavalry Regiment. As a captain from 1999 to 2001, Lieutenant 
Colonel Ash remained in a hardship assignment with the 2nd Infantry 
Division for 3 years to serve in Korea. While assigned to the 2nd 
Infantry Division, he commanded Bravo Troop and Headquarters Troop in 
the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. After working at the national 
training center, where Lieutenant Colonel Ash trained units that were 
preparing to deploy in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring 
Freedom, he was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment. He 
deployed with this unit to Iraq while serving as the operations officer 
and then to Afghanistan as the squadron executive officer.
  Lieutenant Colonel Ash spent his last 4 years in the Army as a budget 
liaison in the office around the corner from mine in the Russell Senate 
Office Building and has become a fixture in the Halls of the U.S. 
Senate. My staff have called on him many times to help with issues 
affecting the soldiers and military families in Washington State and 
around the country. Lieutenant Colonel Ash has approached every inquiry 
from my staff, from requisition requests for tents to detailed 
questions about national strategy, with the same calm wisdom and 
thoughtfulness that puts serving people and getting results above all 
else. Lieutenant Colonel Ash has also led the teams that supported the 
logistic requirements for the funerals of two of my colleagues who 
served in the Army: Senator Daniel Inouye and Senator Frank Lautenberg. 
His efforts during these funerals helped ensure that they were 
conducted with the dignity befitting the memories of these giants of 
the Senate. I can confidently say that Lieutenant Colonel Ash's 
leadership has positively impacted his soldiers, peers, and superiors 
throughout his career.
  On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in 
recognizing and commending LTC Edward P. Ash for over two decades of 
service to his country. We wish Ned and his wife, Jamie Skaluba, all 
the best as they continue their journey of service.

                          ____________________