[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COL. TONY JACK BUCKLES, U.S. ARMY (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JUAN VARGAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 21, 2018

  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Col. Tony 
Jack Buckles, U.S. Army (Ret.) and his years of dedication to our 
country and the communities of California's 51st Congressional 
District.
  Col. Tony Jack Buckles, of Pensacola, FL passed away at the age of 69 
on December 5, 2018 following a heroic battle with cancer. He is 
survived by: his wife of 49 years, Nancy C. Buckles; his children: 
Jonathan (Lauren) Buckles; and Elizabeth (James) Deck; his six 
beautiful granddaughters: Brenton, Madeline, Catherine, and Elizabeth 
Buckles and Emilia and Enslie Deck and his mother, Billie Buckles.
  Tony was born on November 5, 1949 to Jack and Billie Buckles in 
Elizabethton, TN. Tony was an alumnus of East Tennessee State 
University. He was commissioned in June of 1971 as an Armor Officer and 
after graduating the Armor Officer Orientation Course, Airborne School, 
and Ranger School, Tony began his distinguished service assigned to the 
U.S. Army's Third Armored Division in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  Tony graduated from many courses, including the Infantry Officer 
Advanced Course, the United States Marine Corp's Command and Staff 
College, and achieved the status of distinguished graduate of the 
National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, DC. Tony's esteemed 
service led to the fulfillment of a career-long goal of being selected 
as the Battalion Commander for 1/70 Armor, in the U.S. Army's 5th 
Mechanized Infantry Division, at Fort Polk, LA, where his battalion was 
selected as the first in the Division to field the Army's newest battle 
tank at the time, the M1 Abrams. Tony went on to serve honorably as the 
Garrison Commander for the U.S. Army's III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, 
TX, with his military career ultimately concluding with the privilege 
of serving the U.S. House of Representatives in the U.S. Army's 
Congressional Liaison Office.
  Over the course of Tony's career, he received numerous awards and 
recognition for his service, culminating with being awarded the U.S. 
Army's Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious 
service to the Government in duties of great responsibility. Following 
his retirement, after 30 years of service, Tony became the Chief of 
Staff for U.S. Congressman Bob Filner, 51st District, California from 
2001-2012.
  On behalf of California's 51st Congressional District. I would like 
to formally honor the memory of Col. Tony Jack Buckles on his years of 
dedicated service to the nation and California's 51st Congressional 
District.

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