[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING COLONEL WILLIAM F. McCOLLOUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY F. MURPHY

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2020

  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Colonel William Ferree McCollough, United States Marine Corps, for his 
30 years of service to our great nation and his family's faithful 
service as well. Colonel McCollough is a 1991 graduate of Norwich 
University where he graduated summa cum laude and was nominated for a 
prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. The theme of his distinguished career 
has been one of achievement with highest honors throughout his three 
decades of unconditional service to the United States of America.
  Literally every military school he attended, he distinguished himself 
by graduating with honors, which is an absolutely tremendous 
achievement. The schools he attained these high honors at are the Basic 
Officers' Course, the Amphibious Warfare School and the Marine Corps 
War College.
  His deployments have been more numerous than most Marines. As a young 
officer, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines where he 
deployed twice to Okinawa. In 1995, he was assigned to the elite Fleet 
Anti-Terrorist Security Team Company where he was involved in human 
trafficking interdiction operations working with the United States 
Coast Guard (USCG). One operation led him and his Marines to interdict 
a foreign freighter in the Atlantic that was carrying Chinese slave 
laborers. They assisted the USCG by ensuring the laborers were freed 
and their kidnappers were captured and brought to justice.
  In 2002, Colonel McCollough was selected for the highly prestigious 
Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship. This selection entailed working 
in the hallowed halls of the U.S. Congress for a year in a 
congressional office. The competition for this program is very keen. 
Once again, he excelled, which led him to his current assignment as the 
Director of the Marine liaison office to the House of Representatives.
  In 2006, then Major McCollough deployed to Iraq as a Military 
Transition Team leader. He and his team worked advising an Iraqi 
military unit. During one engagement, his unit came under fire from 
122mm mortars where he sustained wounds and was awarded a Purple Heart.
  Colonel McCollough has received a Legion of Merit with a ``V'' device 
for valor or heroism in combat. This was awarded when he was the 
Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines for the battle to 
seize the Nawa district in Afghanistan from the Taliban.
  Colonel McCollough also has received the Bronze Star with a ``V'' 
device for leading the advisor element with an Iraqi Army unit in 2006. 
Colonel McCollough had several combat deployments. There were two to 
Iraq (2006 and 2008). There were two to Afghanistan (2009 and 2013/14) 
and one also to Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and other undisclosed locations.
  He served on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. There his vast 
experiences in Middle East operations was used to help formulate future 
plans in the region. Additionally, Colonel McCollough was deployed in 
support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2015 and 2016. This military 
operation is ongoing, with the goal to eradicate terrorists in the 
countries of Iraq, Syria and Libya.
  Colonel McCollough has received combat action ribbons in two theaters 
of war--Iraq and Afghanistan where he was engaged in multiple combat 
actions.
  Colonel McCollough's final tour in the Marine Corps is with us once 
again in the hallowed halls of Congress. During his tenure as the 
Director of the House Marine Liaison Office, Colonel McCollough has led 
the Marine Corps' efforts to modernize the Marine Corps and prepare our 
Corps for future wars. His duties have taken him to six continents and 
multiple countries supporting both the U.S. House of Representatives 
and the Marine Corps.
  Colonel McCollough has served 30 outstanding years to our beloved 
nation and will retire on 1 June 2021. His wife, Caroline, and sons 
Jack and Hunter deserve recognition too because their support for 
Colonel McCollough has been unwavering. They have lived through 10 
moves and the extended absences of Colonel McCollough's many 
deployments. Their courage and determination are noteworthy.
  I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognize not only Colonel 
McCollough, but his entire family for their undeniably incredible 
service to the U.S. Marine Corps and our great nation. Their sacrifice 
and dedication to our nation is truly remarkable. I wish his beloved 
wife, Caroline, and their two sons Jack and Hunter, well, as all of 
them embark on a new chapter in their lives. God bless the McColloughs, 
God bless the United States of America, and Semper Fidelis.

                          ____________________