[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING THOMAS HARPER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2021

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize 
Thomas Harper, a Title 10 AGR Functional Area-59 qualified Major 
assigned to the Army National Guard G-5 as a Strategic Planner.
  Mr. Harper began his service to our country at the age of 17 as an 
Infantryman in the Florida Army National Guard. He served 19 years in 
the Army at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels as a 
paratrooper, combat veteran, and qualified strategist. Mr. Harper 
served in units including infantry regiments, airborne special forces, 
the National Guard Bureau, the Department of the Army, the United 
States Special Operations Command, and the Office of the Secretary of 
Defense. He completed five operational tours in Afghanistan, Africa, 
and Central America.
  Before returning to the Army National Guard G-5, Thomas Harper 
demonstrated his commitment to building and maintaining strong 
relationships between the Army and the legislative branch. Mr. Harper 
held the MILCON portfolio in the Readiness branch of the Programs 
Division at the Department of the Army's Office of the Chief 
Legislative Liaison from 2018 to 2020. In his work, Mr. Harper worked 
closely with Members of Congress and interagency partners. He assisted 
Army Senior Leaders with preparation for Congressional hearings and 
traveled with Members and their staff, as well as Armed Services 
Committee professional staff members. Mr. Harper was also selected 
twice as the detail to the Department of Defense COVID-19 task force.
  Mr. Harper's achievements in his service to the United States have 
been recognized with countless awards. He is a two-time recipient of 
the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He received 
the French Cross of Military Valor at Division level (equivalent to the 
U.S. Silver Star) from the Ambassador of France for his combat actions 
in Afghanistan during December 2009. Mr. Harper is one of only seven 
Americans to receive this award since World War II. He has also been 
honored with the National Guard Association of the United States 
Patrick Henry Award, the National Guard Bureau's Outstanding 
Performance Award, the Georgia Military College Outstanding Young 
Alumni Award, and the Georgia Military College George C. Marshall 
Award.
  Madam Speaker, Thomas Harper is an outstanding Army officer and model 
citizen who has served with honor for nearly two decades. It is 
therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

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