[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E88]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING RETIRED ARMY COLONEL MIKE PLUMMER FOR HIS DEDICATION IN 
                SERVING FORT DRUM AND THE NORTH COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELISE M. STEFANIK

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2022

  Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the 
extraordinary life of retired Army Colonel Mike Plummer. Colonel Mike 
Plummer played a pivotal role in reactivating the 10th Mountain 
Infantry Division and bringing it to Fort Drum, New York. Col. 
Plummer's prioritization of creating an enduring bond between Fort Drum 
and the community forever changed the North Country. Col. Plummer 
graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1960 prior to 
serving in Vietnam. For the next thirty years, Col. Plummer valiantly 
served in infantry units at every level of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
  While working at the Pentagon during the waning days of the Cold War, 
Col. Plummer recognized the growing importance of light infantry units. 
He was tasked with flying to northern New York to scope out Fort Drum 
as a potential base for the newly reactivated 10th Mountain Light 
Infantry Division. This visit would sway Col. Plummer into advocating 
for Fort Drum to be the home of the 10th Mountain Division. He believed 
the harsh winter conditions of Fort Drum would create a division that 
was prepared for any environment they may encounter. In 1984, Plummer 
brought the 10th Mountain Division to Fort Drum and immediately 
prioritized creating a strong relationship between the military and the 
North Country community. The required expansion of Fort Drum, prior to 
the arrival of the 10th Mountain Division, created many jobs and 
stimulated the economy in the North Country. Plummer's role in 
introducing the 10th Mountain Division into the region changed the 
North Country and the Watertown community forever.
  After serving as the 10th Mountain Division's first Chief of Staff at 
Fort Drum, Col. Plummer retired in 1991. Following his retirement from 
the Army, Col. Plummer remained committed to improving the North 
Country community and bettering the lives of Fort Drum soldiers. In 
1992, Col. Plummer created the Adopt-a-Platoon program, which gathered 
community members together to write letters and send care packages to 
deployed soldiers and host a pizza party when they returned. This 
program started out local in the North Country and has now developed 
into a national program that has adopted service members of all 
branches of the military. The success of the Adopt-a-Platoon program is 
entirely due to Col. Plummer's dedication to ensuring the local 
community supports their service members.
  Col. Plummer dedicated his career to improving the lives of others. 
In addition to the Adopt-a-Platoon program, Col. Plummer served as an 
advisor to the Board of Directors of Advocate Drum, created the Yellow 
Ribbon campaign, organized scholarship funds for family members of the 
10th Mountain Division soldiers killed or wounded in action. Helped 
establish the soldier 101 program in the North Country to give the 
community a better understanding of the life of a soldier, and 
developed the idea for the ``North Country Honors the Mountain'' 
monument in Watertown's Thompson Park. This monument commemorates the 
lasting impact that the 10th Mountain Division has on the North Country 
and pays tribute to the sacrifice of every Fort Drum soldier.
  Col. Plummer has made an indelible impact on the North Country and 
Fort Drum. Throughout his entire life he put his family, the 10th 
Mountain Division, and the North Country above himself. On behalf of 
New York's 21st Congressional District, I am honored to remember and 
celebrate the life of Col. Mike Plummer. The impact he has made on the 
North Country can never be overstated.

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