[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO RAY LACKEY

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Alex 
``Ray'' Lackey for his recent appointment as the Eighth Command 
Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve.
  Ray has been serving as supervisor of customer services at the 
Bowling Green post office for almost 20 years, and now embarks on a 
three-year tour of duty at the Pentagon. Ray has served in numerous 
capacities in the U.S. military for more than 28 years, with his most 
recent assignment as Command Sergeant Major for the 100th Division in 
Louisville. Ray's supervisors have commended him for his ability to 
maintain a professional balance between his demanding positions in both 
the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of the Army.
  Ray's experience in military service is broad, including service as 
Squad Leader with the 82nd Airborne Division, Drill Sergeant at Fort 
Knox, Platoon Sergeant with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, 
Battalion Operations Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Commandant of the 
100th Division Drill Sergeant School. In 1982, he received the 
distinction of U.S. Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the year.
  Ray has been decorated with an impressive number of awards and honors 
over the years, including being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal 
five times, the Army Commendation Medal two times, the Good Conduct 
Medal twice, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal five times, 
and the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with 
Bronze Star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ``M'' device, the 
Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 
four, the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He has 
also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
  As is evidenced by the lengthy list of Ray's achievements and honors, 
he has served his State and his country well. It is also clear that the 
Department of the Army has great confidence in Ray's experience, and it 
seems only fitting that someone with his expertise and seasoned skills 
will be working in such a significant capacity at the Pentagon. My 
colleagues and I extend our gratitude for Ray's willingness to continue 
serving the country in this new post, and wish him the best in his next 
stage of service.

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