[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23460-23461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING COLONEL MATTHEW DAPSON, USMC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man 
who has served his country proudly for over 26 years. Colonel Matthew 
Dapson, United States Marine Corps, is a native of Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts, and a 1978 graduate of Rider University in 
Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
  After graduating from Rider with a Bachelor's degree in finance, 
Colonel Dapson chose to serve his country as one of the few and the 
proud, a United States Marine. He enrolled in Officer Candidate School 
at Quantico, Virginia, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on the 
203rd birthday of the Marine Corps, November 10th, 1978.
  Upon completion of the Basic School at Quantico, Colonel Dapson was 
ordered to Pensacola, Florida for pilot training. He excelled at 
Pensacola, reached his goal of becoming a Naval Aviator, and was given 
the opportunity to fly the CH-46 helicopter. Colonel Dapson's 
reputation as a pilot, and as a Marine were such that he was 
subsequently invited to serve as an aviation instructor.
  Throughout his career, he emphasized the importance of attention to 
detail in all endeavors. It is no small feat that Colonel Dapson flew 
for over 18 years without a mishap, amassing over 3,000 hours of flight 
time. This is even more impressive when one considers the age of the 
CH-46 aircraft. This is a testimony to Colonel Dapson and to those many 
fine Marines who put in the long hours to ensure his helicopter brought 
him and his crew home safely.
  Having established himself as one who demonstrated extraordinary 
diligence, Colonel

[[Page 23461]]

Dapson was assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon for three years. 
While there, he was given responsibility for several key strategic and 
doctrinal documents. He helped write the initial national military 
strategy on counter-proliferation in 1994, and wrote the capstone joint 
doctrine for services and combatant commanders on troop welfare issues 
and casualty reporting in 1997.
  Colonel Dapson was not to be kept long out of the cockpit. Once 
again, in 1998, his reputation resulted in his selection for one of the 
most competitive billets in the Marine Corps, command of an operational 
squadron. Colonel Dapson commanded HMM-268, a CH-46 squadron based at 
Camp Pendleton, California. His record was again one of meticulous 
attention to detail, combined with compassionate concern for the 
Marines who served under him; exactly the right mix for the inherently 
dangerous business of flying military aircraft.
  For the last three years, Colonel Dapson has been instrumental in 
enhancing communication and understanding between the Marine Corps and 
the Congress. As the Marine Corps Liaison to the House and Senate Armed 
Services Committees, he has worked tirelessly alongside the 
Professional Staff of both Committees to ensure they had the best 
possible information on which to base resource allocation and 
legislative recommendations. From coordinating visits to the Hill by 
Marine Corps subject matter experts, to traveling the globe with 
Members and Staff, Colonel Dapson always put in whatever extra effort 
was necessary to make things go smoothly, and to gain access to crucial 
pieces of information.
  Twenty-six years is a long time to serve, and to put others first. 
Colonel Dapson is to be commended for the legacy he has left behind, 
and all those whose lives he has enriched along the way. I hope all 
Members, especially those who serve on the Armed Services Committees, 
will join me in saying, ``Thanks, Matt,'' and in wishing this fine 
American fighting man much success in the future.

                          ____________________