[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23664-23665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF COLONEL THOMAS D. BUTLER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man that has 
dedicated his life to protecting our country. Colonel Thomas D. Butler, 
Jr. After 35 years fulfilling vital support functions in the United 
States Army, Colonel Butler is retiring.
  Thomas Butler joined the Army Reserve as a private in 1969 and served 
at the Engineering and Plans Section of the 411th Engineer Brigade at 
Fort Tilden, New York until his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 
1974, upon which he commanded a platoon at the 306th Engineer Company 
in Amityville, New York. In July 1977, Butler was assigned to the New 
York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an Assistant Military 
Area Engineer.

[[Page 23665]]

In 1987, he returned to the 411th Engineer Brigade and was called to 
active duty when the Brigade was deployed to Saudi Arabia during 
Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Upon returning to reserve status in 
1991, Butler assumed command of the 305th Engineer Detachment. During 
his command, this unit was awarded the U.S. Army Superior Unit Citation 
and Butler conducted numerous missions in the Republic of Korea and 
Germany. In 1995 he joined the 77th Regional Support Command as the 
chief, Plans Division, in the DCS ENGINEER section. In 2001, Butler 
became Acting Commander of the 8th Brigade (SROTC), 98th Division, and 
then Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations, ADCSOPS-OPS of the 
77th RSC. In 2002, Butler was reassigned as Deputy Chief of Staff-
engineers, DCS-ENGINEER, and then as the first Deputy Chief of Staff--
Army Reserve Installation Management.
  Colonel Butler is a highly-decorated soldier. His citations include 
the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak 
leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, 
the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four oak leaf 
clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with Service Star, the 
Kuwait Liberation Medal from both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the New 
York State Conspicuous Service medal.
  In his civilian capacity, Butler is a Senior Project Manager for the 
Tishman Interiors Construction Corporation and the former Commissioner 
of Buildings for the City of Mount Vernon, New York. Butler resides in 
Tarrytown. I would like to join his wife Cheryl and their children 
Brent, Kimberly, Blake, Ashley, and all his relatives and friends in 
congratulating him and wishing him well in his retirement.

                          ____________________