[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19586]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL LARNELL EXUM ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2005

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to 
LTC Larnell Exum, Deputy Chief, Army House Liaison Division, Office of 
the Chief of Legislative Liaison, who retired September 1. Lieutenant 
Colonel Exum's illustrious career as an infantry officer embodies all 
of the Army's values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, 
honor, integrity, and personal courage and spans 20 years, during which 
he has distinguished himself as a soldier, leader, and friend of the 
United States House of Representatives.
  Lieutenant Colonel Exum demonstrated his outstanding tactical and 
operational expertise in numerous command and staff positions overseas 
and in the continental United States. Continually serving in positions 
of ever-increasing responsibility, the highlights of his career include 
serving as a Company Commander with the 101st Airborne Division, Air 
Assault, at both Fort Campbell, KY, and in combat in Kuwait and Iraq 
during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and then as Aide-de-
Camp to the Undersecretary of the Army.
  As the Deputy Chief of the Legislative Liaison in the House Liaison 
Division, his last assignment in the United States Army, Lieutenant 
Colonel Exum demonstrated the outstanding dedication and leadership 
skills that have characterized his distinguished career. In particular, 
he excelled at building relationships with Members of Congress and 
their staffs.
  He escorted over 45 worldwide fact-finding missions for congressional 
delegations, traveling with over 135 Members to 25 countries. These 
ventures served to educate Members on subjects as diverse as the global 
war on terror, Army transformation, magnetic levitation trains, and 
future transportation technologies.
  I traveled with Lieutenant Colonel Exum on several times and was 
thoroughly impressed with him on each occasion. He is one of the finest 
people I have worked with during my 17 years in Congress.
  From 1986 to 1989, Lieutenant Colonel Exum distinguished himself as 
one of the top company grade leaders in Alpha Company, 1/22 Infantry 
Battalion, Fort Drum, NY, serving as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Mortar 
Platoon Leader in a light infantry battalion. He then was assigned to 
Alpha Company, 2/187 Infantry Battalion, both at home station and in 
combat operations in Kuwait and Iraq for Desert Shield and Desert 
Storm, when he was decorated for valor in combat.
  Due to his fabulous reputation as one of the bright young officers in 
the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Exum was selected as the Aide-de-Camp/
Military Assistant for the Under Secretary of the Army. He performed 
magnificently in this position and was subsequently given the rarest of 
opportunities, a second company level command, which he maintained for 
all Army soldiers assigned to the Military District of Washington with 
duty at Fort Meade, MD.
  In 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Exum was assigned with the Office of the 
Chief of Staff of the Army and served there until 1996. During his year 
of seryice, he was the Protocol Staff Officer. His actions had a 
direct, positive impact on the public persona of the Secretary of the 
Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army by coordinating events for the 
``Big Four'' senior Army leadership with foreign dignitaries, senior 
U.S. Government officials, and senior military leaders.
  He then transitioned from active duty to become an active Guard 
Reserve National Guard officer. His contributions to the National Guard 
while serving as the Security Clearance Adjudications Officer and 
Reserve Incentive Program Manager from 1996 to 2001 were without 
measure and positively impacted the lives of individual soldiers and 
the readiness and training of the Guard Bureau as a whole.
  After serving as the Chief of the Inquiries Branch in the National 
Guard Bureau Legislative Office, he was then hand-picked to represent 
the National Guard Bureau and the Army as the first National Guard 
officer to serve in the House Liaison Division of the Secretary of the 
Army's Legislative Liaison office for many years.
  Lieutenant Colonel Exum is a natural at building and maintaining 
credible relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs, which 
was invaluable as the Army faced many challenges associated with its 
budget and real world combat operations in the Global War on Terror. 
Members knew they could count on Lieutenant Colonel Exum for his sage 
counsel, professional advice, and unwavering integrity.
  Lieutenant Colonel Exum's faithful service, leadership, loyalty, and 
dedication to duty uphold the highest traditions of military service, 
and he has repeatedly stood for the defense of this Nation, her 
citizens, and their freedom. His devotion to the defense of liberty 
epitomizes the words soldier, patriot, and American. Lieutenant Colonel 
Exum is a role model for his two children, Tyler and Taylor, and is a 
devoted husband to his wife, Tina.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my gratitude and that of the entire 
Nation to Lieutenant Colonel Exum for his service to the United States 
and his hard work in defense of freedom.

                          ____________________