[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT 
                         FROM THE ARMY RESERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a 
distinguished and dedicated military officer who has served this Nation 
with great honor and distinction. Congressman John Shimkus will retire 
as a lieutenant colonel from the United States Army Reserve on June 1, 
2008, after nearly three decades of exemplary service in the United 
States Army and the United States Army Reserve. His career is a great 
example of the ideals that we expect and cherish from our Warrior-
Citizens. Thanks to his service to our Nation, we all live a little 
freer and we are all more secure in our rights and duties as citizens 
of the greatest nation in the world. Today, I'm proud to take a few 
minutes to read a resolution I introduced to this Congress today to 
honor the outstanding career of Lieutenant Colonel John Shimkus.

 A Resolution in the House of Representatives Honoring the Service and 
 Accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel John M. Shimkus, United States 
                              Army Reserve

       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel John M. Shimkus, United States 
     Army Reserve, was born on February 21, 1958, in East St. 
     Louis, Illinois;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus graduated from the 
     United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 
     1980 with a bachelor's degree in general engineering;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus graduated from Southern 
     Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1997, with 
     a master of business administration;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus is a graduate of the 
     Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Mortar Platoon 
     Officers Course, Jungle Warfare School, Airborne School, 
     Ranger School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the 
     Master Fitness Trainer Course;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus is a graduate of the 
     Reserve Component Combined Armed Services Staff School;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus attended the Reserve 
     Component Command and General Staff College;
       Whereas following Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus's entry into 
     the Army, he served at the tip of the spear of the cold war 
     as an infantry officer with the 1st Platoon, 54th Infantry in 
     Bamberg, Germany, where he was our Nation's sentry, ready to 
     fight at a moment's notice against Soviet tanks rolling 
     toward the Fulda Gap;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus continued his commitment 
     to selfless duty when after serving more than five years on 
     active duty in the Army, he transitioned to the Army Reserve;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus served in many 
     leadership positions in the Army Reserve, which included 7 
     years as a United States Military Academy Liaison Officer, 
     where he helped our Nation select the best candidates to 
     become future leaders of the Army;
        Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus was elected to public 
     office for the first time in 1989 as a township trustee in 
     Collinsville, Illinois;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus was elected to serve his 
     first term as a Representative from the 20th District of 
     Illinois in 1996 in the 105th Congress, and has continued to 
     dutifully dedicate his service as a statesman in the 106th, 
     107th, 108th, 109th, and, presently, the 110th Congresses;
       Whereas over a multifaceted career of distinguished public 
     service dedicated to the preservation of the principles upon 
     which our Nation was founded, from his plebe days at West 
     Point to the halls of Congress, in his every step Lieutenant 
     Colonel Shimkus has embodied the epitome of excellence in 
     statesmanship, service to country, and to his fellow 
     citizens;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus's commitment to public 
     service commands the Nation's highest respect and gratitude;
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus embodies all seven Army 
     core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, 
     integrity, and personal courage; and
       Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus has had a tremendous 
     positive impact on the Army Reserve: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the House of Representatives
       (1) honors Lieutenant Colonel John M. Shimkus for his 
     service of over 28 years on the occasion of his retirement 
     from the Army Reserve on June 1, 2008;
       (2) commends Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus for his dedication 
     and commitment to excellence as an infantry officer and 
     leader;
       (3) recognizes the tremendous dedication and fortitude with 
     which Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus has led an exemplary career 
     in public service, three times the citizen, having balanced 
     his time in the Army Reserve with the demanding duties of his 
     roles as husband, father, businessman, community leader, high 
     school teacher, citizen-soldier, and Congressman with 
     consummate professionalism and boundless devotion to each;
       (4) recognizes Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus as a soldier, 
     leader, and statesman, for displaying the highest levels of 
     leadership, professional competence, integrity, and moral 
     courage throughout his distinguished military service.

  Madam Speaker, it is an honor for me to present the distinguished 
credentials of Lieutenant Colonel John Shimkus before the Congress 
today. It is our good fortune that Congressman John Shimkus continues 
to serve our Nation in the United States House of Representatives.

                          ____________________