[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JOHN SLEDZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2009

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Chief Master Sergeant John Sledz upon his upcoming 
retirement from the United States Air Force after 30 years of service 
to our country.
  Chief Sledz has reached the pinnacle of enlisted service, the rank of 
Chief Master Sergeant. Less than 1 percent of airmen are allowed to 
hold this rank, and achieving it is a testimony to the extraordinary 
abilities that Chief Sledz has put to work for the protection of our 
nation.
  He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (with five oak leaf 
clusters), the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement 
Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 
among many others awards and decorations. He has served on three 
continents and five different states, and is concluding his career in 
the position of Chief, Fuels Management Flight, 43rd Logistics 
Readiness Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina.
  By focusing his career on the critical logistical tasks required in 
maintaining the Air Force's ability to launch aircraft, Chief Sledz's 
efforts have contributed mightily to the safety and well being of the 
citizens of this country and the stability of the world. We owe him a 
debt of gratitude that is impossible to repay. He has set a high 
example of service, leadership, caring, and commitment that all would 
do well to follow.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Chief Sledz and his family on his well-
deserved retirement, and ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
his accomplishments.

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