[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[EXTENSION]
[Page 13627]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOSEPH M. ARTHUR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2009

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I 
rise today to recognize the retirement of Joseph Arthur, Special 
Assistant to the Commander 919th Special Operations Wing, Eglin AFB, 
Duke Field, Florida.
  Lieutenant Colonel Arthur was commissioned through the Air Force 
Officer Training School in 1981 and entered Undergraduate Pilot 
Training (UPT) in 1982. Upon graduation from UPT, he was assigned to 
the 711th Special Operations Squadron as an AC-130A Spectre Gunship 
Pilot. In 1997, he joined the 5th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) 
flying the MC-130P. During his service with the 5th SOS, Lieutenant 
Colonel Arthur served as Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, Chief 
Pilot, Chief of Training, Director of Operations and Combat Mission 
Commander.
  Lieutenant Colonel Arthur has deployed and supported combat 
operations in the air and on the ground in support of Operations Just 
Cause, Restore Democracy, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. His 
command experience in support of the Global War on Terrorism includes 
serving as Mission Commander, Air Force Special Operations Detachment-
South, Jacobabad Air Base, Pakistan, Deputy Commander, Joint Special 
Operations Air Component, Masirah Air Base, Oman. His other deployments 
include peacetime aerial reconnaissance missions in Central America and 
participation in military operations over Haiti.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to 
recognize Lieutenant Colonel John M. Arthur for his excellent 
leadership and selfless service in the United States Air Force and wish 
him well in his retirement.

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