[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 13499] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL R. STEVEN WHITCOMB ______ HON. IKE SKELTON of missouri in the house of representatives Tuesday, July 20, 2010 Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it has come to my attention that Lieutenant General R. Steven Whitcomb will retire after 40 years of service in the United States Army on October 1, 2010. He has served his country well and will be sorely missed. Lieutenant General Whitcomb graduated from the University of Virginia in 1970 with a Bachelor's degree in History. From there, he went on to receive degrees from the California University of Pennsylvania, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College. He was commissioned through ROTC and entered the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer. First stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, he steadily rose through the ranks and excelled at each assignment he was given. From combat operations in Desert Shield/Desert Storm to Operation Joint Forge to Operation Iraqi Freedom, he effectively led our men and women into battle and never forgot that the Army's most precious assets are those who wear the uniform of our Nation's military. Throughout his career he consistently showed his dedication to the youngest members of the U.S. Army. As a professor and a mentor for ROTC, he made sure the young cadets of the U.S. Army were well-trained with high morale and in excellent physical condition. At the Pentagon, Lieutenant General Whitcomb served several roles including Executive Officer for the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. He ended his forty years of distinguished service as the Inspector General for the Office of the Secretary of the Army. Madam Speaker, throughout his lifetime of service, Lieutenant General R. Steven Whitcomb has shown uncommon professionalism and dedication to the mission of the United States Army. I wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement. ____________________