[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10813-10814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO GUNNERY SERGEANT THOMAS J. BOYD, USMC

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, this Sunday, Marine Corps GySgt Thomas 
Boyd, who is currently serving as a legislative fellow in my office, 
will receive his promotion to master sergeant at his home in Uniontown, 
PA, surrounded by his wife Reagan and his family. I would like to take 
the opportunity to recognize Tom's accomplishments and selfless service 
to our Nation.
  Tom enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996, following in the footsteps 
of his father, older brother, and great uncle. He immediately took on 
the very demanding occupational specialty of signals intelligence, 
which involves the collection and analysis of enemy communications. It 
is a unique and critically important specialty that accepts only the 
highest quality and most trustworthy marines, which tells you a lot 
about Tom's character.

[[Page 10814]]

  From 2005 to 2009 Tom was stationed at Fort Meade and served at the 
National Security Agency. His skills were put to the test in three 
combat deployments, two to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, during which he 
supported numerous counterterrorism operations that helped make those 
countries and our own more secure. The Department of Defense recognized 
his contributions with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, one of 
the highest awards the Department can bestow upon a servicemember.
  Last year the Marine Corps selected Tom for its Congressional 
Fellowship Program, which, as my colleagues know, is highly selective. 
Tom is one of only two enlisted Marines selected to serve on Capitol 
Hill this year. While working in a Senate office is considerably less 
action-packed than the jobs he has had in the recent past, Tom has 
tackled all the tasks we have assigned to him with the overwhelming 
enthusiasm and tenacity we expect from our marines.
  I know some of our constituents who have met Tom are sometimes 
surprised to come to my office and find themselves across the table 
from ``Big Country,'' as Tom is affectionately known among his peers. 
Then they realize that not only is Tom as dedicated to serving them as 
any member of any Senator's staff but also that it can be a big 
advantage to have a man who was clearly born to be a leatherneck on 
their side.
  To my colleagues, should you see Tom walking the halls of the Senate, 
I ask that you take a moment to congratulate him on his promotion and 
thank him and his family for their sacrifices on behalf of our country. 
In his personality, professionalism, and selflessness, Tom Boyd 
reflects the best traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps.

                          ____________________