[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10923-10924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK HODGES

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I wish to recognize MG Fredrick (Ben) 
Hodges for his professional service and dedication to duty as the U.S. 
Army's Chief of Legislative Liaison over the last year. In this 
capacity, Major General Hodges was responsible for advising the 
Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and other senior 
Army leaders on all legislative and congressional matters. During this 
period of extraordinary change and challenges facing the Army, he 
masterfully led the Army's outreach to the Congress. Due to the 
exceptional manner in which he has performed, Major General Hodges has 
been selected to become the NATO Land Component Command Stand-Up Team 
Chief in Turkey.
  Major General Hodges adeptly understood the importance of fostering a 
strong and durable relationship with Congress. He now completes his 
third assignment with the Army's Legislative Liaison, having served for 
over five years in support of the Congress. He worked tirelessly on 
behalf of the Army to earn both the trust and confidence of Members of 
Congress and their staffs. His candor and ready accessibility to 
Congress ensured comprehensive support for the Army. Major General 
Hodges handled some of the most complex and sensitive issues faced by 
the Army in the last decade.
  Throughout his career, Major General Hodges has been the consummate

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soldier's soldier and is known for having an open mind and candor while 
addressing the issues affecting the Army today. He is a tremendous 
advocate for soldiers both within the Pentagon and here on Capitol 
Hill. His advice, counsel, and friendship have been very valuable to us 
in the Senate, and he will be sorely missed.
  A native of Quincy, FL, Major General Hodges graduated from the U.S. 
Military Academy in May 1980 and was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the infantry. Following successful completion of the 
basic course and Ranger School, he was assigned as a platoon leader and 
company executive officer in Germany. Upon return to the United States, 
Major General Hodges commanded infantry units at the company, 
battalion, and brigade levels in the 101st Airborne Division, AASLT. 
During his command of the ``Bastogne'' Brigade, Major General Hodges' 
leadership was instrumental in the successful invasion of Iraq during 
the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Major General Hodges has also served in a variety of Army staff 
positions throughout his distinguished career. Ranging from tactics 
instructor at the Infantry School to senior battalion observer/
controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center, he has ensured that 
our soldiers are properly trained in their war-fighting functions. As a 
staff officer, Major General Hodges has served as the aide-de-camp to 
the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, chief of staff for the XVIIIth 
Airborne Corps, and director of the Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination 
Cell. Major General Hodges' operational assignments include deployments 
to both Iraq and Afghanistan as the assistant chief of staff, CJ3, 
Multi National Corps-Iraq and as the deputy commander for Stability, 
Regional Command South, International Security and Assistance Force, 
Kandahar, Afghanistan. Throughout the various assignments and 
deployments, Major General Hodges always accomplished his mission and 
cared for his soldiers, and took great care of the Army families under 
his command.
  We extend our heartfelt thanks to MG Ben Hodges, to his wife Holly, 
and to his children Ben and Madeline, for their dedication and service 
to the Nation. Words cannot characterize properly the extraordinary 
character of Major General Hodges's accomplishments.
  The Nation thanks him and wishes him success and happiness in his 
next assignment.

                          ____________________