[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF MAJOR ROBERT LIKINS III

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 28, 2014

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major Robert 
Likins III of the Army Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison 
(OCLL), who will retire from the United States Army on October 1, 2014, 
after almost 25 years of distinguished service.
  Major Likins first entered the military as an enlisted infantryman. 
Looking for challenges around every corner, he volunteered, assessed, 
and was selected to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment, 5th Special 
Forces Group, and the Southern European Task Force. After several years 
and multiple overseas deployments, Major Likins felt a greater calling 
of leadership and pursued a commission in the U.S. Army.
  Major Likins was commissioned as an infantry officer on October 11th, 
2001, through Officer Candidate School. As an officer, he served in 
several leadership positions in light infantry and airborne units 
across the country and Europe. At the beginning of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, serving as a Company Executive Officer in the 173rd Airborne, 
Major Likins participated in a daring brigade-level parachute assault 
into Iraq. He then deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation 
Enduring Freedom and served as an operations officer within the 2-503rd 
Infantry (Airborne).
  Major Likins then joined the 10th Mountain Division and commanded two 
different infantry companies. On his second command, Major Likins 
deployed his company to an austere company outpost in Iraq where he 
partnered and trained an Iraqi Army battalion. Major Likins was then 
selected as an Army Congressional Fellow where he served as an integral 
member of my staff. Finally, he served as the legislative liaison 
managing the Soldier Systems portfolio, ensuring our troops going into 
combat are supplied with the best equipment available.
  Major Likins has truly lived at the tip of the spear throughout his 
career. From Desert Storm to Haiti, Bosnia to Kosovo, and to Iraq to 
Afghanistan, he has deployed to almost every place around the globe 
where the Army has been sent into harm's way. He has also earned two 
Master's Degrees during his service and has exemplified the warrior-
scholar who our nation needs leading our men and women into combat.
  Throughout his 25 years of service to the nation, Major Likins has 
earned numerous awards and decorations to include: Combat Infantryman's 
Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, 
Master Parachutists Wings with combat jump device, Air Assault Badge, 
the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
  I am proud to share in the celebration of Major Likins' military 
career. I would also like to congratulate his wife, Bettina, and his 
two children, Patrick and Kirsten, whose love and support aided and 
strengthened Major Likins as he has served our great nation. I wish him 
all the best in his retirement.

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