[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16902]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF SERGEANT MAJOR ALAN M. GIBSON

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 29, 2015

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
commend Sergeant Major Alan M. Gibson, the Division G3 Sergeant Major 
for the 4th Infantry and Fort Carson, Colorado, who will be retiring 
from the United States Army after 32 years of distinguished service to 
the United States of America. He will be honored at a retirement 
ceremony on Friday, October 30, 2015 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
  A Georgia man through and through, Sergeant Major Alan Gibson is 
originally from Columbus, Georgia and graduated from Morris Brown 
College in Atlanta, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 
Therapeutic Recreation/Kinesiology in 1982. He is currently working on 
a Master's degree from Central Michigan University. SGM Gibson joined 
the United States Army in October 1983 and completed basic training at 
Fort McClelland, Alabama and Advanced Individual Training at Fort 
Benning, Georgia. In his first assignment, he served as an Infantryman 
in the Berlin Brigade from March 1984 to October 1985.
  After departing Berlin, Germany, SGM Gibson attended Airborne School 
and the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) prior to being assigned to 
3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning while he served as 
a Rifleman, Team Leader, and Squad Leader from October 1985 to April 
1989. In fact, he would return to Fort Benning several times throughout 
his career. He also served in numerous leadership and staff positions 
at Fort Myer, Virginia; Yongsan, Korea; Fort Monroe, Virginia; and Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was the Sergeant Major for the Center for 
Army Leadership for the Combined Arms Center (CAC).
  SGM Gibson served four combat tours, including Operation Just Cause 
in Panama; Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 in Iraq; Operation Enduring 
Freedom (OEF 13-14) in Afghanistan; and he deployed in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom in Kuwait.
  SGM Gibson is a highly decorated non-commissioned Army officer. His 
numerous awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with V 
devices, Bronze Star w/ 1OLC, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, 
Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award), Expert Infantryman Badge, Master 
Parachutist Badge with Bronze Star, Pathfinder Badge, Aviation 
Crewmember Badge, Canadian Parachutist Badge, German Schutzenschnur 
Badge (Silver), and the coveted Ranger Tab, among many others. SGM 
Gibson also was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice (Infantry), and 
Order of The Combat Spurs (Cavalry).
  On a personal note, I am proud to call SGM Alan Gibson my friend. I 
have witnessed firsthand his compassionate leadership and his enduring 
dedication to our great nation. Throughout his distinguished career, 
SGM Gibson has consistently exhibited the Seven Core Army Values of 
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and 
Personal Courage.
  SGM Gibson has certainly accomplished many things in his life but 
none of this would have been possible without the love and support of 
his wife, Cheryl, and their three daughters, Asia Rochelle, Alana 
Shantelle and Ariel Danae.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, 
Vivian, in extending our sincerest gratitude and best wishes to 
Sergeant Major Alan Gibson and his family, on the occasion of his 
retirement from a stellar career of 32 years in the United States Army.

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