[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL (RETIRED) MARGARETT E. BARNES

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 2017

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
veteran, Brigadier General (Retired) Margarett E. Barnes of Byram, MS.
  Brigadier General (Retired) Margarett E. Barnes was commissioned in 
1984 as an Army Reserve Officer. She made history being the first 
African American female from Mississippi to be promoted to the rank of 
Brigadier General in the United States Army. She retired from military 
service in October 2014.
  Brigadier General (Retired) Barnes served three years as enlisted 
service prior to obtaining a Direct Appointment. A lifelong resident of 
Mississippi, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science from 
the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Public 
Administration from the University of South Alabama, and a Master of 
Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
  She began her commissioned career with the 412th Replacement Company 
in Pascagoula, Miss., where she was Team Leader. She served as 
Battalion Maintenance Officer for the 845th Signal Battalion, and then 
she returned to the 412th as Company Commander. The 412th was mobilized 
during Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and she served as its commander 
at the CONUS Replacement Center, Fort Benning, Ga. After 
demobilization, she was assigned to the 3d Personnel Command in 
Jackson, Miss., where she served as Public Affairs Officer, Secretary 
of the General Staff and Inspector General. BG Barnes was then assigned 
to the 348th Personnel Group in New Orleans, where she had key 
developmental positions of S-2/3 and Chief, Personnel Operations 
Center. She was selected as Commander of the 324th Replacement 
Battalion in Starkville, Miss. During her tenure as 324th Commander, 
she deployed with her battalion to Camp Wolf, Kuwait, in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was during this deployment period that her 
unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. After commanding 
the 324th, BG Barnes was again selected for command and returned to the 
348th Personnel Group in New Orleans to serve as Commander. In August 
2007, she began service as the U.S. Army Forces Command Deputy, 
Assistant Deputy G-1 at Fort McPherson, and served as Commander, U.S. 
Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Augmentation Unit in Atlanta. Her last 
assignment before retiring was Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. 
Army Human Resource Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
  Her military education includes Enlisted Basic Training, Advanced 
Individual training as a 76Y (Unit Supply Specialist) Reserve Course; 
75C (Personnel Management Specialist) Reserve Course; NBC Officer 
Reserve Course; Adjutant General Officer Basic Course; 121st Army 
Reserve Command (ARCOM) Pre-Command Course; Security Manager Course; 
Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course; Combined Arms Services 
Support School; Inspector General Course; Inspector General Site 
Administrator Course; Command and General Staff Officer Course; 
Mobilization Officer Course; Middle East Orientation Course; Adjutant 
General Battalion/Brigade-Level Pre-Command Course; Army Reserve 
Battalion/Brigade-Level Pre-Command Course; U.S. Army War College; 
CAPSTONE; and Advanced Joint Professional Military Education.
  Her awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, 
Legion of Merit, Army Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Oak 
Leaf Cluster), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War 
on Terrorism Medal, The Army Commendation Medal (with 4th Oak Leaf 
Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement 
Medal (with 4th Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal, 
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass and ``M'' Device and 
``2'' for number times mobilized).
  Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon 
(with the Bronze Arabic Number 2). She received a commission as an 
honorary Kentucky Colonel from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a 
remarkable woman and an honorable veteran of the United States Army, 
Brigadier General (Retired) Margarett E. Barnes.

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