E1600 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 Recruiter, Mr. Small recruited for the Army Na- It is because of the determination and suc- CONGRATULATIONS TO COLONEL tional Guard. His hard work was recognized in cess of individuals like Paul that America re- THEODORE C. ‘‘TC’’ WILLIAMS ON 1981, when he was awarded as the Top Re- mains the land of opportunity for folks wishing HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE cruiter for the entire nation—having enlisted to achieve great things through hard work and UNITED STATES ARMY 139 soldiers in one fiscal year. This award is ingenuity. On behalf of the Fourth Congres- a testament to Mr. Small’s impeccable work sional District, I congratulate Paul for his re- HON. HOWARD P. ‘‘BUCK’’ McKEON ethic. markable life and career. OF CALIFORNIA Mr. Small’s enthusiastic service to his coun- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES try is demonstrated by his wide range of mili- Thursday, September 20, 2012 tary work, including the California State Mili- f tary Reserve. He served as Battalion Com- Mr. MCKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mander and Director of Recruiting State Wide CRANE HERITAGE DAY HONOREE— pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the and was assigned to the Commanding Gen- EVELYN STRODER United States Army, Colonel Theodore C. eral’s Staff as Staff Duty Officer. Mr. Small re- ‘‘TC’’ Williams. Throughout his 27 years of dis- tired at the rank of Lt. Colonel. With forty tinguished service, COL Williams has personi- years of military service, he serves as an ex- HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY fied the Army values of duty, integrity and self- ample to all in his community. OF TEXAS less service across the many missions that the Beyond the military, Mr. Small continues to Army provides in defense of our Nation. As exemplify true citizenship in his civilian life. He IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Chief of Programs Division in the Office of the Secretary of the Army, many of us on attended California State University, Fresno Thursday, September 20, 2012 and West Coast Bible College. Mr. Small was Capitol Hill have enjoyed the opportunity to a founding Pastor of Wahiiwa Church of God Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to work with COL Williams on a wide variety of in Oahu, Hawaii and a Pastor of Pinole celebrate a stalwart of our community, Evelyn Army issues and programs. It’s my privilege to recognize COL Williams and his many accom- Church of God in Pinole, California. He cur- Stroder, who is being recognized as this rently serves as Senior Care Pastor at North- plishments. year’s Crane Heritage Day honoree. west Church in Fresno, California. He is a COL Williams, the son of the late Theodore member of the American Legion, VFW, and When I think of what it takes to make a C. Williams, Jr and Phyllis Kane Williams of current Commandant of the Marine Corps strong community, I think of someone like Potomac, Maryland, attended Winston Church League. Evelyn. Communities can be united in many Hill Senior High School in Potomac, Maryland, Robert served as Staff Assistant and Military aspects, but one central component found in and was commissioned as a Second Lieuten- Liaison to Congressman George Radanovich, strong communities is service. And service to ant in the Infantry in 1985 after graduating former Representative of the 19th District of from The Citadel in South Carolina. our community has been at the core of He served from 1986 to 1989 as a rifle pla- California. In addition, he served on the Acad- Evelyn’s life. emy Selection Board for both Congressman toon leader, company executive officer, and Radanovich and me. Evelyn’s journey began in Corpus Christi reconnaissance platoon leader in 1st Battalion, Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring where she graduated from high school and at- 27th Infantry ‘‘Wolfhounds’’ at Schofield Bar- Robert W. Small for his outstanding service to tended Del Mar Junior College before she racks, Hawaii. From 1990 to 1993, he served his country and community. His expertise as a went on to earn a B.A. in English and Jour- as the battalion assistant operations officer then commander of Bravo Company in 3rd member of the United States Armed Services nalism from Baylor University. Later she and life experiences have made his time on Battalion, 7th Infantry Cotton-Bailers during earned an M.A. in American Literature and the Persian Gulf War and at Fort Stewart, the Academy Selection Board invaluable. He Mass Communications from UTPB. is a true public servant, and I wish him contin- Georgia. From 1993 to 1994, COL Williams ued success in his future endeavors. In 1955, Evelyn and her husband, Charles, served as a Senior Infantry Trainer in the 24th Infantry Division Resident Training Detach- f moved from Corpus Christi to Crane. Once in Crane, Evelyn would use her education to give ment assisting the 48th Brigade, Georgia Na- A TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN PAUL F. back. She served others as an educator for 28 tional Guard. From 1995 to 1998, COL Wil- OREFFICE liams was a small group instructor for the In- years and continues to serve on the Crane fantry Officers Advanced Course and tactics HON. DAVE CAMP School Board. While Evelyn no longer teach- team chief in the Tactics Department of the In- es, she still remains active in the Permian His- OF MICHIGAN fantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. From IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES torical Society and the Crane County Historical 1999 to 2001, he served as operations officer Commission. Her journalistic accomplishments Thursday, September 20, 2012 and then executive officer in 1st Battalion, include her presented papers and published 23rd Infantry ‘‘Tomahawks’’ at Fort Lewis, Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay work in a variety of publications throughout Washington. tribute to Chairman Paul F. Oreffice of The Texas, and currently she serves as the assist- From 2001 to 2003, COL Williams was an Dow Chemical Company for his distinguished ant editor of the Permian Historical Society Army Congressional liaison in the Office of the life and career as he nears his 85th birthday. Chief of Legislative Liaison where he was prin- Annual. Mr. Oreffice is a true American success story, cipally responsible for overseeing the efficient having immigrated to the United States from One would think that with such a busy operation of the division and managing the Venice when he was 12 years old to later be- schedule, Evelyn would not have time for Army’s legislative portfolio on the Chem-Bio coming the CEO of one of the world’s largest much else in life. However, in between all Defense program. and most recognized corporations. these accomplishments, she has managed to In 2003, LTC Williams left OCLL to take Paul joined The Dow Chemical Company in raise three children, seven grandchildren, and command of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry 1953, after graduating from Purdue University six great-grandchildren—a notable accom- ‘‘Gators’’ during Operation Iraqi Freedom and and serving two years in the U.S. Army during at Smith Barracks in Germany from June 2003 plishment in itself! the Korean War. He maintained a variety of to June 2005. For twelve months, Force Gator international assignments early in his career On behalf of the 11th District, it is an honor conducted combat and stability operations in before being named President and Chief Ex- to recognize Evelyn because she is an exam- southeast Baghdad. In April 2004, while con- ecutive Officer in 1978. His adept business ple of those who have made our nation strong. ducting transfer of authority to the follow-on skills while head of the company helped him Our nation did not become great from the top unit, the tactical situation in Iraq deteriorated become the first person to receive both the down, but from the bottom up—from the peo- and the battalion task force was alerted to Palladium medal and the Chemical Industry ple in our neighborhoods willing to serve and conduct combat operations in Najaf and Al medal in the late 1980s. He was named Chair- Kut. Following decisive combat operations in make their community a better place for others man of the Board in 1986, and served in that south-central Iraq, the task force was ex- position until his retirement in 1992. Through- and their children. Evelyn is one of these indi- tended in Iraq for three months to conduct out his tenure, The Dow Chemical Company viduals. Through this award, she is rightly rec- combat and stability operations in the infa- remained one of the largest and most well-re- ognized for the time and sacrifice she has mous ‘‘Triangle of Death.’’ For operations con- spected manufacturing companies in the dedicated to others and it is an honor to rep- ducted April to July 2004, the battalion re- world. resent her in the Halls of Congress. ceived the Presidential Unit Citation as part of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Sep 23, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A20SE8.083 E21SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1601 the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Upon Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me CONGRATULATING MR. DEREK redeploying to Germany after fifteen months in in honoring Mrs. Sylvia Rucinski and congratu- CAVILLA FOR COMPLETING THE Iraq, the battalion conducted reset and full- lating her as she is recognized by the Polonia NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART’S spectrum operations training in preparation to Foundation. SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE deploy again in late 2005. From 2005 to 2007, LTC Williams returned f HON. DANIEL WEBSTER to the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison OF FLORIDA to serve as the Legislative Assistant to the HONORING MR. OLIVER SIEBERT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Vice Chief of Staff, Army (VCSA). He stood OF CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI out amongst his peers and made himself an Thursday, September 20, 2012 indispensible part of the VCSA’s personal Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleas- staff. HON. W. TODD AKIN ure to recognize Mr. Derek Cavilla of Orlando, From 2007 to 2009, he was promoted to Florida, a teacher at Workforce Advantage Colonel and led the division within OCLL that OF MISSOURI Academy, upon his completion of the National develops the congressional engagement strat- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gallery of Art’s Annual Summer Teacher Insti- egy for the Secretary, Chief of Staff, Under tute. During the National Gallery’s six-day Secretary, Vice Chief of Staff, and Sergeant Thursday, September 20, 2012 seminar, Mr. Cavilla intensively studied the Major of the Army. He performed exception- foundation of twentieth-century art by exam- Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor ally. He personally improved the Army’s stra- ining the pioneering artists of French impres- tegic communication with the Congress, and Mr. Oliver Siebert of Chesterfield, Missouri. sionism and post-impressionism. developed the engagement strategy and legis- The French government recently awarded Mr. In order for participants to be accepted in to lative objectives for the Army’s Senior Leader- Siebert the Legion of Honor for his part in the the Gallery’s Teacher Institute seminar, they ship. liberation of Strasbourg, France. The medal must first complete a rigorous application From 2009 to 2012, COL Williams per- and the accompanying title of Knight of the process. Mr. Cavilla was one of only forty-five formed duties as the Chief of Programs. He Legion of Honor is the highest military award teachers from across the nation chosen to expertly led the planning of the Army’s con- given by the French government. participate in this year’s National Gallery of gressional engagement strategies between Art’s Teacher Institute. From this seminar, senior Army Staff leaders and Members of Mr. Siebert, just twenty years old, was an acting second lieutenant leading the 324th in- teachers are able to return to their schools Congress, leading directly to a defense au- and students with new tools and ideas that will fantry battalion and the 220th field artillery in thorizations bill that enhanced the Army’s abil- enhance education curriculum of all grade lev- November 1944. American forces, operating ity to recruit, retain, and reset the world’s pre- els and subjects. The students of Central Flor- miere fighting force. jointly with elements of the French Second Ar- ida are blessed to have such a dedicated edu- Through these varying assignments, COL mored Division under the command of Captain cator as Mr. Cavilla. Williams provided outstanding leadership, ad- Jean Penet, fought across the Vosges Moun- On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, vice, and sound professional judgment on crit- tains in the French Alps throughout October I am pleased to recognize and congratulate ical issues of enduring importance to both the and November 1944. On 23 November 1944 Mr. Derek Cavilla on his acceptance to and Army and Congress. On behalf of Congress, I elements of the French Army entered successful completion of the National Gallery thank COL Williams, his wife Helen, and his Strasbourg and liberated the city. of Art’s Annual Summer Teacher Institute. entire family for the commitment, sacrifices, Mr. Siebert’s service did not end with the May his dedication to our nation’s educational and contribution they have made throughout institutions and students inspire others to fol- liberation of Strasbourg. While conducting op- his honorable military career. Congratulations low in his footsteps. on completing an exceptional and successful erations in support of the assault of Hangviller career. on 27 November 1944, Mr. Siebert and a f f small group of American soldiers were cap- FIRST ANNUAL AMERICA’S FAMILY DAY IN HONOR OF MS. SYLVIA tured by German SS soldiers disguised as RUCINSKI U.S. troops. Three days later, after overpow- ering two SS officers and commandeering HON. JOE BARTON HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH their car, he was able to escape and return to OF TEXAS OF OHIO his duties as an artillery forward observer. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES On Christmas Day 1944 a German shell Thursday, September 20, 2012 Thursday, September 20, 2012 landed not far from his forward observation Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on Oc- Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in post and caused severe damage to his right tober 6, there will be an event taking place in honor of Ms. Sylvia Rucinski who is being leg. German strafing of the ambulance that Santa Monica, CA that I would like to high- honored by the Polonia Foundation on Octo- evacuated him that night caused further dam- light. This event will be the First Annual Amer- ber 7, 2012. age that would require extensive surgery and ica’s Family Day. The purpose of this event Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Sylvia lengthy convalescence to repair. After treat- will be to celebrate families and to stress the attended Miles Elementary School and grad- ment at several American military hospitals, importance of protecting and investing in our uated from Holy Name High School. She later Mr. Siebert was honorably discharged on 18 children. attended Cuyahoga Community College and August 1945. On March 7, 2012, the Bi-Partisan Privacy John Carroll University. Before beginning her Caucus, in which I serve as the co-Chairman, Mr. Siebert returned to St. Louis, earned a 22 year career at the Alliance of Poles of held a briefing to directly highlight H.R. 1895, degree in mechanical engineering from Wash- America, Sylvia held a number of different po- the Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011. On our sitions. She previously held jobs with Harris ington University and in 1948 married Virginia panel, we were joined by Nick Cannon, Seybold, Grabler Manufacturing and several Turner, his wife now for more than 63 years. Spokesperson for Safe Communications, who school and public libraries. I am truly honored to have the opportunity shared the same passion of ensuring that our Sylvia has been a long-time and active to share this heroic story. This son of a truck children are protected across all platforms. He member of the Polish-American community. driver for Anheuser-Busch, despite initially graciously publicly endorsed H.R. 1895 and She has been the director for the Alliance of being rejected for military service because he has decided to champion the cause by holding Poles Federal Credit Union and Ohio Division was ‘‘clinically blind’’, did not give up his quest the very first America’s Family Day. of the Polish American Congress. She also to do his part to defeat Nazi Germany. And I believe that Republicans and Democrats served as the recording secretary of Circle 9 now, almost seventy years later, I join the alike can agree that family is a sacred institu- of the Alliance of Poles. Because of her un- tion that deserves our time, energy, and devo- French government in honoring his sacrifice wavering service, Sylvia has been acknowl- tion. I am blessed to have a loving wife, four and service to the French people and these edged by the Alliance of Poles as the recipient wonderful children, two stepchildren, and five of the 2004 Meritorious Service Medal and United States. grandchildren. I want nothing more than to do Award and named the 2003 Grand Lady of Mr. Siebert, thank you. And may God Bless my part to make sure they are secure, safe, Pulaski by the Polonia Foundation. you and your family. and well protected. In this sentiment, I am

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