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Rep. Sam Graves

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize LTC Richard E. Nichols, Jr. The Lieutenant Colonel is retiring from the United States Army after 24 years of distinguished service.

Lieutenant Colonel Nichols spent his early years growing up in the heartland of Kansas and Missouri. While attending Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri, he made the decision to serve his country in the United States Army and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1982. Upon graduating from Missouri Western State College in 1983 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, Lieutenant Colonel Nichols served in the Kansas Army National Guard as the Reconnaissance and Survey Platoon Leader for the 2nd/130th Field Artillery Battalion in Hiawatha, Kansas.

Lieutenant Colonel Nichols went on to serve in various posts over the next 24 years. During his service he was assigned to C Battery, 1/76th Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division, in Bamberg, Germany, and as the commander of B Battery, 6th Field Artillery, which deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 1989 to 1991. In these roles and under various posts in Kansas, Alabama, and Virginia, Lieutenant Colonel Nichols has earned numerous awards and decorations. Among these awards are the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Saudi Arabia Liberation of Kuwait Service Medal, the Emirate of Kuwait Liberation of Kuwait Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing LTC Richard E. Nichols, Jr., an outstanding leader in the United States Army. His years of service and dedication in protecting the freedom of the United States has been an inspiration to many. I commend him for his many years of service and I am honored to represent him and his family in the United States Congress.